What a difference a year makes: Comparing PSTs’ use of GenAI in 2024 vs. 2025

• In Event: AI in Teacher Preparation: Exploring Literacy, Lesson Planning, and Collaborative Practices

Abstract

Research is just beginning to explore how practicing teachers and pre-service teachers (PSTs) leverage GenAI when lesson planning. The current study compares how two cohorts of PSTs (2024 and 2025) utilized GenAI to help design lesson plans in elementary mathematics. Findings showed that participants leveraged GenAI in three ways: idea generation, idea refinement and elaboration, and idea examination. Results further revealed that the 2025 PSTs were more cautious and nuanced when using GenAI for idea generation and more comfortable when using GenAI for idea examination. Participants from both cohorts described using GenAI as a helpful tool, yet acknowledged that they needed to filter the GenAI output using their understanding of mathematical instruction within a classroom context.

Authors

• Jennifer E. Lineback, Point Loma Nazarene University

• Elizabeth Holbrook, Point Loma Nazarene University