In late 2022, the introduction of generative AI tools shifted the educational landscape, prompting schools to grapple with the implications of automated essays and outdated lesson plans. As students began using algorithms to complete assignments, educators across the U.S. found themselves asking critical questions about how to adapt their teaching methods and what the future of education might hold.
Some teachers view AI as a threat that fosters cheating and erodes traditional learning methods. However, a growing cohort of educators is embracing these technologies as transformative tools. They are focused on teaching students to engage with AI in a critical and creative manner while simultaneously bolstering essential literacy skills.
The challenge lies not merely in incorporating new technology but in reimagining the educational experience when AI is involved. Key questions arise: How can teachers design assignments that resist outsourcing to AI? How can young learners be taught to scrutinize AI-generated content? How do educators integrate these tools without sacrificing creativity, critical thinking, and interpersonal connections?
This was my lightbulb moment. If we could use AI tools to develop engaging and accessible reading passages for students, we could also teach foundational AI literacy skills at the same time.
— Liz Voci
Recently, EdSurge spoke with three educators tackling these pressing questions: Liz Voci, an instructional technology specialist at an elementary school; Pam Amendola, a high school English teacher who adapted her Macbeth unit to include AI; and Brandie Wright, who integrates AI into sustainability lessons for fifth and sixth graders at a microschool.
Amendola recalls the upheaval that followed the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022, which left many teachers scrambling as students turned to AI for completing assignments. “Many students thought, ‘Why should I complete a worksheet when AI can do it for me?’” she noted. “Our education system was built for an industrial age, but we now live in a technological age where tasks are completed rapidly.” She emphasizes the necessity of educating students on AI literacy alongside traditional English language themes.
Wright has similarly integrated AI into her curriculum, merging it with traditional learning methods. In her reimagined Macbeth unit, she taught the initial acts using time-tested techniques before allowing students to recreate their assigned scenes using generative AI to produce original movies. For the final act, students used block-based programming to animate their scenes. “My assessment had nothing to do with writing an essay, so it was uncheatable,” Wright explained, highlighting the collaborative nature of the lesson design.
Voci shared her experience at a literacy meeting where concerns arose about the engagement levels of students with the new science of reading materials. “This was my lightbulb moment,” she said. “If we could use AI tools to develop engaging and accessible reading passages for students, we could also teach foundational AI literacy skills at the same time.” This concept led to the development of The Perfect Book Project, where students collaborate with teachers to create their own reading books, enhancing both their literary skills and their ability to evaluate AI-generated content.
[Students] don’t want AI to do the creating for them. They still want to draw their own pictures and tell their own stories.
— Brandie Wright
Wright has also focused her lessons on the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals, demonstrating to students how their actions impact others and the environment. In her lesson titled “Investigating Energy Efficiency and Sustainability in Our Spaces,” students conducted a scavenger hunt on campus to identify examples of energy-efficient items and sustainable practices. They applied AI tools to analyze their findings, interpret responses for accuracy and bias, and contemplate how technology and human decisions can contribute to sustainable solutions.
Reflecting on shifts in student learning, Voci noted an engaging moment during a lesson on AI hallucinations with a third-grade class. “I had them reread their manuscripts through the lens of an AI hallucination and bias detective,” she explained. One student quickly identified an error in a sports statistic produced by the AI, igniting a wave of curiosity and scrutiny among the other students about the accuracy of their texts.
I had to let go of traditional grading structures first before I could help them embrace the ambiguity. Their willingness to explore and make mistakes was wonderful.
— Pam Amendola
Amendola observed a similar transformation among her honors students when they experimented with AI for the first time. “It was uncomfortable for them to try something new,” she said. “They craved the structure of the rubric. I had to let go of traditional grading structures first before I could help them embrace the ambiguity.” The collaborative environment fostered a strong sense of community in her classroom, paving the way for the development of new skills.
For educators hesitant to explore AI, Amendola advises, “Don’t be afraid to try new things. The greatest success first requires a change of mindset.” Voci encourages educators not to let their fears about AI paralyze them. “Find small, intentional steps that are grounded in human-centered values to move forward,” she said, emphasizing the importance of supporting one another in this rapidly evolving landscape.
As schools continue to navigate the complexities of integrating AI, educators are discovering innovative ways to enhance learning experiences. The ongoing exploration of AI’s potential in educational settings presents unique opportunities for fostering engagement, creativity, and critical thinking among students.
See also
Education Ministers from 20 Nations to Draft AI Strategies at Turkiye Summit in June 2026
ADQ and Gates Foundation Commit $40M to Enhance AI-Driven Education in Africa
Coursera and Udemy Announce $2.5B Merger to Enhance AI-Powered Lifelong Learning
Professor Andrew Hudson-Smith Launches ‘Academic Trance’ Album from AI-Generated Music
Xu Yihan of Squirrel AI Wins Influential Education Figure Award at Forbes Summit
