Examining Preservice Teachers' Perspectives and Practices with Generative AI and Literacy Lesson Planning
Location
Helms Classroom #173
Session Format
Presentation
Abstract
This presentation will outline a current research study exploring the perspectives of elementary preservice teachers and their use of generative AI tools. This study explores preservice teachers’ perspectives on generative AI usage and then examines their ability to use and analyze outputs from the educational generative AI tool magicschool.ai. The presenters will provide details of the study including the mixed methods design and steps of implementation of their research project. Audience members will view the survey instrument, class slides used, and the data analysis techniques employed. Preliminary findings of the study will be shared along with early implications and steps for future research in this growing area. It is intended that audience members will leave with a more comprehensive understanding of how generative AI is perceived by preservice teachers and strategies to effectively engage in activities to assist preservice teachers in using and analyzing AI outputs.
Keywords
artificial intelligence, generative AI, preservice teachers, critical analysis
Professional Bio
Heather M. Huling, Ed. D. is currently an Assistant Professor in the Elementary Education Program at Georgia Southern University where she teaches courses in arts integration and children’s literature, language arts methods, and supervises preservice teachers in their senior level field experiences. She was an elementary educator in the public school system before moving into higher education to work with preservice teachers as a teacher educator and mentor. Her research interests focus on literacy education, mentoring preservice teachers, online learning, artificial intelligence in education, teacher education, and best practices in teaching. Kathleen Crawford, Ed.D., is currently an Associate Professor at Georgia Southern University, where she teaches elementary literacy courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Prior to joining the faculty at Georgia Southern, she was a K–5 literacy coach and fourth and fifth grade English language arts teacher. Her research interests include engaging literacy experiences, enhancing elementary teacher education, artificial intelligence in education, mentoring beginning teachers, exploring the emotional dynamics involved in teaching and learning, and designing effective online teaching practices.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Huling, Heather M. and Crawford, Kathleen, "Examining Preservice Teachers' Perspectives and Practices with Generative AI and Literacy Lesson Planning" (2026). Georgia Educational Research Association Conference. 26.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/gera/2026/2026/26
Examining Preservice Teachers' Perspectives and Practices with Generative AI and Literacy Lesson Planning
Helms Classroom #173
This presentation will outline a current research study exploring the perspectives of elementary preservice teachers and their use of generative AI tools. This study explores preservice teachers’ perspectives on generative AI usage and then examines their ability to use and analyze outputs from the educational generative AI tool magicschool.ai. The presenters will provide details of the study including the mixed methods design and steps of implementation of their research project. Audience members will view the survey instrument, class slides used, and the data analysis techniques employed. Preliminary findings of the study will be shared along with early implications and steps for future research in this growing area. It is intended that audience members will leave with a more comprehensive understanding of how generative AI is perceived by preservice teachers and strategies to effectively engage in activities to assist preservice teachers in using and analyzing AI outputs.
