Charles EstherArtificial intelligence (AI) has seamlessly integrated into our daily lives, from customer service chatbots to personalized shopping recommendations.
More recently, mainstream generative AI tools, which can create original content, have surged in popularity.
As the use of AI expands, educators are beginning to explore how these tools can streamline administrative tasks, enhance student learning, and reshape the educational landscape.
While AI offers numerous possibilities, the discussion surrounding its use in education often remains limited to efficiency improvements.
However, this view overlooks the deeper potential of AI to drive true educational transformation.
The Need for a New Perspective on AI in Education
At ISTE+ASCD, we believe that AI should not merely be seen as a tool for efficiency but as a catalyst for a more profound transformation in education.
The rapid advancement of AI presents an opportunity to rethink our educational model.
Rather than focusing solely on academic integrity policies or gaining efficiency, we must explore how AI can enhance and deepen the learning experience.
Our Transformational Learning Principles are designed to guide educators in leveraging AI to create meaningful change in their classrooms.
This approach focuses on the potential of AI to make education more equitable, values-driven, and effective for students.
Key Principles for AI-Driven Transformation
Dr. Joseph South, Chief Innovation Officer at ISTE+ASCD, recently outlined five critical frames that should guide the integration of AI into education.
These frames provide a thoughtful approach to the transformative potential of AI and highlight key areas that educators must carefully consider:
1. Equity and Fairness
One of the most pressing challenges when introducing AI into the classroom is ensuring that all students, regardless of their background or circumstances, benefit equally from these advancements.
As AI tools are adopted in schools, it’s crucial to address the disparities in access to technology and ensure that all students have the opportunity to engage with AI-driven learning.
Equally important is preparing teachers to succeed in this new landscape.
Educators must have the necessary skills and training to integrate AI into their teaching practices effectively.
Without this preparation, students in schools with less technologically advanced staff may be left behind.
Thus, equity in AI adoption is not just about access to the technology itself but also about teacher readiness and the quality of instruction students receive.
2. Aligning Values with Technology
AI tools must be carefully selected to align with educators’ values and teaching philosophies.
As we integrate technology into our classrooms, we must ensure that the tools we choose support our core values, such as creativity, critical thinking, and student-centered learning.
It is easy to be swayed by the default functions of technology, but it is essential to remember that the goal is to enhance the learning experience and not to adopt a tool for the sake of convenience.
Teachers should prioritize tools that unlock new learning pathways, foster student creativity, and make meaningful contributions to the student experience.
3. Quality Over Efficiency
While AI has the potential to significantly improve efficiency in educational practices, there is a risk of focusing too much on speed and convenience.
The efficiency of AI-driven tasks such as grading or generating questions may seem appealing, but these tools often fail to improve the quality of learning.
For example, generating multiple-choice questions using AI might save time, but it doesn’t necessarily lead to deeper student understanding.
Educators must be vigilant in ensuring that AI is not simply making existing practices more efficient but is instead being used to drive meaningful changes in teaching and learning. Quality should always take precedence over speed.
4. Ongoing Professional Learning
The integration of AI into education is not a one-time event.
Educators need continuous professional development to stay ahead of rapidly evolving AI tools and technologies.
However, the current landscape of AI professional development often focuses too heavily on specific tools, which can quickly become obsolete.
Instead, professional learning should focus on building lasting digital competencies that will help teachers and students adapt to future changes in technology.
By focusing on broad principles such as digital literacy, critical thinking, and adaptability, educators can develop the skills needed to navigate the ever-changing landscape of AI in education.
5. Transformational Learning
AI should be viewed as a tool for transformational learning, not just incremental improvements.
Traditional educational models can sometimes feel outdated, and the use of AI should be an opportunity to rethink how we approach teaching and learning.
Rather than simply using AI for administrative tasks or efficiency gains, educators should focus on how AI can transform the learning experience for students.
This requires a shift in mindset from doing things faster to doing things better.
AI should be used to deepen student engagement, foster personalized learning, and create more interactive and dynamic classroom environments.
A Call to Action for Educators
As AI continues to shape the future of education, it is essential for educators to approach this transformation thoughtfully.
The GenerationAI initiative, led by ISTE+ASCD and supported by coalition partners such as the Center for Black Educator Development and Latinos for Education, is helping prepare educators to harness the potential of AI in a responsible and impactful way.
By focusing on equity, values alignment, quality over efficiency, ongoing professional learning, and transformational learning, educators can ensure that AI is used to create more engaging, equitable, and meaningful learning experiences for all students.
Conclusion
The rise of AI presents a unique opportunity to rethink how we approach education.
Rather than focusing solely on efficiency gains, we must embrace AI as a tool for transformational learning that can help create a more equitable, values-driven, and student-centered educational experience.
Educators must be prepared to lead this change by fostering professional learning, ensuring alignment with educational values, and focusing on quality rather than speed.
As we move forward, it is essential to keep the student experience at the heart of every decision and ensure that AI is used to empower both educators and learners.
Join the Movement
As part of the GenerationAI initiative, educators can participate in ongoing discussions, explore the impact of AI on education, and share best practices for using AI in the classroom.
