As I survey the rapidly evolving educational technology landscape, I’m struck by both the immense potential and the challenges artificial intelligence poses. On the one hand, the number of teachers who say they are using AI and approve of it has risen sharply over the past year. On balance, teachers and students see positive uses for AI technology in school, especially if they have used it themselves. Furthermore, AI technology has taken tremendous steps forward in personalizing student learning.
However, a recent Walton Foundation study revealed a stark reality: 75% of K12 teachers in the United States have received no AI training. More alarmingly, many schools still lack AI policies to guide educators and students. This gap in AI education for teachers isn’t merely a missed opportunity—it’s an urgent need we must address.
This column aims to help bridge that gap, providing actionable guidance, specific tools, concrete strategies, and viable ideas to implement AI in K12 classrooms. We’ll guide readers in thoughtfully and effectively experimenting with AI through practical tips, strategies, and spotlights on successful implementations.
The Current State of AI in Education
At this juncture, most teachers who use AI do so outside the classroom, mainly for tasks like generating lessons, preparing materials, and creating quizzes.
The Walton study reports that teachers are using AI to generate ideas for classes (37%), for lesson plans and preparation of teaching materials (32%), for student worksheets or examples (32%), and to create quizzes or tests (31%).
Yet, our ultimate objective should be to use AI to streamline administrative tasks and fundamentally enhance students’ learning. We should aim to create more engaging, personalized, and effective educational experiences that prepare our students for a future where AI will be ubiquitous while prioritizing education’s critical human elements.
Promises & Challenges
AI offers immense potential to enhance education. Its most promising aspect is its capacity to personalize learning for each student. These tools can adapt content delivery speed, subject depth, and teaching methods based on students’ real-time responses. This high level of customization may help lessons connect more meaningfully with students, potentially improving understanding and engagement.
However, AI also presents significant challenges. Concerns over errors, ethics, privacy, bias, and the changing role of teachers can make educators hesitant to embrace it. AI systems, trained on human-generated data, can perpetuate existing biases or make mistakes that could mislead students if not adequately monitored. Additionally, the lack of clear guidelines and training at schools leaves teachers needing guidance on integrating AI effectively, potentially leading to misuse.
Moving Beyond Automation, Gradually
While AI’s time-saving applications in education are valuable, we must encourage teachers to explore AI’s broader potential in teaching and learning. As such, this space will examine how AI can transform instructional practices, particularly when integrated directly into students’ learning experiences.
The focus will be on providing tangible strategies for incorporating AI into teaching tasks and student activities across various subjects. Rather than merely automating existing practices, we’ll explore how AI can enhance and transform the student experience. This approach challenges educators to transcend simple substitution and augmentation, instead harnessing AI’s potential to reshape teaching and learning fundamentally.
The ultimate aim is to empower educators to actively mold the role of AI in their classrooms and schools. As AI technology rapidly evolves, teachers have a unique opportunity—and indeed, a responsibility—to leverage its potential for supporting student growth. However, this requires developing a solid understanding and proficiency with AI tools.
This column doesn’t promise an overnight revolution. Instead, it advocates for a thoughtful evolution of teaching practices, always keeping student learning at the forefront.
Making Student Thinking Visible
One of the most powerful applications of AI in education is its ability to make student thinking visible. AI-powered tools can engage students in conversations, probe their understanding, and provide insights into their thought processes that might not be immediately apparent in traditional classroom interactions.
Robert Kowalski, an 8th-grade humanities teacher in Texas, experienced this firsthand when he used an AI teaching assistant for writing practice. He observed the back-and-forth between students and the AI, gaining valuable insights into their thinking and learning processes. This interaction allowed him to see how students approached problems, where they struggled, and how they incorporated feedback. He marveled at what he learned from observing the back-and-forth between students and AI. “I can see their thinking through the questions and answers they’re providing the AI.”
This visibility into student thinking can be transformative for educators. It allows for more targeted interventions, helps identify common misconceptions, and provides a wealth of data to inform instructional decisions. For instance, if an AI tool reveals that many students are struggling with a particular concept, the teacher can adjust their instruction accordingly, providing additional examples or approaching the topic differently.
Moreover, this approach can foster metacognition in students. As they interact with AI tools and receive immediate feedback, students can become more aware of their thinking processes, learning strategies, and areas for improvement. This self-awareness is a crucial skill for lifelong learning.
The Power of Putting AI in Students’ Hands
When we introduce AI tools directly to students under proper guidance, we open up remarkable learning opportunities. Students learn the subject matter and develop critical thinking skills, formulate effective queries, and gain firsthand experience with a technology that will likely play a significant role in their futures.
However, it’s crucial to prepare students for these interactions. Educators must teach students about AI’s capabilities and limitations, discuss ethical considerations, and guide them in critically evaluating AI-generated information. This preparation might include guidance on how AI models are trained, discussions about potential biases in AI systems, and exercises in fact-checking AI- generated content.
By providing this foundation, we equip students to use AI tools and interact with them critically and ethically. This approach fosters digital literacy skills that will be essential in an increasingly AI -driven world.
The Road Ahead
As we navigate this AI-enhanced educational landscape, our goal isn’t to replace traditional teaching methods but to enhance them. We should identify areas where AI can meaningfully assist in teaching challenging but essential concepts. This might involve using AI to create adaptive learning paths, generate diverse examples and explanations, or provide immediate, personalized feedback to students.
In future columns, we’ll explore specific AI tools, discuss practical implementation strategies, and share success stories from educators pioneering AI integration in their classrooms. We’ll explore how AI can support personalized learning, enhance assessment and feedback, and foster creativity and critical thinking.
Remember, we’re all on this journey together. As educators, we guide this integration thoughtfully, always keeping our students’ needs at the forefront. We must explore AI’s opportunities while remaining mindful of its limitations, working together to shape an educational future that combines the best of human wisdom with the potential of artificial intelligence.
About the author
A former high school teacher and edtech CEO, Tom Daccord is the creator of the popular “Tom’s Takes: AI Tools & Views” website and the author of the newly published book AI Tools & Uses: A Practical Guide for Teachers. Tom is our K12 Contributing Editor.
