Research from the Center for Democracy and Technology found that the use of AI has increased from 2023 to 2024, with 46% of teachers using it in their jobs. Despite this growth, there continues to be a gap in school policies around generative AI.
While more than half of teachers indicate their school has a policy about whether generative AI is allowed, detailed guidance on applying AI in the classroom is lacking. For example, only 25% of teachers have received guidance about how to address student AI use when it’s applied in ways that aren’t permitted.
It’s clear that AI has changed the learning landscape—and there’s a gap between the use of AI and clear guidance in schools. It’s a gap that we need to close.
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Now is the time to equip teachers with the tools they need to feel empowered to use AI and teach alongside it. Because, when implemented correctly, AI can enhance creativity and reach better learning outcomes.
And, with the right approach to implementation, AI can also enhance the human connection upon which the best learning experiences are built.
Clear guidance and policies
It can be nerve-wracking for teachers to implement AI in their classrooms if they’ve rarely used it themselves, especially if there’s a lack of guidance from school districts.
Teachers are looking for direction, and they need it now. Many school districts are working to develop guidance by establishing thorough internal policies on AI use in the classroom, but the quickly shifting technology landscape has created questions and delays.
A good solution is for school districts to focus on guiding frameworks that can adapt and evolve as the technology landscape changes.
Some things to consider when developing guidance include bias, security and data, and alignment to best teaching practices. For example, consider selecting an AI that aligns with your district’s security policies.
While free versions of AI are helpful for generating ideas, it’s important to be cautious about what information you feed it if it’s not vetted by your district’s policy practices. If your district chooses to use free AI, teachers and students should be taught how to use it properly and what type of information should not be inputted, such as student data.
Teachers will feel more comfortable with AI when they can use these frameworks to guide their own AI use as they experiment with it.
Professional development and training opportunities can also be an effective way to teach staff how to use AI according to district guidelines and provide examples of use cases. This combination of guidance and training can help build teachers’ confidence to experiment with AI while protecting confidential information.
Just as guardrails on the highway protect and direct drivers, clear frameworks give teachers the confidence to apply AI safely and successfully.
Enhance the human connection
Human connection is one of the most important and irreplaceable elements of the learning experience. While there’s a common fear about what AI might mean for the future of education, it can’t match the impact teachers make on learners. What AI can do is help make those human connections stronger.
AI has the potential to personalize learning, make content more engaging, improve retention and ultimately achieve learning outcomes. The ideas are endless. Teachers can leverage AI to build quizzes that reflect course content, develop curriculum-aligned lesson plans and identify at-risk learners.
AI shouldn’t replace a teacher’s role but using AI for time-consuming tasks can free teachers to do more of what matters most—investing in the learning journeys of students.
Developing critical thinking
The Pew Research Center found the number of teenagers using AI increases each year but almost a quarter of students are unsure whether they’re allowed to apply it to their studies.
Teachers need to be in the loop and provide guidance on how to properly leverage AI because students are using it regardless.
When students rely on AI to do their work for them, they miss out on opportunities to develop their own perspectives and critical thinking skills. Teaching students how to validate and vet information provided by AI can help them develop critical thinking skills while preparing them to become part of a future workforce that will use AI in their daily lives.
AI can be incorporated into assignments by encouraging students to apply what they’ve learned and consider why that knowledge is important. For example, having students analyze and compare two AI-generated book summaries and explain which one is stronger allows them to think critically about the strengths and weaknesses of AI while supporting curriculum expectations.
We live in a rapidly evolving world, and we are fast approaching a paradigm shift in education—one that is being driven by AI and potentially solved by it. AI is transforming the way we teach and learn. It is not only reshaping the educational landscape but also emerging as a key solution to critical challenges like college and career readiness, addressing teacher wellness and retention, and enabling more personalized instruction.
AI has the power to revolutionize education for the better and the best thing school districts can do to support student success is to get in front of AI and proactively embrace its potential.
