Navigating AI in Education
The Technological Crossroads of Modern Education
In his TED Talk, "Educating the Generation that Could Live on Mars," Ryan Findley posed a challenge that encapsulates the current state of education:
"We are trying to prepare students for the world of tomorrow, with the knowledge of today, and the tools of yesterday."
This statement has become even more relevant in the age of artificial intelligence (AI). Tools like ChatGPT and DALL-E are no longer emerging technologies—they are integral to how we work, communicate, and, increasingly, how we teach and learn. Schools are at a crossroads. AI is already shaping classrooms, but most educators lack the training, resources, and strategies to engage with it effectively. Many school leaders feel unprepared to address it.
AI offers enormous potential to transform education, but that potential will remain unrealized without intentional planning and thoughtful integration.
Beyond ChatGPT: AI Tools Designed for Education
When people hear “AI in education,” they often think of students using ChatGPT to write papers. While that’s one application, AI’s reach in education goes far beyond writing assistance. There are platforms designed specifically for schools that address broader needs.
Difft simplifies differentiated instruction by creating tiered activities or assessments aligned with student needs.
MagicSchool AI automates routine tasks like lesson planning, making administrative work more manageable.
Eduaide generates classroom resources like rubrics, activity guides, and instructional plans.
These tools go beyond streamlining workflows; they offer opportunities to enhance teaching by freeing up educators to focus on meaningful, student-centered activities. With AI’s help, teachers can spend less time on administrative burdens and more on the aspects of teaching that matter most.
My Personal Journey with AI in Education
When I left public education to start Juniper Consulting LLC, I encountered challenges that required new skills—video production, content scripting, and even refining my written work for clarity. AI tools became indispensable collaborators. Platforms like ChatGPT helped me refine articles and brainstorm ideas. Video creation tools with AI avatars and voiceovers simplified producing professional development content.
These experiences showed me that AI wasn’t just a productivity booster; it was a game-changer for scaling creativity and efficiency. AI also highlighted how much more educators could accomplish when equipped with the right tools.
What if school leaders could use AI to refine and automate their communications, such as the countless emails, reports, or newsletters they write daily? What if teachers could use AI platforms to design adaptive lessons that better meet their students’ needs? These are no longer hypothetical questions—they are the next steps we must take to ensure AI is an asset, not an afterthought, in education.
The Urgent Need for Proactive AI Integration
Ryan Findley’s observation that we are preparing students for tomorrow with outdated tools resonates deeply when we look at the role of AI in education. While educators are still grappling with how to integrate AI into their teaching practices, students have already embraced it as a learning tool. Platforms like ChatGPT, personalized AI tutors, and content-generation apps have become part of how they approach assignments, study, and problem-solving.
This reality highlights the disconnect Findley described: students are using the tools of the future, but many educators are unprepared to teach them how to use these tools responsibly and effectively. Ignoring AI is no longer an option. To truly prepare students for tomorrow, educators must engage with these technologies now.
AI in the Hands of Students
The pace at which students adopt AI often outpaces educators’ understanding of it. For instance, students are using ChatGPT not just to draft essays but also to brainstorm ideas, summarize dense texts, and even assist in coding assignments. Meanwhile, personalized tutoring platforms powered by AI are offering tailored academic support, and AI apps are helping students analyze data or generate creative content.
These tools are powerful, but their potential to enhance learning is matched by their potential for misuse. Without guidance, students might rely on AI to replace critical thinking rather than complement it. Educators have a responsibility to ensure students use AI ethically, effectively, and in ways that enhance their learning.
The Promise and Perils of AI in Education
AI offers transformative opportunities for education. It can personalize learning by tailoring content to individual needs, automate repetitive tasks to reduce teacher workload, and engage students through adaptive technologies that make learning more dynamic. However, it also presents significant challenges.
Ethical concerns, such as ensuring academic honesty when using AI for assignments, protecting student data privacy, and addressing inequitable access to advanced tools, must be thoughtfully addressed. These challenges are not insurmountable, but they require schools to take a deliberate approach to AI integration.
The question, then, is not whether schools should adopt AI, but how to do so in a way that prepares students for the future while addressing its complexities today. As Findley emphasized, preparing students for the world of tomorrow requires educators to embrace the tools of today—and AI is undeniably one of those tools.
Barriers to AI Adoption in Schools
AI integration isn’t without its hurdles. Schools must confront several challenges:
Lack of Expertise: Most educators and school leaders haven’t been trained in AI tools, leaving a gap in understanding and confidence.
Resistance to Change: New technologies often face skepticism, especially when their benefits aren’t immediately clear.
Resource Constraints: Time, budgets, and competing priorities make it difficult to focus on AI initiatives.
These challenges require a structured approach to overcome. Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) provide a practical framework for schools to navigate AI’s complexities collaboratively.
Leveraging PLCs for AI Integration
Why PLCs Are Key to AI Success
Professional Learning Communities are familiar structures that emphasize collaboration and shared learning. They provide an ideal space to explore AI’s possibilities, address concerns, and build collective capacity.
By forming an AI-focused PLC, school leaders can foster an environment where teachers feel supported and empowered to engage with new technologies.
Steps for AI Integration Through PLCs
Step 1: Conduct a Needs Analysis
The first step in integrating AI effectively is understanding how it is currently being used within your school. Both students and teachers are already exploring AI tools, but often in ways that are disconnected or unsupported. Surveys and open discussions can help uncover valuable insights into these interactions.
