Preservice Teachers’ Planning With AI: Mapping TPACK Levels and ChatGPT Interaction During Literary Unit Planning

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Saturday 5:10 pm Four Seasons Ballroom 1
  In Roundtable Session: Interrogating the Role of Technology in Teacher Development (Table 9)

Abstract

Using the TPACK and Community of Practice frameworks, this study maps the relationship between preservice teachers’ levels of knowledge and their interaction with ChatGPT during the design of a literary unit on a canonical text. Data sources include the screen recordings and audio from three days of unit planning, the associated ChatGPT outputs, and final unit materials. Findings suggest that preservice teachers with stronger pedagogical content knowledge quickly learned how to meaningfully interact with ChatGPT, while students with low levels of knowledge have suboptimal interactions. This study underscores the value of training preservice teachers to effectively use AI in planning as competency with GenAI supports the development of culturally-relevant educators, fosters self-efficacy, and is necessary for the evolving educational landscape.

Authors

• Mike Frazier, Michigan State University

• Jennifer L. VanDerHeide, Michigan State University

• Luke Sisung, Michigan State University