AI in Education: Lessons from the Classroom

NOTE: This is an evolving conversation about AI in education. Guidance, practices, and tools are constantly changing, so we’ll be updating this as new insights and best practices emerge.

Generative AI continues to reshape the way we teach and learn. SRL educators are asking big questions: Where does creativity fit in? What happens to critical thinking? How do we help students use these tools responsibly?

In a recent Teacher Reporting Labs episode, SRL educators shared how they’re navigating this evolving landscape. Here are some of the key takeaways:

DO’S: 

DO: Treat AI as a Learning Partner, Not a Shortcut

AI can be an incredible collaborator,  but it can’t replace the human spark that makes learning meaningful. Teachers sometimes use AI to brainstorm ideas, outline lessons, and assist with time-intensive routine tasks. The key is to make sure students still do the intellectual heavy lifting.

DO: Talk About Access and Equity

Not every student has equal access to technology. Integrating AI into education means also talking about who gets left out and why.

“Access starts from the top down,” said Sequoyah Wharton. “If only some students can use these tools, we’re widening the gap instead of closing it.”

DO: Encourage Exploration and Experimentation

Educators are finding playful, low-stakes ways to let students test what AI can (and can’t) do. Some use it for story brainstorming, debate prep, or creative prompts, always followed by student critique and reflection.

DO: Keep the Human in the Loop

AI isn’t here to take over the classroom. It’s here to expand what’s possible. When used intentionally, it can give educators more time to focus on what matters most: connecting with students.

DO: Build Reflection Into Every Assignment

Encourage students to think about how they used AI.

 Ask:

  • What did AI contribute?
  • What did you contribute?
  • What surprised you?
  • What did you learn?

These simple prompts turn AI use into a deeper exercise in self-awareness and ethics.

DONT’S

DON’T: Assume AI Equals Cheating

“How do we turn this into a positive conversation instead of a negative?” – Mike Conrad, Royal Oak High School, Royal Oak, Michigan  

It’s not about catching students; it’s about teaching them to be critical consumers. Instead of banning AI, use it to start conversations about integrity, authorship, and credibility. Let students explore when AI helps – and when it hurts their learning.

DON’T: Let AI Replace Human Creativity

Even the smartest algorithms can’t replicate the empathy and originality that come from lived experience.  Use AI for support, not substitution.

DON’T: Skip the Conversation About Ethics

AI literacy means more than prompt-writing. It means asking who built the tool, whose data trained it, and what biases it might hold. If students only see AI as a “cheat code,” they miss the bigger story about how technology shapes truth and power.

DON’T: Forget the Human Connection

Technology should never replace relationships. The teachers we heard from reminded us that education is, and always will be, about humans understanding humans.

“When students use AI in some way, I turn it into a positive by asking them what they did​. I have them teach me​; I ask how they learned, what they learned from it, how could they learn more. I find the students are more receptive when I don’t close up, but I open up the conversation,” says Sterling Miller, New Fairfield High School 

BOTTOM LINE

AI in education isn’t about doing less. It’s about thinking differently. When we center curiosity, equity, and reflection, AI becomes not a threat to learning but a tool for deeper creativity, connection, and care.