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Avoiding or banning AI in the classroom does students a disservice, and if teachers aren’t familiar with AI tools and how to use them, who is really in charge of teaching? AI literacy isn’t only for students–today, it’s a professional development must-have for teachers, explained Holly Clark, an AI education strategist and author, during an FETC 2025 session in best practices for an AI-infused classroom.
Preventing students from using AI can often limit their abilities to achieve and feel good about themselves, Clark said. For example, AI can translate learning materials for ELL populations or can customize approaches for students struggling with dyslexia.
Using AI is “not about using it to get answers; it’s about students thinking critically,” Clark said. Classrooms that avoid AI are not preparing students for success when they leave high school.
“[Today’s kindergartners] will go into retirement in 2085. I’ve visited classrooms that are getting kids ready for 1985. We have this gap we need to fill, between what we’re doing in classrooms that works and what the outside world looks like,” she added, noting that while certain tools and approaches may technically “work,” they may not help prepare students for the future.
As educators incorporate AI tools into their instruction, it’s critical that they become familiar with different AI tools and know how to leverage each tool’s strengths. Understanding the differences between Claude, Gemini, ChatGPT, etc., is a requirement for AI literacy.
Teachers should ensure students are using AI as a thought partner and for instant feedback, not simply to obtain answers to questions.
Guiding questions for an AI-infused classroom include:
- How do we inspire students to value authentic expression in an era where AI often does the writing for them?
- How do we help students thrive in a rapidly evolving AI-driven world?
- When kindergartners graduate from high school, AI could be 1 billion times smarter than a human–in what ways should this reframe education?
- What role can educators play in leveraging AI to support every students’ unique needs?
- What does meaningful learning look like in an age of AI
Best practices in infusing AI into the classroom:
- Understanding models and limitations: Teachers must understand the different AI models and what they do. Many teachers only know ChatGPT, and maybe Gemini. But others exist.
- Student agency: A student should be able to use a topic they’re interested in and apply it to assignments. They’ll be less apt to use an AI tool to do the task for them if they have agency. This helps students have a thought partner.
- Feedback: How can students evaluate and think critically about their work and improve upon it based on real-time feedback?
Collaboration with AI is not about cheating or doing your tasks – it’s about thought partnership, Clark said. Some of her favorite AI tools for this purpose include: SchoolAi, snorkl, and Curipod.
When it comes to preparing schools for AI, a few critical steps can make all the difference.
- Community: Help parents and students understand the collaborative power of AI and how to do this ethically and effectively
- Ethical guides: Provide guidance on the ethical use of AI, including privacy and data security considerations
- Instructional design: Help teachers understand how to design activities that incorporate AI to enhance student learning
