artificial intelligence has entered our classrooms (sometimes invited and sometimes not), leaving educators raising essential questions about its implementation and impact. Educators are exploring how ai can be used to redefine learning experiences, strengthen relationships between students and teachers, and support students as ethical users and creators of ai.
Recently, I spoke with several teachers about their main questions and reflections on the use ai” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener nofollow”>ai in teaching and learning. Their thought-provoking answers challenge us to consider not only what ai can do, but also what it means for meaningful and equitable learning environments. With these reflections in mind, we can better understand how we move towards meaningful integration of ai in education.
Walberto Flores: How could we redefine teaching and learning?
The real question is not just what tasks ai can help us perform faster or easier, but rather what tasks educators can do. ought we are doing and how ai can help us achieve those goals.
Using ai is not about repeating what we already do, but about challenging ourselves to do what we should. It's not about doing things faster but about doing what is essential and doing it well. The innovation that ai offers is not in the technology itself, but in how much better it can help us become as educators.
We should ask ourselves how ai can help us provide more meaningful time to our students, foster authentic relationships, and serve as role models for them to become better people.
Ann David: What about the relationships between teachers and students?
Whatever the next technology, from paper to ai, the relationship between students and teachers has always been fundamental to learning. As ai begins to take on more tasks, like lesson plans, worksheets, and emails to parents, this is an opportunity to refocus on what ai can't replicate: the relationship between a teacher and a student. student that is essential for learning.
New technologies often distance teachers, administrators, and schools from that approach. I put a smart board to the test in the early 2000s. Did it do more than my board? Yes, but I still needed to get to know my students. Relationships are often the solution to real challenges. If ai can create more space for teacher-student relationships in the learning process, that is an unquestionable good.
Hue-An Wren: How can we use ai to create student-centered practices?
This technology gives us the opportunity to move away from outdated teaching practices that no longer serve today's students and better prepare them for the future. Student-centered learning allows us to guide all students at the pace they need and want, and ai can help us overcome existing obstacles so we can move toward a more personalized learning experience.
artificial intelligence tools have already proven useful in improving teacher productivity and fostering student creativity. We need to encourage more conversations about these benefits in ways that are not intimidating. ISTE's infographic on the use of ai in the classroom can be a useful resource to facilitate discussion among educators.
Pattie Morales: How can we empower students to use ai ethically in and out of the classroom?
To ensure that students are trained not only to use ai ethically but also to understand how it is created, we must begin with a focus on creating a skill progression from kindergarten to 12th grade that covers understanding and exploring machine learning and key concepts around learners. Use of ai, such as ethics and data privacy. This progression should also include real-world scenarios and design thinking projects in which students develop ai tools using code.
Hannah Davis Ketteman: As we dive headfirst into a future where generative ai answers our questions, our students, while tech-savvy, often overlook what happens behind the scenes, like where their data goes and who. possesses. While ai is useful, it is important to remember that these interactions are data-driven and lack human empathy, compassion, and understanding. As information becomes more and more commonplace, we must be aware of our humanity, knowing that our values and connections truly complete us.
Schools should create intentional and acceptable use policies and explicitly teach students about data privacy, digital citizenship, technological biases, and the power of critical thinking. If we can address these questions, I think we are really doing our job: engaging students in real-world experiences while guiding them through difficult topics.
Betzabe Orenos: How can students advocate for the use of ai in the classroom?
It's a valid question that even my high school students ask. They observe teachers using ai to plan lessons, provide feedback, and generate project ideas. This raises a question of fairness: if teachers rely on ai, why can't students? Encourage educators to personalize ai-generated content and encourage open dialogue about the use of ai. It is exciting to see students eager to participate in these conversations. They want to defend ai in the classroom, but also understand how to use it ethically, responsibly and productively.
Guiding both teachers and students on the ethical and responsible use of ai is key. Teachers should model best practices and enable students to explore the potential and ethical implications of ai. Without this space, ai could continue to be seen as simply a tool for cheating rather than an opportunity for students to learn and innovate under guidance.
Empower the next generation with responsible ai practices
As teachers and students explore the world of ai together, how we handle this technology in classrooms today will have a lasting impact on society. By encouraging ethical use, responsible choices, and a focus on relationships, we are preparing students to thoughtfully interact with ai, both now and in the future.
Teachers play a key role in showing how ai can be used in learning while keeping equity, empathy and ethics at the center. As students begin to advocate for ai in their education, they also learn to think about its broader impact. Through these classroom experiences, we can ensure that ai is used for good, helping not only individuals but entire communities.
The conversations we have with students today will enable them to create a future where ai improves learning, fosters creativity, and supports responsible digital habits. By thoughtfully embracing ai, teachers and students alike are laying the foundation for a more equitable and compassionate technological world.
