About the Book
Artificial intelligence (AI) has sparked a huge debate among teachers and school leaders. Many questions arise about the trajectory of this new technology and where it will take us. How will we differentiate between student-authored work and AI-generated content? Will it lead to a loss of creativity and critical thinking skills? What impact will it have on the dynamics of learning and teaching within schools? These are all crucial topics for discussion, yet AI has already become part of our reality, and Gemma Clark firmly believes that embracing its potential is in our best interests.In an era defined by technological advances, Artificial Intelligence in the Primary Classroom stands as an indispensable resource that holds the key to transforming teaching and learning. For educators burdened by bureaucratic tasks that divert precious time from actual teaching this book offers a lifeline. It demonstrates how AI-powered tools can alleviate administrative burdens, enabling teachers to focus on the important job of nurturing young minds and to channel their energy and resources into higher-impact activities, such as crafting tailored learning experiences, giving children personalised feedback, and improving engagement. From time-consuming tasks like lesson planning, assessment, marking and automating report-writing processes to facilitating content creation, the book details tangible ways in which AI can streamline workflows, improve teaching and restore work-life balance. Other examples include: - Spelling Lessons: Save time when planning your spelling lessons by using AI to automatically generate a comprehensive list of phonemes or 'sounds suitable for teaching young children.'
- Mindfulness in the Classroom: If you are interested in incorporating mindfulness games and activities to assist children in relaxation and focus, AI can provide valuable suggestions for fostering pupil (and staff) wellbeing.
- PE Lessons: You don't have to be an expert in sports to teach PE. Whether it's tennis, football, rugby or running, AI can offer suggestions for activities, warm-ups and cool-downs to use in your PE lessons.
- Art Lessons: AI can be an excellent resource for planning art lessons, especially when seeking suggestions to emphasize one of the eight elements, such as line, shape, form, colour, value, texture, space, and value.
- Maths Lessons: As with spelling, AI can significantly reduce the time spent on creating maths questions and simplify the process of differentiation.
Artificial Intelligence in the Primary Classroom is filled with practical strategies, engaging activities and useful tips and tricks that will save teachers time and energy. Gemma provides transferrable ideas and lesson plans with step-by-step instructions that can be adapted and used in secondary settings, as well as primary. Backed up by real-world examples throughout, this book empowers teachers to embrace AI as a tool in fostering enhanced learning experiences, while also reclaiming invaluable time for pedagogical creativity.Suitable for primary school teachers of all levels of experience.
About the Author :
Gemma Clark is an experienced primary teacher based in Scotland. She is dedicated to student and teacher wellbeing and creating innovative ways to inspire a love for learning. Gemma also holds a degree in psychology, teaches yoga, mindfulness, and meditation and manages a teacher wellbeing group.
Review :
Gemma's insightful book on AI has played a crucial role in helping me overcome the initial uncertainty and confusion surrounding the topic. It has not only provided me with valuable guidance and ideas, but has also instilled in me the much-needed confidence to delve into the world of AI. Thanks to Gemma's book, I now understand the practicality and potential impact of AI, demonstrated by my use of AI to compose this response.Toria Bono
In a landscape where education constantly evolves to meet the demands of the digital age, Gemma's latest book stands out as a beacon of innovation and inspiration for teachers and school leaders, venturing as it does into the realm of artificial intelligence in the primary classroom. Important to state at the outset, this is not a book full of lesson plans; rather, it is an extremely helpful tool to help you start to visualise how to constructively incorporate AI into your daily teaching and planning.The great strength of this book is the sheer diversity of topics and issues it covers in a simple format. From how to incorporate AI into curricular areas such as literacy, maths, science and art, to how to develop schoolwide policies on mobile phone usage or implementing effective behaviour management strategies. This book is a must-use guide to bring your classroom and school in line with 21st century technology and thrive using it.There is currently a feeling among educators and others that using AI to help in the planning of teaching is somehow cheating or challenging our professionalism. This is a viewpoint that needs to change, and this guide is an ideal tool to help make that shift in our mindset to one that embraces innovation.As a primary teacher herself, Gemma writes with humour and a full understanding of what your day-to-day job entails, helping to provide practical tips on every page to address the challenges of teaching today. What is hugely commendable is her embedding of inclusive practice throughout the book - especially for EAL learners, neurodiverse learners, and teachers - and decolonising practices. All current and important issues. Gemma also highlights how using AI in the classroom can be a way to model its use in a positive way for learners. AI is not going anywhere, but incorporating it into pupil research, for instance, will help learners to understand that it is not about trying to find the answers, but is about helping them to ask critical questions and delve deeper into their learning.As Gemma states, 'We stand at the threshold of a new technological revolution'. We therefore simply must embrace the advancements in technology and I recommend starting with this book as an excellent step forward.Nuzhat Uthmani
This text provides a plethora of activities and insights into how artificial intelligence can be utilised positively to support learning, reduce teacher workload, and inspire pupils in our primary classrooms.It will be especially useful for educators who are feeling anxious about adopting artificial intelligence into their teaching, as Gemma Clark helps explain how to use AI in an accessible and purposeful way, thereby removing the fear of this new technology and instead fostering excitement and inspiration.All primary curriculum subject areas are covered, as well as a wide range of extracurricular areas where AI can be employed, such as in outdoor learning spaces, in assemblies, and even in after-school clubs.An inclusive approach is carefully considered in this text, with specific chapters exploring how AI can support pupil well-being, staff well-being, and learners, including those who are neurodivergent.If you haven't considered how AI can reduce your teacher workload, aid personalised learning, and help you to restore a more comfortable work-life balance, then this is the book for you!Poppy Gibson
