10 Things K-12 Educators Should Know About AI

We are living in an exciting time where technology is rapidly changing the way we teach and learn. One of the biggest game-changers in recent years has been Artificial Intelligence, or AI for short. You've probably heard about AI in the news or maybe even used it without realizing it. But what exactly is AI, and how is it affecting education?

Simply put, AI is technology that can think, learn, and make decisions, kind of like a super-smart computer assistant. It's already being used in classrooms around the world to help teachers and students in amazing ways. From personalizing lessons to grading papers faster, AI is opening up new possibilities in education.

However, it's crucial to recognize that AI also has the potential to help close the digital divide and promote equity in education. AI-powered tools can provide personalized learning experiences, translate languages, and offer accessibility features that make education more inclusive for all students, regardless of their background or abilities. But we have to ensure that all students have access to a device and that there is adequate bandwidth that allows for high-speed internet. This is especially important as we work to ensure that every student has equal access to quality education and resources.

Recent research by Microsoft reveals that while many educators and students are already using AI, there's a significant gap in understanding its full potential. This "AI literacy gap" highlights the need for clear communication and guidelines in educational institutions. By addressing this gap, we can help ensure that all students and educators can benefit from AI technologies, further reducing educational inequalities.

That's why we've put together this list of 10 key things every K-12 educator should know about AI. Whether you are tech-savvy or just starting to explore AI, this guide will help you navigate the exciting world of AI in education and understand its potential to create more equitable learning environments. Let's dive in!

1. AI is like a smart helper: AI is technology that can think and learn, kind of like a really smart computer assistant.
2. AI can personalize learning: It can adapt lessons to each student's needs, helping them learn at their own pace.
3. AI saves time: It can grade papers and do other tasks, giving you more time to focus on teaching.
4. AI can tutor students: There are AI tools that can help students with homework and answer their questions 24/7.
5. AI helps with accessibility: It can translate languages and convert text to speech, making learning easier for all students.
6. AI isn't perfect: Sometimes it makes mistakes, so it's important to double-check its work.
7. AI needs rules: Schools should have clear guidelines on how to use AI safely and fairly.
8. AI can't replace teachers: While AI is helpful, it can't replace the human connection and guidance that teachers provide.
9. AI is always improving: New AI tools are being created all the time, so it's good to keep learning about them.
10. AI skills are important for the future: Teaching students how to use AI responsibly will help prepare them for their future careers.

AI in education has come a long way since it started in the 1950s. Today, we have tools like chatbots that can answer questions, programs that can grade essays, and systems that can create personalized learning plans for students. Some popular AI tools used in schools include:

• Magic School uses AI for personalized learning experiences, adaptive assessments, and data analytics to track student progress.?
• ChatGPT utilizes AI for natural language processing and generating human-like text responses.?
• Claude AI uses AI for personalized recommendations and feedback based on user interactions.
• Socrative uses AI to analyze student responses and provide immediate feedback to both students and teachers.?
• TED-Ed uses AI to recommend personalized content based on user preferences and learning history.?
• IBM Watson Education utilizes AI to provide cognitive tutoring and personalized learning experiences.
• Google Classroom uses AI to streamline the assignment grading process and provide personalized recommendations for students.
• Zoom utilizes AI for features like background noise cancellation and automatic transcription.
• Grammarly uses AI for grammar checking, style suggestions, and plagiarism detection.?
• Kahoot! incorporates AI for adaptive learning and personalized feedback for students.
• Duolingo uses AI for personalized language learning exercises and progress tracking.
• Code.org leverages AI to provide personalized coding challenges and feedback to students.
• IBM Watson Education uses AI for cognitive tutoring, personalized learning pathways, and data-driven for educators.

Remember, AI is a tool to help make teaching and learning better. By understanding and using AI wisely, we can create more engaging and effective learning experiences for our students.

……. Stay tuned for our next newsletter on how to use AI to draft emails, presentations, visual imagery, art!