AI in Education: Enhancing Learning

Dr. Carolina Gutierrez’s physics students experienced a significant learning moment when they utilized artificial intelligence (AI) to solve problems, only to find that the answers were incorrect. Rather than leading to frustration, these mistakes ignited a valuable learning process, prompting students to question the AI’s outputs and adjust their approach, ultimately enhancing their critical thinking skills beyond mere computational accuracy.

This experience illustrates the kind of AI integration that educators aspire to achieve: tools that engage students in authentic problem-solving rather than mere shortcuts. As AI continues to permeate classrooms, educators are shifting from curiosity-driven exploration to practical inquiries focused on responsible utilization, equity, and maximizing benefits for all students.

Jessica Garner, senior director of innovative learning at ISTE+ASCD, emphasizes the goal of transforming the educational experience through AI rather than settling for efficiency alone. She leads GenerationAI’s Communities of Practice, enabling educators from diverse backgrounds—district leaders, classroom teachers, and both skeptics and advocates—to collaborate and share insights on the responsible application of AI.

During a recent EdSurge-hosted webinar moderated by Carl Hooker, members of these communities, including Garner, Dr. Craig Perrier, Hannah Davis Ketteman, and Gutierrez, discussed practical strategies for effectively integrating AI in K-12 education. They underscored the importance of building student confidence and ensuring all students benefit from innovations.

For instance, Davis Ketteman, as a digital learning coach, highlighted the discrepancies in AI literacy among teachers and the necessity of empowering them to become AI-literate themselves. By employing scaffolding techniques and introducing user-friendly tools like MagicSchool or SchoolAI, teachers can gain confidence and progressively move toward more complex AI applications.

Perrier, a high school social studies specialist, shared how he has adapted AI tools to address accessibility challenges in the curriculum. By utilizing AI for modifying texts or summarizing material for students with diverse reading levels, he aims to foster personalized learning experiences that accommodate all learners.

Gutierrez also emphasizes the role of critical thinking and problem-solving in her approach. By guiding students through AI-generated prompts in subjects like AP Biology, she has observed this method effectively encourages deeper inquiry into scientific concepts. The hands-on experiences, supported by AI-generated resources, also empower her students, especially those who may struggle with engagement. In particular, her emergent bilingual learners have demonstrated increased participation and leadership.

The effective use of AI in classrooms can also spark creative assessments that demand higher-order thinking. As demonstrated by another educator who redesigned a budget project for math modeling, students were challenged to explore affordability through real-life scenarios, thereby enriching the evaluation process beyond mere computational skills.

Educators like Gutierrez advise peers, especially new adopters of AI, to maintain an open mindset and adapt to challenges as they arise. She advocates for guiding students responsibly through the integration of AI in their learning journey, just as educators adapted to computers in classrooms.

Both Davis Ketteman and Perrier echoed the sentiment of starting small and finding a supportive network to facilitate the journey into AI adoption. Garner expressed her enthusiasm for observing these dynamic shifts in educational practices and reinforced the ongoing efforts through GenerationAI, urging educators to join the movement aimed at harnessing AI’s potential to create engaging, equitable, and transformative learning experiences for all students.

For those interested in exploring AI’s impact on education further, access the full “Uncovering Practical Solutions for AI Implementation” webinar for insights and strategies tailored to all educators.