AI Integration for Adult Education

AI tools in the ABE and ESL classrooms: Practical applications to enhance adult learning experiences and outcomes.

CW

ABE NYC 2025

Cynthia Wiseman

Chat GPT/AI – What do you think?

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8447 8050

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https://www.menti.com/alkdq2jnk2ek

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Why AI in Adult Education?

Efficiency

AI tools automate routine tasks. This gives instructors more time for meaningful interactions.

Personalization

Adapts to individual learning needs. Students progress at their optimal pace.

Engagement

Interactive elements boost motivation. Adult learners stay committed to their goals.

Accessibility

Removes barriers to education. More adults can access quality learning resources.

Personalized Learning Platforms

Khan Academy

Offers comprehensive math and reading resources. AI tracks progress and suggests next steps.

IXL

Provides skill practice with immediate feedback. Adapts questions based on performance.

Century Tech

Creates personalized learning paths. Identifies knowledge gaps for targeted intervention.

1. Personalized Learning with AI Platform (e.g., Khan Academy)

Objective: Improve foundational math skills.

Lesson Plan:

• Warm-up (10 mins): Quick oral math drill (addition/subtraction).
• Main Activity (30 mins): Learners log into Khan Academy, work on a personalized math path (placed via diagnostic test).
• Support (15 mins): Teacher reviews student dashboard, checks progress, and provides one-on-one support.

Exercise:

• Use Khan Academy to complete a “Place Value” lesson.
• Students take notes and explain one concept they learned to a peer.

AI Chatbots for Practice

Basic Conversations

Students practice everyday dialogues. They build confidence in a safe environment.

Question Answering

Learners get immediate responses to queries. No waiting for instructor availability.

Reading Comprehension

AI discusses reading materials with students. It checks understanding through conversation.

Numeracy Support

Chatbots explain math concepts step-by-step. They adapt explanations to the learner's level.

2. AI Chatbot for Reading Comprehension (ChatGPT)

Objective: Practice reading comprehension and inference skills.

Lesson Plan:

• Warm-up (10 mins): Read a short paragraph aloud as a class.
• Main Activity (30 mins): Students use ChatGPT to ask questions like:
• “Can you quiz me on this paragraph?”
• “Summarize this in simpler language.”
• Wrap-up (10 mins): Students write down 2 new words and define them using ChatGPT.

Exercise Prompt for ChatGPT:

“Here is a paragraph I read. Can you ask me 3 multiple-choice questions about it?”

Speech-to-Text Tools

Google Docs Voice Typing

Free and accessible within familiar interface. Works across multiple languages for ESL learners.

Otter.ai

Transcribes speech with high accuracy. Creates searchable notes from conversations.

Microsoft Dictate

Integrated in Office products. Supports learners with limited typing abilities.

3. Speech-to-Text for Writing Practice

Objective: Build writing fluency using dictation.

Lesson Plan:

• Intro (10 mins): Discuss today’s writing prompt (e.g., “Describe your morning routine.”)
• Activity (20 mins): Students use Google Docs Voice Typing or Otter.ai to speak their response.
• Review (15 mins): Students edit their transcription for grammar and spelling.
• Share (5 mins): Peer sharing or group feedback.

Exercise Prompt:

"Use speech-to-text to write 3-5 sentences about your favorite meal. Then, edit it for punctuation."

Automated Writing Feedback

Write Draft

Students compose initial text. They express ideas without worry about errors.

Receive AI Feedback

Tools like Grammarly highlight issues. They explain grammar rules and suggest improvements.

Revise Independently

Learners make corrections based on feedback. They develop self-editing skills.

Track Progress

AI shows error reduction over time. Students gain confidence seeing their improvement.

Gamified Learning Apps

Duolingo

Uses game mechanics to teach language skills. Adaptive AI ensures appropriate challenge levels.

ProLiteracy Apps

Focuses on adult literacy needs. Tracks progress and celebrates milestones.

Babbel

Incorporates speech recognition for pronunciation. Delivers personalized review sessions.

ESL: Conversational AI Practice

Grocery Shopping

Practice food vocabulary and asking for help. Master everyday shopping interactions.

Job Interviews

Prepare for common questions. Build confidence for employment opportunities.

Doctor Visits

Learn to describe symptoms and understand instructions. Navigate healthcare conversations.

Public Transportation

Practice asking for directions and buying tickets. Gain independence in daily travel.

