Phonemic Awareness and AI: Evaluating ChatGPT Plus for Structured Lesson Development
Keywords:
phonemic awareness, generative AI, lesson planningAbstract
Effective phonemic awareness instruction is essential for early literacy development, yet teachers often seek additional support in designing structured, engaging, and standards-aligned lesson plans. Generative AI (GenAI), such as ChatGPT Plus, is a promising tool for assisting educators with lesson creation. This study explores the effectiveness of ChatGPT Plus in generating phonemic awareness lesson plans that align with learning objectives, the Gradual Release of Responsibility (GRR) model, and the Science of Teaching Reading (STR) instructional practices. The study evaluated and refined three ChatGPT Plus-generated lesson plans using a design-based research methodology. The initial output lacked student engagement, formative strategies, and explicit teacher feedback and needed multiple refinements. The final output indicates that ChatGPT Plus successfully created lessons using the GRR model, incorporated STR instructional practices, and aligned them with lesson objectives. This study highlights the potential of GenAI in lesson planning but emphasizes the need for teacher experience in using detailed prompts and critical evaluation of AI-generated lesson plans. While ChatGPT Plus can streamline lesson planning, teacher oversight remains essential to ensure pedagogical and instructional effects.
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