Welcome to our webinar on leveraging the new possibilities offered by current AI tools in bilingual education. In this session, we will explore how integrating advanced AI technologies with structured instructional methods, such as the ExCEL method, can create transformative learning experiences that align with the latest technology standards. The ExCEL method, which stands for Explain, Create, Elaborate, is designed to scaffold the learning process and support the development of language skills among bilingual and ESL students.

Here is the outline of what we will be covering in the webinar:

• Understanding AI and Language Models (LLMs)
• AI in Education
• Key AI Tools (Introduction to ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude)
• The ExCEL (Explain – Create – Elaborate) Method and AI Integration
• Lesson Planning with AI
• AI for Language Acquisition and Development
• Differentiation with AI
• Assessment and Feedback with AI
• OpenAI’s Assistants and Fine-Tuning
• Claude’s Artifact

Standards Alignment

This alignment demonstrates how the webinar content will support educators in meeting the Texas State Board of Education Certification Standards for Bilingual Education, the Texas State Board of Education Standards for Technology Applications for Kindergarten through Grade 8 adopted by the State Board of Education (SBOE) in 2022, and the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standards for Students.

Texas State Board of Education Certification Standards for Bilingual Education

AI in Education

• Standard Covered: Effective Instruction and Assessment Across All Content Areas and Disciplines
  • Supports the standard to “design and implement instruction that addresses all language domains (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) through authentic, meaningful practice with content material” (Section 235.115 (d)(2)). The webinar will show how AI can be used responsibly to enhance problem-solving and technology use in education.

Key AI Tools (Introduction to ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude)

• Standard Covered: Practical Technology Concepts
  • Facilitates the standard to “evaluate and choose applications for relevance to an assigned task” (Section 235.115 (d)(4)). The webinar will introduce various AI tools, helping educators select relevant applications for their instructional needs.

The ExCEL (Explain – Create – Elaborate) Method and AI Integration

• Standard Covered: Creativity and Innovation
  • Enhances the standard to “use knowledge of major theories and research related to the nature and role of culture to design and select instructional materials, methods, and delivery techniques that facilitate learning for a multicultural, linguistically diverse classroom” (Section 235.115 (c)(1)). The webinar will explain how the ExCEL method can be integrated with AI to solve problems and explain concepts effectively.

Lesson Planning with AI

• Standard Covered: Effective Instruction and Assessment Across All Content Areas and Disciplines
  • Ties into the standard to “choose, adapt, and use a wide range of instructional materials, resources, and technologies for the diverse needs of ELs to support language and content knowledge acquisition while maintaining rigor” (Section 235.115 (d)(4)). The webinar will demonstrate how to decompose tasks and apply design thinking to lesson plans using AI.

AI for Language Acquisition and Development

• Standard Covered: Foundations of Language Acquisition
  • Addresses the standard to “apply understanding of the ELPS Proficiency Level Descriptors (PLDs) and the relationship of the ELPS PLDs to the stages of second language acquisition” (Section 235.115 (b)(11)). The webinar will show how AI can analyze data trends in language learning to support this understanding.

Differentiation with AI

• Standard Covered: Effective Instruction and Assessment Across All Content Areas and Disciplines
  • Aligns with the standard to “implement effective classroom management methods that support a culturally and linguistically diverse classroom” (Section 235.115 (d)(7)). The webinar will cover customizing learning processes with AI to meet diverse student needs.

Assessment and Feedback with AI

• Standard Covered: Effective Instruction and Assessment Across All Content Areas and Disciplines
  • Supports the standard to “use ongoing quantitative and qualitative data to demonstrate content and language development, inform planning, and adjust instruction” (Section 235.115 (d)(22)). The webinar will explain how to use digital tools to analyze and communicate data for assessments and feedback.

Claude’s Artifact

• Standard Covered: Effective Instruction and Assessment Across All Content Areas and Disciplines
  • Supports the standard to “recognize and address the various factors that affect reading comprehension and implement applicable methods of reading instruction” (Section 235.115 (d)(16)). The webinar will use data to create and publish results, showing how AI can support literacy and content knowledge development.

Texas State Board of Education Standards for Technology 

The webinar on AI and bilingual education aligns with the updated standards for technology applications for Kindergarten through Grade 8, adopted by the State Board of Education (SBOE) in 2022, in the following ways:

AI in Education

• Standard Covered: Digital Citizenship – Social Interactions
  • Supports digital citizenship and creativity and innovation by showing responsible AI use and problem-solving with technology. Specific Expectations: “Identify and demonstrate responsible behavior within a digital environment.”

Key AI Tools (Introduction to ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude)

• Standard Covered: Practical Technology Concepts – Processes
  • Facilitates practical technology concepts by evaluating and choosing relevant applications. Specific Expectations: “Evaluate and choose applications for relevance to an assigned task.”

