Co-Designing Lessons with AI: Elementary Teachers’ Use of Generative AI for Student-Centered Learning

• In Event: AERA Poster Session Wednesday 7:45am
  In Poster Session: Teaching with and through AI: Reimagining Classroom Practice

Abstract

This study examined the collaboration between elementary teachers and generative AI in designing student-centered lessons. Analysis of think-aloud data, lesson plans, AI chat logs, and interviews revealed that AI was especially helpful in generating ideas to enhance student motivation, peer interaction, and active participation. In contrast, teachers relied less on AI for tasks requiring higher cognitive effort, such as planning individualized feedback, supporting higher-order thinking, and designing formative assessments. Teachers described AI as a useful idea generator but noted challenges including repetitive output, limited contextual understanding, and technical constraints. The findings highlight both the usefulness and limitations of AI in lesson planning and suggest the need for tools better aligned with classroom contexts and capable of supporting cognitively demanding tasks

Authors

• Seoyeon Choi, Korea University

• Seulgi Jeong, Korea University

• Yeongje Kim, Korea University

• Insook Han, Korea University