Week 11 Article Reflections (March 25th)
Hello everyone! We are trucking right along into the latter half of the semester. I am getting this post up earlier in the week than normal because it is my school's spring break. This Friday, I will be in Mexico enjoying a nice and relaxing break ☀️ I hope you all have a great week!
This week, we are continuing our conversation about generative AI in education. The use of AI continues to grow, and researchers are exploring its impact on writing instruction, accessibility, and overall learning support. Three studies I looked at this week point out the potential and challenges of AI-driven tools in classrooms. Some of their highlights include the benefits for struggling writers, the ability for teachers to support all learners, and what it means for teachers.
Improving Writing Feedback for Struggling Writers
Evmenova et al. (2024) investigate how generative AI can enhance feedback for students who struggle with writing. This would be a huge help in the classroom. I know that giving feedback for writing consistently is a difficult task for me. The study explores AI’s ability to provide immediate, personalized, and structured feedback that helps students refine their ideas and improve clarity. The authors highlight the key benefits of AI-generated feedback. One is the timely and instant support. This helps cut down on the time lag between writing and revision. Another highlight is differentiation. AI tools can adapt to individual student needs, offering scaffolded suggestions based on skill levels. Lastly, the authors highlight how AI-generated prompts encourage revisions in student writing. Despite these advantages, the study also acknowledges potential challenges, like the risk of AI-generated feedback being too generic, concerns about over-reliance on technology, and the need for educators to guide students in effectively using AI suggestions. Have any of you used AI-generated feedback in your line of field? I haven't personally, but I have used it to help me write report card comments!
Harnessing AI to Support All Learners
In another study, Evmenova, Borup, and Shin (2024) discuss AI’s broader impact on inclusive education. Their research emphasizes how generative AI can personalize learning experiences, especially for students with disabilities, English language learners, and those who require differentiated instruction. AI has tools that generate text, audio, and visual representations, which support a wide variety of learning styles. There are also features such as speech-to-text, summarization, and translation to assist multilingual learners and students with disabilities. Additionally, AI can reduce teachers' workload by automating routine tasks. This will allow them to focus more on student engagement and higher-order thinking skills.
ChatGPT and Teacher Insights
Oster, Henriksen, and Mishra (2024) examine teachers’ perspectives on ChatGPT in online discussions. Their study showed enthusiasm and skepticism among educators regarding AI’s role in the classroom. Teachers recognize AI’s potential for lesson planning and creating resources. They also know AI can scaffold student learning by providing explanations, examples, and writing prompts to guide student work. Teachers can also use AI to explore new instructional strategies and generate classroom materials efficiently. However, the authors raise concerns over ethical considerations, including data privacy and academic integrity.
Connecting the Dots: The Future of AI in Education (ChatGPT assisted with this paragraph)
Together, these three studies paint a compelling picture of AI’s evolving role in education. While AI-powered tools offer significant advantages in supporting struggling writers, fostering inclusivity, and aiding teachers, they also require careful implementation to avoid pitfalls. The key takeaway is that AI should be seen as a complement rather than a replacement for human instruction. By strategically integrating AI with teacher guidance, educators can harness its full potential to create more personalized, engaging, and equitable learning experiences for all students.
References
Evmenova, A. S., Regan, K., Mergen, R., & Hrisseh, R. (2024). Improving writing feedback for struggling writers: Generative AI to the rescue? TechTrends, 68(790–802).
Evmenova, A. S., Borup, J., & Shin, J. K. (2024). Harnessing the power of generative AI to support all learners. TechTrends, 68(820–831).
Oster, N., Henriksen, D., & Mishra, P. (2024). ChatGPT for teachers: Insights from online discussions. TechTrends.
OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT (March 13 version).
Your reflection on the evolving role of generative AI in education is well-structured and insightful! I especially liked how you pointed out the balance between leveraging AI's potential and addressing the challenges it brings. Your personal connection to the struggle of providing consistent writing feedback made the discussion relatable and practical.
ReplyDeleteI also found it interesting how you noted that AI can significantly support inclusive education, especially for students with diverse needs. It’s great that you highlighted both the potential and the caution needed when integrating AI into the classroom, particularly regarding ethical concerns and over-reliance. Your perspective on AI as a complement rather than a replacement for human instruction aligns well with current educational trends. Enjoy your break in Mexico – you definitely deserve it after such thoughtful reflections!
You review of the articles from this week is similar to mine. AI can be used as a tool to complement or assist with learning. Through the use of AI to help with UDL, with accessibility, to support learners, or to support educators, the use is to support the great work already being done. AI can help educators support all students on a more personal level, but cannot replace educators.
ReplyDeleteOne important thing to remember, highlighted often in the articles I read this week, is the need for appropriate and effective training. The use of AI can be effective IF proper training is provided. Great reflection, with the the great point that AI can assist and enhance the work educators are already doing.