Pioneering AI in Classrooms: Navigating Challenges and Opportunities
AI tools are becoming increasingly powerful and widespread, but effectively integrating them into classroom practices remains a complex and often daunting task.
Throughout the history of education technology, we've seen that merely providing access to new tools, from interactive whiteboards and laptops to apps and tablets, does not automatically lead to transformative changes in teaching and learning. On a broader scale, classroom practices have proven remarkably resistant to change.
That said, there's a greater sense of urgency today than ever before. Unlike whiteboards or Chromebooks, AI is a different beast and one that is virtually impossible to control. Its potential to transform not only education but society as a whole is far more powerful, invasive, and intimidating than anything we have ever seen. For example, AI-powered personalized learning platforms have the potential to disrupt traditional models of instruction and assessment, while AI-driven automation could reshape the job market and the skills students need to succeed.
Administrators are at a loss as to what to do. Traditionally, technology implementation in schools has been driven by top-down directives. However, in the case of AI, few school systems have developed clear policies, and many have effectively kept it out of students' hands in classrooms. As a result, teachers are often left to make sense of AI in the classroom on their own, with little training or support. They are often surrounded by colleagues who want nothing to do with AI, forbid their students from using it, and publicly ostracize it in front of students and peers.
That's why I'm inspired when I come across a story of a teacher pioneering AI in their classrooms.
Jessica Nichols, a world language teacher, faced the challenge of providing immediate, actionable feedback in a learner-driven setting. As an experienced educator, Jessica understood the importance of engaging students in immersive language experiences and providing personalized feedback to support their learning.
By changing the language in Adobe Firefly to French, Jessica created an immersive experience for her students, familiarizing them with a secondary set of tech and design vocabulary they wouldn't have otherwise encountered while providing instant feedback on errors in their prompts, such as forgetting reflexive pronouns or misgendering articles. "Faced with an image they didn't expect, they asked questions, checked their spelling, and accurately revised their prompt," Jessica explains.
The exercise also allowed students to expand their language by forming prompts in the third person and plural forms, further enhancing their range of vocabulary. For example, students were challenged to create prompts describing the daily routines of multiple people, using plural verb forms and possessive pronouns to accurately depict the scenes generated by the AI tool.
Jessica's students were excited about the assignment, as it had an air of rebellion since many other teachers had come down hard against the use of AI. "With thoughtful implementation, AI image generators, with their ability to use any language, can provide powerful ways for students to engage with the target language and increase their proficiency," Jessica advises.
Teachers change their instructional practices in response to other teachers, not as a result of top-down initiatives. Textbooks and standards may instruct teachers on what to teach, but it's the exchange of ideas and experiences among teachers, centered on what works and what doesn't in their classrooms, that forms the basis for innovations in teaching practices. However, innovating in an environment where administrators and colleagues are not actively supportive, and may even be running interference, can be incredibly daunting.
I began an experiment teaching with laptops in a 9th-grade history classroom in 2000. At that time, 1-to-1 laptop classrooms were virtually unheard of and I knew that what I did in that classroom would be talked about. But my focus wasn't on expanding the laptop program to other classrooms or influencing the practices of my colleagues. I was too busy struggling to find worthwhile resources and design effective lessons for my laptop-enriched classroom. For example, I created a “Day in the Life of a Teenage Hobo” project that required students to research the impact of the Great Depression on children, curate multimedia content, and collaborate with their peers to build a podcast on the topic we were studying. The need to create many activities from scratch pushed me to be creative and take risks.
I wasn't subject to the same level of negativity that Jessica and other AI innovators likely face in their schools. Yet, similarly, I’m sure word of Jessica’s lesson has spread. In all likelihood, Jessica’s students have told their other teachers and their parents — with glee in their voices — that they used AI in the classroom and that it was fun and useful.
Change with technology must be organic and authentic, driven by interactions and the sharing of ideas and information. To support educators, we must provide them with the space and time to engage in authentic learning experiences. When teachers are encouraged to explore their practice deeply, trusted to approach this work with integrity, and recognized as valuable sources of knowledge and expertise, they are empowered to make meaningful changes to their instruction. Even a simple, sincere "I hear you're doing great things in your classroom" can go a long way in validating and encouraging a teacher's innovative practices. Colleagues can play a crucial role by acting as allies and thought partners, collaborating with teachers to craft experiences that lead to improvements in student learning – a goal universally shared by all educators.
As we navigate this new frontier of AI in education, let us remember that pockets of excellence are everywhere and inspiring. By fostering a culture that encourages experimentation, supports risk-taking, and values the wisdom and expertise of our passionate educators, we can move from pockets of excellent to school-wide change. The journey may be challenging, but the rewards – for our teachers, our students, and our society as a whole – are worth the effort.
AI Tools & News
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15/365 Days Of AI Tools: Decktopus - detailed review of Decktopus, an AI presentation tool
The AI Tools for Teachers Are Getting More Robust. Here’s How - Education Week article on Khan Academy and Google tools
EnchantedPages.AI - create stories with your child as the hero
Gamma AI Review: Is It the Presentation App You Need? - MS PowerUser
If you aren't seeing AI Overviews in your search results, it's probably thanks to Google - AndroidPolice
Using AI Tutors to Flip Your Classroom - Edutopia article by Ethan Mollick
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Teen and Young Adult Perspectives on Generative AI: Patterns of Use, Excitements, and Concerns - Common Sense report
Only 4% of respondents ages 14-22 are active users of AI
California teachers are using AI to grade papers. Who’s grading the AI? - Cal
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Implementing an AI Roadmap Framework (Webinar) - Tech&Learning
I Was an AI Optimist. Now I’m Worried It’s Making Teacher Burnout Worse - Education Week opinion article
Apple Made Once-Unlikely Deal With Sam Altman to Catch Up in AI - Bloomberg