From Prompts to Practice: Teacher Candidates’ Integration of ChatGPT in Lesson Planning During Practicum

From Prompts to Practice: Teacher Candidates’ Integration of ChatGPT in Lesson Planning During Practicum | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article From Prompts to Practice: Teacher Candidates’ Integration of ChatGPT in Lesson Planning During Practicum Wenxuan Cai, Jim Hewitt This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7811305/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract This study examined preservice teachers’ use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbots for lesson planning during K-12 practicum placements. Using a convergent mixed-methods approach, we analyzed survey responses (n = 103; response rate = 12.88%) and conducted 4 semi-structured interviews to contextualize quantitative patterns. Among respondents, approximately three-quarters reported using AI chatbots for lesson-planning-related tasks, with ChatGPT being the most common tool. Exploratory analyses (χ² tests and a focused logistic model predicting frequent use (≥ half the time)) suggest that use frequency is driven more by perceived value and practical needs than by demographic factors. Interview data indicate that participants primarily used AI to save time and generate ideas, particularly under time pressure or when teaching less familiar topics, while noting risks related to curriculum alignment, accuracy, technical reliability, and over-reliance. Given the low response rate and likely self-selection, findings should be interpreted as indicative rather than fully generalizable. We conclude with program-level recommendations, including a minimal practicum policy toolkit (Appendix D) to support responsible and transparent AI use in teacher education. AI chatbots ChatGPT teacher education practicum lesson planning preservice teachers Full Text Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Supplementary Files Appendices.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7811305","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":613902500,"identity":"6a25a419-302b-4959-8128-3bb07bab92c8","order_by":0,"name":"Wenxuan Cai","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAABAElEQVRIiWNgGAWjYFACxgYYo/HBhwobMOMAkVqYmw1nnEkDixDQAgfsbdK8bYfBTLxa+NsPt0l83HE4sX92Y5s0z5nzdmvbDwNtqbGJxqVF4kxim+TMM2mJM+4cbLacU3E7eduZRKCWY2m5DTi0GDAktt3mbbNJbLiR2HjjzZnbyWYHgFoYGw7j1sL/sO323zaJxPk3EhskeNvOJZudf0hAiwTQFkagLRtuJDZJ8rYdsDO7QcAWiRsP23/2tqUZb7yRCArk5ASzG0BbEvD4hb8//bHBz7bDsvNupD8ERqWdvdl5EKPGBqcWDJAIVplArHIQsCdF8SgYBaNgFIwMAACKF3BcJ7ezSAAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0001-4397-699X","institution":"University of Toronto","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Wenxuan","middleName":"","lastName":"Cai","suffix":""},{"id":613902501,"identity":"6d584a64-5d15-4916-8b7c-36b97f870b14","order_by":1,"name":"Jim Hewitt","email":"","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7070-3447","institution":"University of Toronto","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Jim","middleName":"","lastName":"Hewitt","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-10-08 23:06:23","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":{"humanSubjects":true,"vertebrateSubjects":false,"conflictsOfInterestStatement":false,"humanSubjectEthicalGuidelines":true,"humanSubjectConsent":true,"humanSubjectClinicalTrial":false,"humanSubjectCaseReport":false,"vertebrateSubjectEthicalGuidelines":false},"doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7811305/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7811305/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":105793465,"identity":"43f3c51c-a7cc-4318-ba58-4e4da9ca1c5d","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-31 08:13:52","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":972469,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"EAITanonymizedmanuscriptclean.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7811305/v1_covered_ba752b60-ead6-44e1-9358-9c859bbf4b2a.pdf"},{"id":105793431,"identity":"155bb9e8-cbb5-44fa-9a7b-42d53e8594e5","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-31 08:13:42","extension":"docx","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"supplement","size":27235,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Appendices.docx","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7811305/v1/c58c4335fd2df68352072b98.docx"}],"financialInterests":"The authors declare no competing interests.","formattedTitle":"\u003cp\u003eFrom Prompts to Practice: Teacher Candidates’ Integration of ChatGPT in Lesson Planning During Practicum\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"University of Toronto","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"AI chatbots, ChatGPT, teacher education, practicum, lesson planning, preservice teachers","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7811305/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7811305/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThis study examined preservice teachers’ use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbots for lesson planning during K-12 practicum placements. Using a convergent mixed-methods approach, we analyzed survey responses (n = 103; response rate = 12.88%) and conducted 4 semi-structured interviews to contextualize quantitative patterns. Among respondents, approximately three-quarters reported using AI chatbots for lesson-planning-related tasks, with ChatGPT being the most common tool. Exploratory analyses (χ² tests and a focused logistic model predicting frequent use (≥ half the time)) suggest that use frequency is driven more by perceived value and practical needs than by demographic factors. Interview data indicate that participants primarily used AI to save time and generate ideas, particularly under time pressure or when teaching less familiar topics, while noting risks related to curriculum alignment, accuracy, technical reliability, and over-reliance. Given the low response rate and likely self-selection, findings should be interpreted as indicative rather than fully generalizable. We conclude with program-level recommendations, including a minimal practicum policy toolkit (Appendix D) to support responsible and transparent AI use in teacher education.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"From Prompts to Practice: Teacher Candidates’ Integration of ChatGPT in Lesson Planning During Practicum","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-03-31 08:11:48","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7811305/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"edf0c3b0-41df-44c1-ac35-dbadef092d81","owner":[],"postedDate":"March 31st, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-03-31T08:11:49+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-03-31 08:11:48","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-7811305","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-7811305","identity":"rs-7811305","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}