PreK-12 blog

Everyone has different rules.

When it comes to AI, there may be only one thing teachers can agree on: we do not have all the answers about AI use in today's classrooms.

As a result, each classroom takes a different approach. One allows AI in limited circumstances, another bans it completely, another ignores the topic altogether, and yet another leverages it as a core component of learning. The result? Students spend much of their energy trying to figure out the rules.

The irony is that students are in the same boat. Research suggests many students are uncertain about AI use and are looking for clear expectations, consistent norms, open conversations, and guidance that helps them use these tools responsibly (College Board; Schwartz and Diliberti).

This is the conversation we can’t escape.

If you’ve stepped foot in a school’s teachers’ lounge in the last few years, you’ve probably heard the words cheating and AI mentioned more than a handful—perhaps a hundred—times. Not without reason. Generative AI has dramatically changed the landscape of education at every level. Teachers are grappling with this seismic shift while trying to keep up with a job that is already overwhelming.

While I share these concerns, I want to pose a different perspective:  let’s shift our attention—and our invaluable energy—away from cheating and toward missed learning opportunities.

If you’re an adult learner looking to make a career change quickly, short-term training can be a smart way to gain the skills that employers want, without spending years in school. Here’s how to make the most of short-term training. 

When you hear “Career and Technical Education,” high school often comes to mind. But here’s the catch: real transformation can start even earlier, in middle school. That’s where things really take root. 

Ask a student to memorize a formula, and AI can do it faster. But ask them to apply it to a real-world problem, and that’s where the future of rigor lies.

Students are keen to get hands-on with immersive technology,¹ and advances in AI are making it easier to create immersive learning environments.² But does that mean you as an educator should rush to integrate virtual reality and other immersive experiences into your classroom?

As a parent of a child with autism, I’ve spent years navigating the education system — celebrating the wins, advocating through the challenges, and constantly asking one big question: How can I help my superhero kiddo succeed in the world of work? 

We live in a world overflowing with information. Every decision, from hiring to teaching to product design, now relies on data in some way. That is why data literacy is no longer a nice-to-have. It is a core competency for every learner, educator, and leader.  

For many years, students often felt they had to choose between college or a career. One path was widely viewed as academic and prestigious, while the other was seen as practical but sometimes undervalued. This way of thinking has shaped counseling conversations, curriculum design and even state funding decisions.