Where’s the technology in AI-generated civics education lesson plans?

In this exploratory cross-platform study, we examined the integration of technology in lesson plans created by 3 general-purpose GenAI chatbots (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot) and 5 education-specific GenAI tools (e.g., MagicSchool, Eduaide AI, PadletTA, JiffySheets, and Brisk). We generated and analyzed 450 GenAI-generated lesson plans containing 3,161 learning activities. The PICRAT Model for Technology Integration in Teacher Preparation was used to examine patterns of technology integration across lesson plans and activities. Findings revealed an almost total absence of technology integration other than occasional uses of slides and videos. Rarely did the plans offer teachers ways to actively engage students in higher-order thinking and design-based learning with technology. Our findings show a need for teacher educators as well as preservice and inservice teachers to critically examine the results of AI-generated lesson plans before using them to guide classroom learning activities for students.