The ExCEL (Explain – Create – Elaborate) Method and AI Integration

• Standard Covered: Creativity and Innovation – Innovative Design Process
  • Enhances creativity and innovation by using the design process to solve problems and explain concepts. Specific Expectations: “Use a design process with components such as asking questions, brainstorming, or storyboarding to identify and solve authentic problems.”

Lesson Planning with AI

• Standard Covered: Computational Thinking – Foundations
  • Ties into computational thinking and creativity by decomposing tasks and applying design thinking to lesson plans. Specific Expectations: “Identify and communicate a problem or task and break down (decompose) multiple solutions into sequential steps.”

AI for Language Acquisition and Development

• Standard Covered: Data Literacy, Management, and Representation – Organize, Manage, and Analyze Data
  • Addresses computational thinking and data literacy by analyzing data trends in language learning. Specific Expectations: “Use digital tools to transform data in order to identify and discuss trends and make inferences.”

Differentiation with AI

• Standard Covered: Creativity and Innovation – Innovative Design Process
  • Aligns with creativity and innovation by customizing learning processes. Specific Expectations: “Practice personal skills and behaviors, including following directions and mental agility, needed to implement a design process successfully.”

Assessment and Feedback with AI

• Standard Covered: Data Literacy, Management, and Representation – Communicate and Publish Results
  • Supports data literacy, management, and representation by using digital tools to analyze and communicate data. Specific Expectations: “Use digital tools to communicate and display data from a product or process to inform an intended audience.”

OpenAI’s Assistants and Fine-Tuning

• Standard Covered: Practical Technology Concepts – Processes
  • Ties into practical technology concepts and computational thinking by customizing AI tools for specific tasks. Specific Expectations: “Create and design files in various formats such as text, graphics, video, and audio files.”

Claude’s Artifact

• Standard Covered: Data Literacy, Management, and Representation – Organize, Manage, and Analyze Data
  • Supports data literacy and creativity by using data to create and publish results. Specific Expectations: “Use digital tools to analyze and transform data and make inferences to answer questions.”

International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standards

Understanding AI and Language Models (LLMs)

• Standard Covered: Computational Thinker
  • Aligns with computational thinking as it covers core concepts and the relevance of different AI applications. Specific Expectations: “Formulate problem definitions suited for technology-assisted methods such as data analysis, abstract models, and algorithmic thinking in exploring and finding solutions.”

AI in Education

• Standard Covered: Digital Citizen
  • Supports digital citizenship and innovative design by showing responsible AI use and problem-solving with technology. Specific Expectations: “Engage in positive, safe, legal, and ethical behavior when using technology, including social interactions online or when using networked devices.”

Key AI Tools (Introduction to ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude)

• Standard Covered: Empowered Learner
  • Facilitates practical technology concepts by evaluating and choosing relevant applications. Specific Expectations: “Understand the fundamental concepts of technology operations, demonstrate the ability to choose, use, and troubleshoot current technologies, and are able to transfer their knowledge to explore emerging technologies.”

The ExCEL (Explain – Create – Elaborate) Method and AI Integration

• Standard Covered: Innovative Designer
  • Enhances creativity and innovation by using the design process to solve problems and explain concepts. Specific Expectations: “Know and use a deliberate design process for generating ideas, testing theories, creating innovative artifacts, or solving authentic problems.”

Lesson Planning with AI

• Standard Covered: Computational Thinker
  • Ties into computational thinking by decomposing tasks and applying design thinking to lesson plans. Specific Expectations: “Formulate problem definitions suited for technology-assisted methods such as data analysis, abstract models, and algorithmic thinking in exploring and finding solutions.”

AI for Language Acquisition and Development

• Standard Covered: Knowledge Constructor
  • Addresses data literacy by analyzing data trends in language learning. Specific Expectations: “Plan and employ effective research strategies to locate information and other resources for their intellectual or creative pursuits.”

Differentiation with AI

• Standard Covered: Innovative Designer
  • Aligns with creativity and innovation by customizing learning processes. Specific Expectations: “Develop, test, and refine prototypes as part of a cyclical design process.”

Assessment and Feedback with AI

• Standard Covered: Knowledge Constructor
  • Supports data literacy, management, and representation by using digital tools to analyze and communicate data. Specific Expectations: “Evaluate the accuracy, perspective, credibility, and relevance of information, media, data, or other resources.”

OpenAI’s Assistants and Fine-Tuning

• Standard Covered: Empowered Learner
  • Ties into practical technology concepts and computational thinking by customizing AI tools for specific tasks. Specific Expectations: “Articulate and set personal learning goals, develop strategies leveraging technology to achieve them, and reflect on the learning process itself to improve learning outcomes.”

Claude’s Artifact

• Standard Covered: Knowledge Constructor
  • Supports data literacy and creativity by using data to create and publish results. Specific Expectations: “Curate information from digital resources using a variety of tools and methods to create collections of artifacts that demonstrate meaningful connections or conclusions.”