Empowering Students With AI in Inclusive Writing Instruction

?? Hello Purposeful Educators! ??

As we embark on the next phase of our 12-week journey in 2024 , let's continue to recognize the central role of writing and make progress toward the goal of using AI as a tool to not only elevate the general quality and quantity of writing but also to ensure inclusivity and equity in our teaching practices. We've seen the incredible impact that effective writing can have on our students' academic success and their future career prospects.

Clear and persuasive writing remains an essential skill in the workplace, preparing our students for a technology-driven economy where communication is a key to career advancement. Moreover, we understand that this skill is a critical equity tool, ensuring that all students are well-prepared to express their thoughts effectively in various forms of communication - from formal reports to social media posts. This includes the ability to write persuasively, creatively, informatively, and for a wide range of purposes. In today's interconnected world, equitable access to communication and the ability to make one's voice heard are paramount.

Our focus extends beyond merely equipping students with writing skills; it's about increasing their visibility, amplifying their voices, and fostering a sense of belonging in an ever-expanding digital landscape. Elevating the standard of writing education for students facing disadvantages is not just a matter of academic achievement, but a crucial step towards bridging the opportunity gap and empowering them with a vital skill for success.

Building on the foundation of our previous discussions, this edition continues to focus on the powerful synergy between AI and culturally responsive teaching in enhancing writing skills for all students. This synergy extends academics; it's about empowering our students to confidently express their ideas across all aspects of life. By harnessing the potential of innovative AI tools while deeply understanding our students' cultural backgrounds, we're not only improving writing skills but also creating an inclusive, supportive, and equitable learning environment.

?? Reflecting on Our Progress: Goals, Tactics, and Indicators

An essential part of our 12-week journey is weekly reflection. Let's pause and revisit the progress we've made toward our established goals. In our last edition, we set specific goals, tactics, and clear indicators to measure our success. Here's a recap of our journey thus far:

?? Reviewing Our Goals:

Our primary goal remains centered on using AI to enhance writing skills across all student groups, with a particular emphasis on inclusivity and equity. We made the deliberate choice to integrate AI tools into our teaching practice to offer personalized, effective, and engaging ways for students to enhance their writing.

?? Assessing Our Tactics:

1. Personalized Feedback: We successfully integrated the AI tools Curipod and SchoolAI for individualized writing feedback. Remarkably, students have not only embraced these tools but are also using them independently. In my high school science classes, students are increasingly turning to AI-generated feedback as a valuable resource for improvement.

2. Diverse Expression: Our encouragement of students to explore various writing genres and styles, with the support of AI, has shown promising outcomes. For instance, in the previous week, students composed a formal report on a topic of interest, and confidently presented professional, formal posters.

Building upon the skills they developed during those presentations, they have now composed persuasive messages about their topics. Each of these tasks required a unique form of communication, one that would effectively engage a different audience. It allowed students to recognize their adaptability and versatility in writing, highlighting how a person's voice can vary in different communication contexts.

3. MTSS Referrals and Continuous Monitoring: I have been actively assessing the efficiency of utilizing AI insights for precise interventions through MTSS referrals and evaluating the outcomes of consistently modifying teaching approaches. Some students struggled with finding reliable sources for their research. For these students, I recommended Perplexity , Consensus , and Semantic Scholar. Other students found the peer-reviewed articles difficult to digest. For these students, I recommended Anthropic Claude's PDF reader. These are all saved to a Wakelet collection that you can access here .

Some students with below-grade-level reading skills needed more intensive help. For these students, I used Diffit for Teachers and Twee to custom-write passages with personalized comprehension activities.

4. Student-Initiated Interactions with AI Tools: One of the most promising developments is the self-directed involvement of students with AI tools in their writing assignments. Students are not relying on AI to write on their behalf, but rather, using it as a coaching tool. They recognize that the feedback they receive closely resembles the guidance I would offer and they appreciate that they can have instant feedback to help them to enhance their ability to articulate their thoughts more effectively.

Additionally, it's essential to recognize the value of the deliberate instruction we provide to students on effectively using AI as a coaching tool. While they initially turn to AI for guidance, our goal is to empower them to become increasingly self-reliant in their writing journey. As students build their writing skills through AI coaching, they gradually rely less on the tool. This intentional approach fosters improved writing and the development of independent and confident writers who can navigate the writing process with proficiency. It's a journey of skill-building that empowers students to grow and adapt, ultimately enhancing their ability to express themselves effectively in various contexts.

