AI in the Classroom: Empowering Teachers and Engaging Students

In today's ever-evolving education landscape, technology plays a crucial role in shaping how teachers instruct and how students learn. Among the most transformative innovations is Artificial Intelligence (AI), which has the potential to revolutionize education by supporting both teachers and students. As someone who has worked in K-12 and higher education, I’m passionate about bringing AI into schools to help teachers manage their workload and engage students in meaningful learning experiences.

A New Era in Education

What inspired me to explore AI in education?
After teaching first grade during the pandemic and transitioning into higher education as an instructional designer, I witnessed firsthand the long-term effects of the pandemic on learners. As AI began gaining popularity, I found tools that helped me build rubrics, lesson plans, and content more efficiently. But I quickly realized AI could be used both positively and negatively. Instead of simply copying and pasting content provided by AI, I knew it was essential to use my educational expertise to ensure high-quality, personalized instruction for my learners.

As I shifted into higher education, I saw AI as an amazing tool for simplifying my work as a subject matter expert (SME) and an office helper. However, I also saw faculty grappling with how to combat cheating facilitated by AI. This made me realize that rather than fight AI, we should leverage it. The tool isn’t going away; if anything, it’s going to keep improving. This means educators need to adapt by using AI to their advantage, closing learning gaps caused by the pandemic, and empowering students to explore and build deeper understanding.

Misconceptions About AI in the Classroom

What are some misconceptions teachers or schools might have?
Some teachers believe AI should be banned in classrooms, focusing solely on using plagiarism tools to fight its misuse. But this approach misses the opportunity to embrace AI’s potential. AI isn’t the enemy; it’s a tool that can be leveraged to deepen learning rather than limit it. Teachers need to shift their mindset from fighting AI to using it strategically in the classroom.

How AI Can Support Teachers

How can AI simplify lesson planning for teachers?
AI can take over many time-consuming tasks for teachers, such as outlining concepts, generating lesson plans, and even creating rubrics. For me, it helps align objectives and Bloom’s Taxonomy levels while suggesting engaging, interactive ideas for lessons. It also helps reduce bias in content creation, providing more equitable learning materials for all students.

What tasks can AI take off teachers' plates?
AI can handle a wide range of administrative tasks, freeing teachers to focus on more personalized instruction. From writing responses to parents to analyzing data, AI tools can generate emails, align assessments with objectives, and even analyze student progress, all while reducing teachers' cognitive load.

AI Engaging Students in the Classroom

What AI tools or techniques have made learning more interactive and fun for students?
In my experience, AI can be an excellent guide for students during the writing process. For example, I’ve had students use AI to refine their writing, generate prompts, or challenge them to craft prompts that yield specific responses. AI chatbots can be tailored to specific learning objectives, empowering students to explore concepts more deeply. It opens up new avenues for research and discovery, promoting curiosity and engagement.

How can AI promote engagement, especially for struggling students?
For students who may struggle with traditional learning methods, AI provides a way to explore content more independently, allowing them to dive deeper into topics from their own perspective. It can even help students learn how to discuss complex concepts, offering them new ways to grasp difficult material.

How can AI be integrated into gamified learning?
AI is perfect for adding an extra layer of engagement to gamified learning experiences. Whether it’s using AI in breakout rooms or creating puzzles and challenges, students stay motivated and excited. AI can be an invaluable tool in keeping the learning process fun and interactive.

Challenges and Best Practices for Implementing AI

What challenges do you foresee in implementing AI in classrooms?
One major challenge is ensuring that AI tools provide age-appropriate content and filter out inappropriate information. Additionally, many schools lack the technical infrastructure to support multiple devices running AI software simultaneously. To overcome this, schools can focus on building a strong technological foundation, using AI as a whole-class tool instead of relying on individual access.

What best practices should teachers follow when introducing AI into their classrooms?
It’s essential that teachers receive professional development on AI tools before integrating them into the classroom. My recommendation is to use AI to help plan lessons about AI itself, with gamified experiences like escape rooms that teach students how to use the technology responsibly. Teachers should also clearly outline expectations and ensure that students have safe access to AI tools, all while carefully planning their integration into activities and assessments.

The Future of AI in Education

Where do you see AI and education intersecting in the future?
Many fear that AI will eventually replace teachers, but I believe AI will only replace those who refuse to leverage its power. When AI is used alongside human expertise, the result is always better than AI alone. AI and education will continue to intersect as both teachers and instructional designers use AI to enhance their teaching methods, providing more personalized and effective learning experiences for students.

What do you hope to achieve by integrating AI into education on a larger scale?
My ultimate goal is to close the learning gaps caused by COVID-19 by using AI to supercharge lessons. AI can reduce the cognitive load on both teachers and students, allowing for more effective time spent in and out of the classroom. By leveraging AI, we can help teachers focus more on building relationships with students while also improving student outcomes across the board.