Digital Mentors: How Teachers Use A.I.
By Troy Bishop
Why are toasters helping teachers!? AI is becoming more common in our school. Some teachers, not just students, use AI to help them create coursework and brainstorm lesson ideas. The use of AI by teachers and students is a cause for both praise and criticism. Some might question how AI is used in teaching and whether it is ethical.
How AI is Used in Teaching
While some teachers may dislike AI, not all teachers do; lots of teachers use AI in their work. Some people believe that AI can be used responsibly.
“A generation before might have been internet and air connectivity.” Said Ph.D. David Lawrence, a biology teacher at the Freshman Academy. “And a generation before that, maybe telecommunications. I think yours is AI”
Katie Franco teaches her language arts class
Teachers can use AI to accomplish multiple tasks, including brainstorming. AI is useful for creative thinking because AI can provide feedback for your ideas instantly. Teachers also use AI for finding examples. Sometimes teachers want interesting or unique examples. Because of all the data AI has access to, AI can find little-known facts. In Lawrence’s case, he used it to find organisms other than plants that undergo photosynthesis.
Some teachers believe that AI is used as a tool, and only as a tool. AI can be very useful for both teachers and students.
Student Concerns About Teachers Using AI
Teachers using AI have raised concerns for many students. “If it’s used to create assignments, I think they [teachers] are lazy,” said sophomore Chase Minnick.
Some other concerns are voiced too; some students think it's not fair for them to be banned from using AI when teachers are using it themselves.
Sophomore Jackson Upthegrove states, “They tell us not to use AI when they use AI themselves.”
Not all students complain, though; sophomore Vir Beniwal said, “I still learned from it. I don’t think it's a big deal as long as they're still reading the assignments.”
Some teachers using AI have raised some concerns, but if it’s used as a tool, not a replacement, AI can help teachers immensely.
