Mrs. Lacey Sexton utilized AI tools introduced during EPIC Grant meetings to design a rich, student-centered class discussion around the on-demand essay prompt: Should the people of Earth continue manned space exploration or focus solely on robotic missions?
Using Magic School, which was first introduced to grant members during a Zoom meeting with Lisa Nydick, Mrs. Sexton created customized student rubrics after students worked together to developed the criteria by which their discussion would be assessed. The same platform was used to analyze student feedback collected through Google Forms to generate clear discussion norms, guided questions, and peer observation forms. Students completed these observation forms while actively participating in the discussion, allowing them to reflect on both their own contributions and those of their partners.
All discussion resources were intentionally developed after students provided input on expectations, norms, and evaluation criteria, ensuring strong student ownership and engagement. Additionally, the Socratic seminar structure and discussion-tracking strategies implemented were modeled during an in-person EPIC meeting last year.
This experience highlights how AI tools, when paired with intentional instructional strategies, can amplify student voice, accountability, and critical thinking, all while helping teachers create powerful learning experiences for their students while saving time.
Lacey Sexton
McNabb Middle School
Montgomery County
8th Grade ELA
