Week 1: Why AI, Why Now? Teaching in a Time of Transformation
Big Idea: We are part of a technological revolution—how will it
change education?
A Moment of Shift
When ChatGPT first became publicly available in late 2022, I was teaching seventh grade. Within days, students were talking about it, testing it, and asking questions. They were fascinated. At the same time, I heard schools debating how to ban it.
That contrast was striking.
Where others saw something to block, I saw a moment of possibility. My students weren’t trying to avoid learning—they were trying to understand this new tool. I realized then that we could either fight AI or figure out how to teach with it. I chose the latter.
This was the shift I had been waiting for. A chance to move education from memorization and rigid knowledge toward skills, concepts, and real-world application. It was clear to me: we needed to learn with our students—curiously, critically, and collaboratively.
What Is AI, Really?
Artificial Intelligence can sound intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Simply put, AI refers to systems that are trained to recognize patterns and make decisions—often mimicking human tasks like writing, translating, summarizing, or even drawing.
In a classroom, AI might look like:
A chatbot that helps students brainstorm essay ideas
A platform that gives instant feedback on writing
A tool that summarizes dense texts
A teacher using an AI assistant to plan lessons
It's not futuristic—it’s already here. And it’s not about replacing teachers—it’s about augmenting how we teach and learn.
Opportunities and Risks
There are real concerns—and real potential.
One of the biggest risks is over-reliance. If students use AI as a shortcut, they could miss out on developing essential skills like critical thinking, creativity, and reflection. But just as real is the risk of resistance—of banning or ignoring AI and missing the chance to teach students how to engage with it ethically and intelligently.
The opportunity? We can teach students to become thoughtful users and critical thinkers. To ask hard questions. To reflect. To connect ideas across subjects.
And that’s where concept-based learning comes in. By focusing on transferable ideas—like power, ethics, systems, and responsibility—we can give students the tools they need to think deeply, apply learning in new contexts, and navigate this AI-enhanced world with confidence.
Essential Question for the Week
How do we teach during a revolution?
This is the kind of question that doesn’t have one right answer—and that’s the point. Use it to reflect this week, or bring it into conversation with students and colleagues.
Consider:
What excites you about AI in education?
What worries you?
What do you hope your students will carry with them after they leave your classroom?
3 Simple Ways to Start
You don’t need a coding background to engage with AI in your teaching. Start small:
Try It Yourself
Visit chat.openai.com, https://claude.ai , or another AI platform. Ask a question you’d normally plan for on your own, like:
“Give me a vocabulary lesson for 6th grade based on the concept of change.”Talk to Your Students
Ask what they’ve seen, what they know, and what they think about AI. You'll likely hear smart, funny, and insightful responses that tell you exactly where your next lesson could begin.Observe, Don’t Ban
If students are using AI, treat it as an opportunity. Ask them how they used it. Did it help? What did it miss? What did they still have to do with their own minds?
Resource Corner
Here are a few great starting points:
Day of AI Curriculum (MIT) – Free, classroom-ready lessons designed for educators
Common Sense Media: AI Resources for Teachers – Helpful for exploring ethics and media literacy
Want a printable version of this post or a teacher reflection worksheet? Let me know, and I’ll share it here next week!
Final Thought: You're Not Behind—You're Right on Time
You don’t have to be an AI expert to be an effective educator in this moment. You just need to be open. Curious. Willing to learn with your students.
This isn’t a detour—it’s the road ahead. And the world still needs teachers to help students ask the right questions, think deeply, and stay human in a world of machines.
