Where Does AI Fit Into Education?
This week we jumped into the topic of Generative AI… it won’t shock anyone that this is a scary concept for me to get behind. 
To make sense of all of my muddled thoughts, I want to ask what is the point of education?
As a teacher, I am obviously a huge advocate of lifelong learning, and I try to continue to learn as much as I can at all times. I believe that education helps us grow into well-rounded members of society who hope to contribute to the world in a positive way. As a classroom teacher for ten years, I always loved building those positive relationships with my students… I could always find a way to see the good in a child who is having a difficult time, and I always worked to make sure they loved coming to school, even if they are getting more socially and emotionally than they are academically.
In my classmate Lisa’s blog post, she mentions seeing the value of AI but also points out that the relationship between educators and students cannot be replaced. I think we need to be very careful how we use AI as educators and when it is appropriate to lean on AI.
Are there teacher guidelines on using AI in the classroom? I’ve never really searched for them, but I think it’s wise to have something in place when a new technology like this comes out (albeit rapidly). I tend to be a pessimist when it comes to Generative AI, and worry that some teachers may jump the gun and use it to give what would otherwise be personal feedback on assignments. While that’s a really handy tool that will save hours of time, is that the best use of AI? If we are trying to maintain that human connection in the classroom, do our students really want to know what an AI tool thinks of their writing, or do they want to know what the teacher thinks of it? Are they going to really want to get better if they don’t have some personal feedback or conversation on it?
That being said, there are so many wonderful ways that teachers can use AI to keep up with the growing challenges we are facing in the classroom. It can be used to help plan, create, and differentiate for students. My question is how far we take it when it comes to asessment.
Where Do We Go From Here?
I’m currently participating in an educational coaching program that talks about the importance of having a playbook. Just like athletes and businesses have a book of plays that they can reach to, it’s beneficial for educators to have the same thing.
This has me thinking… would it be beneficial to have a playbook focused on using Generative AI in the classroom? It would need to be ever evolving for sure, but having something that new (and not so new) teachers can turn to for some quick tips and best practices may be a great place to start.
FOLLOW UP:
I had the opportunity to ask my supervisor about a playbook.. turns out there is an Administrative Procedure for using AI in the classroom on the way, and there is a book that is being ordered as well! The book is called “The Artificial Intelligence Playbook: Time-Saving Tools for Teachers that Make Learning More Engaging” – I’ll keep everyone posted on how it looks when it arrives.
Thank you for this thoughtful post, Jenni! I really appreciate how you tackle the complex question of how much AI is too much in education. Your concern about maintaining human connection, especially through personalized feedback, is something I share. While AI can be a fantastic tool for saving time and differentiating instruction, it’s essential to draw a line where the technology doesn’t replace the vital interactions between teachers and students. I’m curious to hear your thoughts on where you feel AI might best complement human teaching without overshadowing it.
For me, the issue goes far beyond the classroom. Having leaders provide guiding principles is critical. What we believe and value about learning will help determine when and how we use AI. Without this, I worry educators will go down pathways and run into issues with no support.
Jenni, I have had a sneak peak at the AP and I think that it has one that works for now but that it has room to grow as we learn more about AI. I believe that we need to always be learning and growing and try to stay one step ahead of our students when it comes to technology. I also agree that we need to ensure that our students still have human connection as some of them do not have this at home so we need to help them forming these.