?? Evaluating Our Indicators:

Let's take a closer look at our leading and lagging indicators to gauge our progress.

?? Leading Indicators: Students are increasingly comfortable using AI for feedback, with many commenting on its effectiveness. They appreciate the speed and convenience it offers compared to traditional feedback methods. Some even remark that AI-generated feedback seems as though it was written by me!

I attended and presented at FETC this week to explore more about AI-generated writing feedback tools, seeking to improve my approach.

?? Lagging Indicators: I've observed improvements in writing quality, but more notably, there has been a significant increase in student self-assessment. This indicates that students are not only improving their writing but also gaining a deeper understanding of their skills.

This reflection is about more than just measuring success; it's about understanding our journey, celebrating our achievements, and learning from the challenges we've encountered. Each step, whether significant or incremental, contributes to our overarching aim of enhancing writing education through AI, ensuring that our approach remains inclusive, supportive, and equitable.

?? Enhancing Self-Regulated Learning and Formative Assessment with AI

In our continued journey of integrating AI with culturally responsive teaching, let's consider how we may promote self-regulated learning among our students. Self-regulated learning, the ability to manage one's learning process, is a key driver of academic success. AI tools play a pivotal role in fostering this skill by providing timely, personalized feedback and opportunities for reflection and self-assessment.

?? Promoting Self-Regulated Learning:

AI-Assisted Feedback: These tools offer immediate and specific feedback on students' writing, encouraging them to reflect on their work, identify areas for improvement, and take proactive steps to enhance their skills. This process instills self-regulation as students learn to set goals, monitor their progress, and adapt their strategies based on the feedback they receive.

Goal Setting and Monitoring: Students can use AI tools to establish specific writing goals and track their progress over time. This cultivates a sense of ownership and responsibility for their learning journey.

?? Practical Measures in Formative Assessment:

Building on the foundation of self-regulated learning, consider how you can tailor your formative assessments to resonate with every aspect of student learning. The three dimensions of formative assessment—evaluation for a specific purpose, the choice of assessment type, and the inclusion of practical measures—provide a comprehensive framework for creating engaging and effective assessments.

?? Immediate Next Steps:

Activity Design: Over the next week, focus on designing activities that align with our three-dimensional formative assessment approach. Each activity should serve a specific purpose, employ an appropriate assessment type, and incorporate practical measures that go beyond content evaluation.

Student Identity and Engagement: Pay special attention to crafting assignments that allow students to see themselves in their work. This approach increases engagement and helps students form a deeper connection with the material.

Diverse Learning Preferences: Acknowledge the diverse learning styles of your students when designing activities. By aligning with these preferences, we aim to make learning more accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

?? Looking Ahead:

I am currently working with the amazing media specialist at school to prepare "Fall in Love With a Book" this Valentine's Day! ?? We're gearing up for an exciting whole-class book club adventure that invites students to explore a range of genres and reading levels. While there is variety in the genre and level, the common thread will be achievements in the realm of science. I hope that this will be a remarkable occasion for students to uncover the wonders of science through enthralling narratives, sparking their love for learning. Plus, this literary journey will expose them to diverse writing styles and provide valuable models to inspire their writing endeavors.

In the next edition, we'll dive into the implementation of the strategies and Fall in Love With a Book Club. We'll explore successes, challenges, and the adjustments made along the way.

Until then, I encourage you to contemplate how you might apply this three-dimensional approach to formative assessment in your classrooms. Consider how AI tools can assist you in fostering self-regulated learning. I look forward to our continued exploration of these concepts and more as we advance on this journey together.

Engaging with AI and Culturally Responsive Teaching:

As we navigate the intersection of AI, writing, and culturally responsive teaching, I invite each of you to actively engage with the ideas and strategies discussed here:

For the Classroom: Experiment with AI Tools: If you haven't already, start integrating AI feedback tools into your classroom. Observe how they affect student engagement and writing development.

Reflect on Your Practice: Consider how you can apply the three-dimensional formative assessment approach in your teaching. Reflect on the changes you observe in student participation and performance.

Community Engagement: Share Your Experiences: Join our community discussion by sharing how you have used AI tools in your classroom. What successes have you celebrated? What challenges have you faced?

See you soon!

I'll be at TCEA next week.

TCEA in Austin

Adobe Tools and Templates That Empower Creative Expression

Date & Time: February 4, 2024, 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM

Details: Unleash your students' creativity with Adobe tools and templates. This session focuses on empowering students to express themselves creatively and effectively in various digital formats.

Don't be shy, come right up and say hello!