Teach with expert insights on AI, curated by your trusty Teacher’s AIde

Hello and welcome back to Teacher's AIed, where we decipher AI jargon more efficiently than a kindergartener can unlock your iPad.

To Allow AI, or Not Allow AI. That is the Question

Big questions are swirling in the minds of educators:

• Should I allow my students to use AI in the classroom?

• Should I ban AI altogether?

• Is there a middle ground? What would that look like?

I wish I could say I had definitive answers to the questions, but I don’t.

But let’s be honest. If I said I had the answers, you would have just stopped reading because you know that the way that AI will impact K-12 Education is complicated and uncertain.

We know that AI brings with it a variety of opportunities and threats. Using AI tools, teachers can more effortlessly personalize learning and ask more rigorous questions. When used responsibly, students can leverage AI to understand complex ideas better. AI can serve as a student’s tutor.

However, AI introduces a host of plagiarism issues to classrooms. With AI present, educators must be vigilant about asking, “How do we know that students have learned - not just regurgitated content from GenAI?” Furthermore, we know the value of productive struggle and its importance to the learning process. If you remove all the struggle, you simultaneously remove all the learning.

It is clear that there are arguments for and against allowing the use of AI in the classroom.

I think the solution to this dilemma lies in understanding under what conditions AI can be used responsibly. Defining policies around responsible AI use is the necessary work of teachers, principals, and education professionals supporting schools.

One guiding light: What would fully draw students into the learning process? If AI provides a net benefit for students, then allow it with the appropriate guardrails. If AI detracts from learning, consider other ways to leverage it (maybe with your own planning).

What we owe to our students 🎁

If you could, you would give your students the whole world. (For the time being, let’s look past those moments when you’d rather give them a taste of their own medicine)

Teachers have the great privilege - and responsibility - of preparing students for the world they will one day inherit.

This is by no means an easy job. Despite teachers having a sixth sense and eyes on the back of their heads, last I checked, we have yet to acquire the ability to see into the future.

AI has brought these uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty into the forefront of dialogue within education…and rightfully so.

However, while AI fills us with fascination, elements of this rising tide can quickly strike fear into our hearts.

Yet, we can’t ignore the things that scare us. Despite the uncertainty, educators owe their students to comprehend AI’s impact on our world.

We can’t provide all the answers. We can’t predict how our world will look in 10 years.

We can - and must - provide the structures and tools for our students to thrive in the world they navigate.

If you know of an educator grappling with these questions, share this newsletter with them so they can join us.

Announcements! We have something big coming…

The Teacher’s AIed team is excited for 2024!

While we aren’t quite ready to share all our plans, we want to let you know to stay on the lookout.

We know that navigating the strengths and weaknesses of AI in Education is an extremely nuanced concept. We want to dive into that nuance with you and for you.

Stay tuned 🙂 

Class dismissed!

Lewis Poche & Kourtney Bradshaw-Clay