What is your position on AI in Education?

AI is an excellent and slightly terrifying tool. Based on what I have learned so far throughout this semester, I feel that AI is highly useful to teachers for saving time on tasks like writing report card comments and creating detailed lesson plans. I had the opportunity to attend a couple of professional development sessions at Oak Bay Secondary School. Our mentor teacher ran these sessions and emphasized the benefit of saving time on certain things as a teacher to maintain a work-life balance and spend more intentional time building a positive classroom community. I am not sure yet what my position is on students using AI in education. However, I think they need to do a significant amount of school assignments and activities without relying on AI.

I used AI to answer the second two questions for this reflection (in green font below). I found it helpful in saving time, but I also found it unhelpful because the answers (copied and pasted from Chat GPT) did not incorporate my genuine opinion, and they diminished the reflective element that would have come from writing the answers myself.

Should teachers modify how they assess students? If so, how?

Teachers should consider modifying how they assess students to align with evolving educational paradigms. Traditional assessment methods, like standardized testing, may not fully capture a student’s diverse skills and capabilities. Instead, incorporating a mix of assessment strategies, such as project-based assessments, portfolios, and collaborative evaluations, allows for a more comprehensive understanding of a student’s abilities beyond rote memorization.

What do you think falls under the category of legitimate use for AI in schools? Where do you draw the line?


Legitimate uses of AI in schools encompass several areas that enhance educational processes without compromising key human elements. Some valid applications include:

  1. Personalized Learning: AI can tailor educational content to individual student needs, adapting the pace and style of instruction to optimize learning outcomes.
  2. Automated Administrative Tasks: AI can streamline administrative processes, such as grading, scheduling, and record-keeping, freeing up educators’ time for more personalized interactions with students.
  3. Learning Analytics: AI can analyze large datasets to identify patterns in student performance, helping educators make informed decisions about instructional strategies and interventions.
  4. Support for Special Education: AI technologies can provide additional support for students with special needs, offering customized learning materials and adaptive resources.
  5. Early Intervention Systems: AI can identify students at risk of falling behind early on, enabling timely interventions to address learning gaps and provide additional support.

However, it is crucial to draw a line when AI is employed in ways that undermine essential human aspects of education:

  1. Ethical Considerations: The use of AI should adhere to ethical standards, avoiding bias, discrimination, or privacy violations. Transparent and accountable AI systems are crucial to maintaining trust. ,/
  2. High-Stakes Decision Making: AI should not be the sole determinant in high-stakes decisions, such as student evaluations or teacher assessments. Human judgment and understanding play crucial roles in these contexts.
  3. Replacing Human Interaction: While AI can enhance efficiency, it should not replace the human connection between teachers and students. Emotion, empathy, and mentorship are integral components of effective education that AI cannot fully replicate.
  4. Lack of Adaptability: AI should not replace the adaptability and creativity of educators. It should be a tool to support teachers in their roles rather than imposing rigid structures.

Ultimately, the responsible and legitimate use of AI in schools involves leveraging its capabilities to augment, rather than replace, the human-centric aspects of education. Striking a balance between technological advancements and the core values of education is crucial for ensuring ethical and effective implementation.

Photo by Emiliano Vittoriosi on Unsplash