Conversational Practice with Chatbot (ChatGPT or ELSA)

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Objective: Practice real-life conversational English.

Lesson Plan:

• Warm-up (10 mins): Vocabulary preview for a scenario (e.g., “Going to the doctor”).
• Main Activity (25 mins): Students use ChatGPT to simulate a doctor’s visit.
• Example: “Pretend you’re a doctor. Ask me questions about my symptoms.”
• Wrap-up (15 mins): Discuss common phrases or tricky vocabulary.

Exercise:

“ChatGPT, pretend to be a receptionist. Help me schedule an appointment.”

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ESL: Pronunciation Practice

Fluent Conversation

Natural rhythm and intonation

Sentence Practice

Word connections and stress patterns

Sound Mastery

Difficult phonemes and minimal pairs

Apps like ELSA Speak and Google's Read Along use AI to analyze speech patterns. They provide visual feedback on pronunciation accuracy and suggest specific improvements.

Pronunciation Practice (ELSA Speak or Read Along)

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Objective: Improve English pronunciation.

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Lesson Plan:

• Intro (5 mins): Introduce today's focus sounds (e.g., “th” or “sh”).
• Activity (20 mins): Students use ELSA Speak to practice.
• Reinforcement (15 mins): Pair students to record each other reading a dialogue.
• Wrap-up (10 mins): Class discusses tricky words and tracks their progress in the app.

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Exercise:

Use ELSA Speak to practice the sentence: “I thought the thunder was thrilling.” Score your pronunciation, and repeat until you improve.

ELSA Speak

Description: Pronunciation coach that gives feedback on spoken English using speech recognition.

Link: https://www.elsaspeak.com

Use Cases:

• Speaking: Helps learners practice and improve their English pronunciation.

How to Use:

1. Download the ELSA Speak app from the App Store or Google Play.
2. Sign up and take the initial assessment.
3. Choose lessons and speak into the microphone to practice.
4. Review pronunciation scores and suggestions.

ESL: Real-time Translation Tools

Visual Translation

Scan text with smartphone camera

Speech Translation

Convert spoken English to native language

Subtitle Support

Add captions to videos in preferred language

Tools like Google Translate and Microsoft Translator serve as scaffolds for beginners. They help students understand content while gradually developing English skills.

ESL: AI Writing Assistance

These tools help ESL learners improve their writing by suggesting more natural phrasing. They serve as digital tutors available whenever students need guidance.

Grammarly

Description: AI-powered grammar checker and writing assistant.

Link: https://www.grammarly.com

Use Cases:

• Writing: Provides corrections, suggestions, and explanations for written text.

How to Use:

1. Visit https://www.grammarly.com and create an account.
2. Install the browser extension or use the online editor.
3. Paste or type your text to receive real-time feedback.
4. Review suggestions and make improvements.

ESL: Adaptive Vocabulary Building

Tool

Key Feature

Best For

Memrise

Spaced repetition algorithm

Long-term retention

Quizlet

Multiple practice modes

Diverse learning styles

Anki

Customizable flashcards

Specialized vocabulary

Vocabulary.com

Contextual examples

Understanding usage

Real-Time Translation & Vocabulary (Google Translate + Quizlet AI Flashcards)

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Objective: Learn 10 new vocabulary words.

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Lesson Plan:

• Intro (5 mins): Show vocabulary in context using a short article or video.
• Activity (20 mins): Students use Google Translate to understand unfamiliar words.
• Practice (20 mins): Students create Quizlet flashcards; AI generates multiple-choice and matching games.
• Review (10 mins): Class plays a Quizlet Live game.

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Exercise:

Translate 5 words from your reading. Add them to Quizlet and use AI to generate a quiz.

ChatGPT

Vocabulary

Conversation

Pronunciation

Explore ChatGPTs

AI for Instructor Planning

Generate Ideas

Ask AI for theme-based activities. Get suggestions for different proficiency levels.

Create Materials

Produce worksheets and handouts. Customize content for specific learner needs.

Differentiate Instruction

Develop tiered assignments. Support learners at various skill levels.

Design Assessments

Create level-appropriate quizzes. Generate rubrics for performance evaluation.

Data-Driven Instruction

85%

Assignment Completion

Track engagement trends across your program

32%

Error Patterns

Identify common struggles requiring intervention

4.2x

Practice Frequency

See which activities drive repeated engagement

Platforms like Nearpod and Edpuzzle offer rich analytics on student performance. These insights help instructors target instruction where it's most needed.