Field Activity

The source of feedback for this lesson was AI (ChatGPT), combined with my own reflection as the lesson designer. I asked AI to review the lesson for clarity of the learning objectives, alignment between the objectives and assessment, coherence of the lesson sequence, and the integration of sustainability throughout the activity. Rather than simply asking whether the lesson was "good," I asked AI to critique the lesson as if it were reviewing it against a teaching rubric.

The AI feedback confirmed that the learning objectives were measurable and aligned with the hands-on activity, but it also identified several opportunities to strengthen the lesson. One recommendation was to make the connection between sustainability and the learning objectives more explicit so that students would not simply build biodegradable seed starters but would also explain why biodegradable materials are environmentally beneficial. Based on this feedback, I revised the student worksheet to include reflection questions asking students to explain how their design reduces waste and why biodegradable materials are a more sustainable choice than plastic containers. This ensured that sustainability became an assessed learning outcome rather than simply part of the activity.

AI also suggested strengthening the assessment by ensuring that every learning objective had corresponding evidence of student learning. As a result, I organized the assessment into both formative and summative components. During the lesson, formative assessment occurs through teacher observations and questioning while students explore materials and construct their seed starters. The summative assessment includes the completed worksheet, the finished biodegradable seed starter, and each student's written or verbal explanation describing how their design supports sustainability. These revisions improved the alignment between the objectives, learning activities, and assessment protocol.

Using AI as a design partner did not replace my professional judgment; instead, it provided an additional perspective on evaluating the lesson before implementation. The conversation prompted me to think more intentionally about constructive alignment, ensuring that every objective was supported by meaningful learning experiences and authentic assessment. It also reminded me that sustainability should not simply be mentioned during instruction but should be explicitly assessed through opportunities for students to justify and reflect on their design decisions. This experience demonstrated that AI can serve as an effective instructional coach by asking questions, identifying areas for improvement, and helping educators refine lesson design while allowing the teacher to make the final instructional decisions.

Assessment Protocol

Formative Assessment:
Occurs during material exploration and design. The teacher uses observation and questioning to assess understanding and guide student thinking.

Summative Assessment:

Student worksheet
Final product
Student explanation

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