Many educators are hearing a lot of talk about using AI and incorporating it in our classrooms. This can be extremely overwhelming for teachers because many of us do not understand AI or how to use it in the classroom. I was extremely hesitant at first because there is so much we are still learning about AI and technology, but the reality is that it is not going away any time soon, and our students deserve to be prepared for their future.
How To Teach AI by Rachelle Poth is a phenomenal resource for teachers to use to begin their AI journey. When discussing teaching students about AI, Poth states that, "we do not have to be experts" (2024, p. 99). I believe that most educators, myself included, are hesitant about introducing AI to their students because they do not understand it enough themselves. We should not be worrying about what we know, but focusing on how we explore these resources with our students. Showing our students that even as adults, we are learning new things will be inspirational for them and prove that you can always learn new things.
When beginning to plan a lesson for AI, check out the infographic below for some great tips from Poth.
Reference
Fischer, T. S. (2025, June 3). 5 Engaging AI classroom activities to try with your students. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/article/5-engaging-ai-classroom-activities-try-your-students/
Poth, R. D. (2024). How to teach AI: Weaving Strategies and Activities Into Any Content Area. International Society for Technology in Education.
Thanks for sharing your reflection on this topic, Alex! I absolutely see your point about how overwhelming the AI conversation can be for teachers, mainly because it feels like the only conversation that has been had over the last year or so! The quote you shared from Poth about not needing to be experts is pretty freeing, and it reminds me of key point Matt Miller (2023) made in the PLC book I read, AI for Educators, which is that teachers don’t need perfect when it comes to about AI, because what students really need are educators who are willing to explore alongside them with curiosity and courage. It’s more about the mindset we have approaching it than it is about the mastery of the tool.
ReplyDeleteI also really appreciate how you reframed the idea of preparing students for a workforce that’s still evolving. As Fitria (2023) points out, while AI can streamline tasks and improve efficiency, it still relies on teachers to build students’ critical thinking, character, and creativity–skills that can’t be outsourced. And I’d even argue, as Lawrence (2022) discusses in his work on digital literacy, that this moment gives us a powerful opportunity to guide students not just in using tools, but in becoming intentional, ethical creators in the digital space.
References
Fitria, T. N. (2023). The use of artificial intelligence in education: Can AI replace the teacher’s role? EPIGRAM (E-Journal), 20(2), 165–187. https://doi.org/10.32722/epi.v20i2.5711. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/377081585_The_Use_of_Artificial_Intelligence_in_Education_AIED_Can_AI_Replace_the_Teacher’s_Role.
Lawrence, D. (2022). Digital writing: A guide to writing for social media and the web. Broadview Press.
Miller, M. (2023). AI for educators. Dave Burgess Consulting.
Hi Alex,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your thoughtful reflections on AI integration in the classroom. As someone who was very late to the AI party, I could relate to your comment about teacher hesitation. Your acknowledgment that teachers need not be experts echos current educational research that emphasizes collaborative learning approaches. The fear of not understanding AI technology fully is a common barrier, though research shows that teachers can develop positive perceptions of AI tools through practical experience and support (Celik et al., 2022).
Your emphasis on exploring AI resources collaboratively with students reflects excellent pedagogical practice. Research indicates that while AI in education has been around for about 30 years, it remains unclear for educators how to make pedagogical advantage of it on a broader scale and how it can meaningfully impact teaching and learning (Crompton & Burke, 2024). This uncertainty shouldn't prevent implementation, but rather encourage the thoughtful integration you advocate.
I especially appreciate your point about modeling lifelong learning. Despite years of professional development about educational technology integration, many teachers still view the implementation of technology in the classroom negatively and are not inclined to use it. However, when teachers like yourself demonstrate their own learning process, they can shift from reluctant adopters to confident facilitators.
Your approach addresses a critical need for AI literacy in education. The integration of AI into education presents challenges, including the need for comprehensive teacher training and curriculum adaptation (Celik et al., 2022). By starting with exploration rather than expertise, as you suggest, teachers can gradually build confidence while developing practical classroom applications.
Your resource recommendations provide an excellent starting point for educators ready to embrace AI as a learning tool rather than a technological threat.
By the way, great job on your infographic.
References
Kim, N. J., & Kim, M. K. (2022). Teacher's perceptions of using an artificial intelligence-based educational tool for scientific writing. Frontiers in Education, 7, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2022.755914
Walter, Y. (2024). Embracing the future of artificial intelligence in the classroom: The relevance of AI literacy, prompt engineering, and critical thinking in modern education. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 21(1), 1-23. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-024-00448-3