Blended Learning: AI in Curriculum Development
As the lead for this project, I designed and executed a blended learning event aimed at aligning curriculum with educational standards and saving curriculum development time across the team. I guided over 20 educators in using ChatGPT to craft learning outcomes, assessments, and lesson plans. Additionally, I developed a comprehensive microlearning module that facilitated idea generation and content refinement. Despite initial resistance to change, the learning event successfully demonstrated a 50% reduction in lesson planning time and achieved the school administration's goals of aligning school programs with Ontario Ministry of Education guidelines across the team.
Audience: K-12 teachers​
Responsibilities: Project Management, Learning Design and Development, Training Delivery​
Tools: Miro Board, Articulate Rise, Canva, Zoom
Problem & Solution
The school administration aimed to standardize curriculum development across the team to ensure alignment with Ontario Ministry of Education guidelines. However, this initiative faced resistance from teachers who were concerned about the increased workload that curriculum development might entail.
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To address this challenge, I designed and facilitated a blended learning event focused on using ChatGPT for curriculum development through a backward design approach (Understanding by Design/UbD). The goal was to show educators the potential of AI in reducing their curriculum development time and equip them with the necessary skills.
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The learning experience included a gamified Zoom session where teachers shared their pain points and witnessed AI's potential in alleviating their workload. This was followed by a microlearning module that reviewed backward design (UbD) and demonstrated AI integration at every stage. Additionally, I adapted a UbD unit planner to align with Ontario Ministry guidelines for teachers' use.​
Process
Needs Analysis & Ideation: I interviewed key stakeholders and several teachers to identify specific needs and challenges. Based on these insights, I created an action map with clear learning objectives. I then developed a learner journey map, outlining teachers' needs, challenges, and emotions at each stage to create a tailored learning experience.​
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Microlearning Design & Development: I designed an initial gamified Zoom session to engage teachers and demonstrate the benefits of AI, making them receptive to the microlearning module. For the module, I reviewed the principles of backward design and illustrated AI implementation at each stage. I created a storyboard, designed visuals, and transferred everything to Articulate Rise.​
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Evaluation & Feedback: After implementation, I collected feedback from participants to assess the effectiveness of the training. Trainees demonstrated high satisfaction levels and reported a significant reduction in their curriculum development time by 50%. This feedback confirmed the training's success.
Results & Takeaways
Despite initial resistance to change, the learning event successfully demonstrated a 50% reduction in lesson planning time and achieved the school administration's goals of aligning school programs with Ontario Ministry of Education guidelines across the team.
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The use of the backward design approach (UbD) proved beneficial in aligning curriculum development with educational standards, ensuring that the end goals are met effectively.
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The successful integration of ChatGPT demonstrated that AI can significantly reduce curriculum development time, making it a valuable tool for educators. ​
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The initial gamified Zoom session effectively engaged teachers, showing that gamification can be a powerful strategy to overcome resistance and foster openness to new methods and technologies.​​
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The project's success indicates that similar approaches can be scaled and adapted to other educational contexts, offering a replicable model for improving curriculum development processes across teams of educators.
