Spotlight 4 Success

Igniting Passion for AI

• American Book Company • Season 1

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This episode is a treasure trove of practical advice as Isabelle Champagne  shares her expertise on leveraging AI profiles and gamification in education, part of her master's program at Nichols State University. She passionately encourages educators, especially those more seasoned, to embrace AI's potential and enhance their teaching practices. Listen to her inspiring tales from the classroom, as she emphasizes the importance of teaching students to use AI ethically, preparing them for a future intertwined with technology. Whether you're an educator, a tech enthusiast, or simply curious about the intersection of AI and education, Isabelle's insights will captivate and inform.

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Devin Pintozzi:

Welcome to Spotlight for Success by American Book Company. I am Devin Pintozzi, your host. We are here at LACUE with Izzy Champagne, with Evergreen Junior High in Terrebonne, parish. Welcome Izzy.

Isabelle Champagne:

Hi, it's good to be here.

Devin Pintozzi:

Wow, I understand that you are an inclusion teacher. Is that right?

Isabelle Champagne:

Yes, I am.

Devin Pintozzi:

Oh, that's wonderful. So what brings you to the LACUE Technology Conference?

Isabelle Champagne:

So I'm here presenting with my master's program at Nichols State University. This is a part of our master program where we come and we present our final proposals.

Devin Pintozzi:

Wow, that's wonderful. And so you said you're presenting proposals here at LACUE?

Isabelle Champagne:

Yes, I have two. We were comparing AI profiles and the different ones, the big ones, chatgpt, copilot and Gemini. And then now I'm going into a gamification one.

Devin Pintozzi:

Wow, that is wonderful. And what are your teachers or the people that attend your sessions? What are they hoping to get out of that?

Isabelle Champagne:

So just really how to apply that AI to their programs and which one would suit them best in their educator role. Basically, like we compared how they produce information and what would be the best way to utilize that information for their content.

Devin Pintozzi:

Wow, that is wonderful Izzy. What did you learn initially that brought you into becoming an educator here in Louisiana?

Isabelle Champagne:

Well, I started off in nursing. I was in a nursing program for a good three semesters before I started working in an after-school program. There I actually worked with a couple of students who, like I, really connected with and we started talking about books and he got me to read the whole Harry Potter series and I really liked that genuine connection that I was able to make with these kids and I ended up switching my major after getting that position. So I realized that I really wanted to work with children more than I wanted to be a nurse.

Devin Pintozzi:

Oh wow, that is wonderful. And so how do you feel that technology has helped you in the inclusion environment with your work?

Isabelle Champagne:

Yeah, so, being in inclusion, you're dealing with a lot of paperwork and a lot of different kids and different needs. So what I've taken which some inclusion teachers haven't gotten to really utilize yet is I will use AI to help me with my differentiation process and I'll input their accommodations and it'll give me a good range of how I can meet those students needs, especially dealing with IEP goals, making sure that I'm meeting all the goals to the best of our ability. Another thing I do is I'm able to take my anecdotal notes that I take on my students weekly and I'm able to make a generated report for their parent, whenever I do have IEP meetings, of what I've been seeing in class.

Devin Pintozzi:

Oh wow, that is wonderful.

Isabelle Champagne:

Cuts time in half.

Devin Pintozzi:

That is fantastic. That's great. What are you hoping to get out of LACUE here today?

Isabelle Champagne:

Definitely trying to take what I learn and give it back to my teachers, especially veteran teachers, who haven't really bridged the gap between just using the platform but using the more minute details of how they can make it more effective for the students.

Devin Pintozzi:

Oh, that's wonderful, and so would there be anything you'd like to share with the LACUE community?

Isabelle Champagne:

Well, my biggest thing is not shying away from AI, because it's here to stay, and really just giving it to your students and showing them how to use it ethically, because your students are going to use it behind your back either way.

Devin Pintozzi:

That's a really good point. Well, thank you so much, Izzy Terrebonne-Parish, for participating with us here at LACUE.

Isabelle Champagne:

Yes, thank you so much.

Devin Pintozzi:

Thank you. Have a good day

Isabelle Champagne:

You too.