Before this class, I had heard of AI tools, but had never really used them or understood them. It really shocked me the amount of ways they could be used, such as for generating a rubric or writing a country song. I had only really thought of AI such as ChatGPT as “cheating” but know I’m considering how many ways it could be used positively as a tool.

I think using it to cut out time researching for information would be really helpful, as that is something that takes a lot of time, yet once it is created it doesn’t really impact the quality of the writing if someone else curated the list. As I thought this was an interesting idea, I tried to get ChatGPT to find links for “benefits of origami” but it wasn’t able to do that. It could, however, give me a list of book references. Additionally, it surprised me how it was able to use previous questions to make connects. When I asked if it was able to make book references, it provided me with a list of books related to benefits of origami, a previous question I had asked it.

Trying out ChatGPT

I wanted to try to use ChatGPT to generate an origami lesson plan. I started by asking “lesson plan to teach origami” then I asked “can you make that lesson plan into a more organized format, maybe boxes?” and this is what I got:

Lesson Title: Introduction to Origami

Objective:

  • Students will learn basic origami folds and create simple origami models.
  • Students will develop patience, fine motor skills, and spatial awareness through origami practice.
  • Students will gain an appreciation for the cultural and artistic aspects of origami.

Materials:

  • Square sheets of origami paper or cut squares from regular paper
  • Projector or whiteboard for demonstrations
  • Printed instructions for basic origami folds
  • Examples of finished origami models
  • Optional: Video tutorials for additional guidance

Lesson Outline:

  1. Introduction (15 minutes):
    • Brief overview of origami, its cultural significance, and benefits.
    • Show examples of finished origami models.
    • Discuss the importance of precision and patience.
  2. Basic Folds (30 minutes):
    • Teach fundamental origami folds:
      • Valley fold
      • Mountain fold
      • Reverse fold
      • Sink fold
    • Demonstrate each fold on the board.
    • Allow students to practice with regular paper.
  3. First Origami Model: Crane (45 minutes):
    • Choose a simple origami model (e.g., paper crane).
    • Break down the folding process into steps.
    • Demonstrate each step, allowing students to follow along.
    • Provide individual guidance.
  4. Sharing and Reflection (15 minutes):
    • Students share finished paper cranes.
    • Discuss challenges and how they overcame them.
    • Reflect on the experience.
  5. Extension Activity (optional):
    • Provide additional origami models for early finishers.
    • Include online tutorials or diagrams.
  6. Conclusion (10 minutes):
    • Summarize key concepts learned.
    • Emphasize practice and patience.
    • Encourage further exploration at home.

Reflection

Although the lesson plan wasn’t perfect, and there are things I would change such as not starting with a crane as the first project, it was a great starting point for writing a lesson plan, and could help spark ideas. I think AI is a really great tool, but there are also negative points about it that have to be kept in mind. If AI is going to be beneficial, it has to be used as a tool, not a human replacement.