
Lesson Plan: AI as a Coding Coach
Purpose: A 45-60 minute lesson that helps students compare AI as a coding coach with AI as a code replacement while practicing explanation, debugging, testing, and student ownership.
Module B
The AI + Coding Starter Kit helps students use AI as a coding coach, not a code replacement. The resources support Python debugging, better coding questions, student ownership, verification, ethical AI use, and classroom-ready programming routines for grades 8-12.
AI should help students code better, not avoid learning code.
This module is designed for Computer Science Foundations, introductory Python, AI literacy, and digital ethics instruction. It reinforces the idea that AI can explain, hint, debug, and generate practice, but students must still read code, make decisions, test results, document changes, and own the final work.
The AI as a Coding Coach lesson helps students distinguish productive AI support from code replacement while practicing debugging, explanation, verification, and student ownership.
Download PDFThese resources include cautious standards alignment notes for Tennessee Computer Science Foundations where applicable. View standards alignment notes. Final use should be confirmed against local district pacing, approved course placement, and teacher directions.

Purpose: A 45-60 minute lesson that helps students compare AI as a coding coach with AI as a code replacement while practicing explanation, debugging, testing, and student ownership.

Purpose: A student activity using simple Python bugs to practice reading errors, asking for hints, fixing code, and documenting verification.

Purpose: A prompt handout that teaches students how to ask AI for explanations, hints, debugging support, and practice without giving away ownership of their code.

Purpose: A rubric for evaluating student ownership, debugging process, prompt quality, code understanding, verification, and academic integrity.

Purpose: A sample interaction showing how a student can ask AI for debugging support while still doing the thinking, testing, and explanation.

Purpose: A short guide for introducing AI-supported coding routines, classroom norms, teacher language, and administrator-facing value.

Purpose: A 3-5 minute video script explaining how AI-supported debugging can strengthen learning when students remain responsible for code decisions.
For the broader teaching approach behind these materials, see the Teaching Philosophy page.