Incorporating AI into the classroom is no easy task. You have to make sure it is used properly and enhances learning instead of encouraging a shortcut. With an average of 35 sixth graders per class, I needed to utilize an AI tool that would give useful writing feedback that would be similar to what I would have given the students.
In our India unit, students read sources about Emperor Asoka. We asked ourselves should he be remembered as a ruthless conqueror or an enlightened ruler? I modeled an extended response for the argument of an enlightened ruler and assigned the students to argue that he is a ruthless conqueror. Students love to ask me to read their extended responses as they are writing. Logistically, I knew it wasn’t possible to get to everyone during class time, so I wanted to figure out a way for them to get immediate feedback during the writing process.
Thanks to the Epic grant from KEDC, I learned how to create writing feedback rooms in Magic School. I uploaded all the sources and gave the AI instructions on what my expectations were for their writing. This included a rubric of the writing format. I instructed the AI to not write for the students but to only give feedback. The AI could clarify the sources for students who needed extra help and make suggestions, but it forced students to do the work. A few students even asked the AI to grade their response, and they made edits until it scored them a perfect.
Ultimately, this tool was surprisingly effective and helped my students develop a deeper understanding of the writing process. It did take time to develop and fine tune the prompt, but now I have it for future classes, so it is well worth the investment for Rowan County Middle School students!
Amanda Carter
Rowan County Middle School
6th Grade