Questions to guide your analysis:
What AI tools are students using? Popular options include ChatGPT for writing support, AI-powered tutoring platforms for personalized learning, and apps like Character AI, which allow students to create avatars of historical figures to deepen their understanding of history.
What AI tools are teachers using? Many educators are exploring platforms like Difft for creating differentiated instruction, MagicSchool AI for automating administrative tasks, and Eduaide for designing classroom resources. Others might be using general-purpose tools like ChatGPT for lesson planning or email drafting.
What challenges have emerged? For students, concerns may involve academic integrity, over-reliance on AI, or ethical dilemmas. For teachers, barriers might include a lack of time to explore AI tools or uncertainty about how to integrate them effectively.
What professional development is needed? Determine the gaps in staff knowledge and confidence. Do teachers need training on ethical AI use, specific tools, or strategies to help students use AI responsibly?
This analysis helps schools identify starting points and prioritize efforts for AI integration.
Step 2: Set Clear Goals
With the needs analysis complete, the next step is to establish specific, actionable objectives for AI integration. Clear goals ensure that efforts remain focused and measurable, helping schools track progress and adapt as needed.
Examples of potential goals:
Develop ethical guidelines for AI use. Address concerns like plagiarism, data privacy, and responsible tool usage.
Introduce staff to AI tools aligned with instructional needs. Focus on tools that reduce workloads or enhance teaching, such as adaptive learning platforms or AI-driven assessment tools.
Pilot AI platforms in select classrooms. Collect feedback to understand the tools’ impact on teaching and learning before scaling their use across the school.
By tying these goals to measurable outcomes, schools can evaluate their progress and adjust strategies as needed.
Step 3: Foster Collaborative Learning
Adopting AI is less daunting when approached collaboratively. PLCs provide an excellent forum for teachers to share experiences, troubleshoot challenges, and celebrate successes with AI. This shared learning builds confidence and fosters a supportive culture.
Strategies for fostering collaboration:
Encourage open discussions about successes and roadblocks with AI tools.
Use PLC sessions to experiment with AI platforms in a low-stakes environment.
Model curiosity and a willingness to learn as a school leader, creating a tone of openness and trust.
When educators feel supported and valued in their exploration of AI, they are more likely to embrace its potential.
Strategies for Practical AI Integration
Professional Development
Effective AI integration begins with teacher training. Focus on practical, hands-on sessions that show educators how AI can support their daily work. Examples might include:
Using AI to generate differentiated lesson plans tailored to student needs.
Leveraging AI tools to analyze classroom data for trends in engagement or performance.
Exploring adaptive learning technologies that adjust to students’ unique learning paces.
Ethical Policy Development
Collaborative discussions within PLCs can help develop schoolwide policies for ethical AI use. These guidelines should address:
Preventing academic dishonesty, such as plagiarism through AI tools.
Protecting student data privacy when using AI platforms.
Ensuring equitable access to AI technologies for all students.
Clear policies provide guardrails for both teachers and students, ensuring responsible AI use while fostering innovation.
Data-Driven Evaluation
Once AI tools are implemented, ongoing evaluation is crucial. Use PLC sessions to review how AI impacts:
Student engagement: Are students more invested in their learning with AI tools?
Equity in learning outcomes: Are gaps between student groups narrowing or widening?
Teacher workload: Is AI alleviating or adding to educators’ responsibilities?
Regular reviews ensure that AI tools are achieving their intended goals and provide insights for continuous improvement.
Reflection Questions for Leaders
As you guide your school through AI integration, take time to reflect on key aspects of the process:
What role do I believe AI should play in my school’s future?
How can we address knowledge gaps among staff to build confidence in using AI?
How can AI tools be used to complement and enhance instructional practices rather than replace them?
These questions can help shape your vision for AI integration and guide your leadership in this evolving area of education.
By incorporating these strategies and fostering collaboration through PLCs, schools can navigate the complexities of AI integration with clarity and purpose. This structured approach ensures that AI becomes a tool for innovation and growth, rather than a source of confusion or inequity.
AI as a Catalyst for Growth
Ryan Findley’s observation, “We are trying to prepare students for the world of tomorrow, with the knowledge of today, and the tools of yesterday,” underscores the challenge schools face with the rise of AI. As educators, we must confront this gap head-on by embracing the tools of today to equip students for the demands of the future.
Artificial intelligence is more than a new technology; it’s a shift that requires schools to rethink how they approach teaching and learning. Professional Learning Communities offer a powerful framework to meet this challenge. By creating spaces for collaboration, experimentation, and shared problem-solving, PLCs empower educators to explore AI tools, address ethical concerns, and develop strategies to integrate these technologies responsibly.
Through PLCs, school leaders can bridge the divide between yesterday’s tools and tomorrow’s possibilities. They provide the support educators need to move past fear or hesitation and engage with AI thoughtfully. When teachers and leaders work together to leverage AI, they are not just reacting to change—they are preparing students to lead in a world where technological literacy will be as critical as traditional literacy.
The tools of yesterday can no longer suffice. But through collaboration, curiosity, and a focus on shared growth, PLCs can guide schools to navigate this transformation and ensure students are ready for the world of tomorrow.
