A well-known edtech presenter shares her journey in creating a meaningful book for educators.  

GUEST COLUMN | by Rachelle Dené Poth

I have always enjoyed being able to share ideas of what I’m doing in my classroom or something that I have learned with other educators and with my students so that I can also learn from them. For years I was writing blogs or presenting at conferences about what I was using in my classroom, whether it be a method or a certain digital tool. And I found that to be quite easy because I was just talking from experience. I was not stretching myself enough professionally. 

However, in August of 2017, as I had been a blogger for Getting Smart for a little while, I saw writing themes for the upcoming year, and AI was one of the themes for January 2018. It piqued my interest and instantly, I had thoughts of what I imagined AI to be. Learning about and sharing about AI over the past nearly seven years has been a rewarding experience and a great learning journey. 

A Bit More Confident

After writing that first AI blog and taking a tremendous course provided by ISTE, I felt a bit more confident diving into teaching about AI in my classroom and decided to submit a presentation at a conference—still not very knowledgeable about it, but wanting to also help other educators. Over the years, I would write and research and learn and write again. I would share that with educators that I came in contact with and have always really enjoyed it and walk away having learned something new, too. One day, somebody asked me why I didn’t think about writing a book about AI, and I started to, but I took a pause to work on my doctoral studies, which also coincidentally focused on artificial intelligence and the need for professional development. 

I’m glad that I waited so that I could provide what I believe to be the best resource for educators of any level to build confidence and comfort in bringing AI into any classroom. The book revolves around providing educators with accessible and practical tools to teach AI. I’m thankful to have students who are willing to try new ideas, and I’m also happy that I’m able to take the time to explore different tools for educators so that the big concerns when it comes to things like ethics, for example, are made easier to have actionable steps to take in our practice but also to help our students to learn about ethics and the many issues and challenges that come with emerging technology especially.

‘…I could provide what I believe to be the best resource for educators of any level to build confidence and comfort in bringing AI into any classroom.’ 

My Hope for Educators, What to Expect

My hope is that this book will be the one that educators feel they can pick up and find any idea for their work with students or colleagues, or if at an administrative level, that will help to guide them in their work with teachers and help them feel more confident in bringing AI to the classroom. 

So what can you expect from “How To Teach AI: Weaving Strategies and Activities Into Any Content Area”? The book provides an overview of what AI is and how it works, where we see it, why we need to know about it, the prediction for the future need for skills in these areas, and why educators need to understand it and be proactive and intentional about choosing how to leverage AI in our schools. 

In “How To Teach AI,” I’ve done my best to help educators figure out how to go about doing this. There are seven chapters in the book, which progress from an overview of AI, the ethical implications of AI, the impact of AI in education and the world, and how to prepare ourselves and our students and the best practices to do so. 

The book includes a larger chapter focused on ethics with many resources for educators to explore and then dives into ways that educators can use a variety of tools to enhance their practice, increase productivity and efficiency, and, most importantly, help students become the creators and innovators and know how to ethically, safely and responsibly use the tools available. 

The book offers a lot of insight into actionable steps and some considerations when putting AI into the hands of our students. How can we shift from having conversations about AI to teaching students how to use it as an enhancer and not a replacement for their learning process? Finally, there are many resources available from organizations that are invested in providing educators with the current and essential materials they need to get started, including sample guidelines, policies, activities, and tools to use in the classroom. 

By incorporating guided instructions, example activities, and a variety of learning resources in the classroom, educators can create meaningful experiences that will best prepare students and themselves.

Why AI? Keeping it Relevant

In writing a book about AI, an area that is changing so rapidly, I was quite mindful of keeping it as evergreen as possible while yet offering suggestions for tools or resources to start in the classroom. A feature that I really love about this book is that I’ve created a QR code that readers can scan to find up-to-date resources as things happen, new features are added, tools change, articles come out, or news breaks. The QR code goes to a Wakelet, so if you’ve never heard of or used Wakelet, then now is your chance to learn another great tool for educators.

Why AI? Because it is all around us, and it is not going away. The World Economic Forum has AI and Big Data listed as number three on the Top Ten Skills Job Outlook for 2027. It is an area of tremendous interest, and with 7 years of experience in this area, I want to help other educators dive in, especially as we see it impacting education and the world faster than ever before. 

I’ve done countless trainings in my own school district, one-on-one, with large groups of the whole district. Over the years, I have traveled or done virtual workshops ranging from two to eight 8 hours, locally, nationally and nationally. I would love to work with more educators and help them to get started and of course, I’m going to keep learning myself. We can’t ever stop, and now with all of the increasing uses of AI in our work and, more importantly, in the world that we are preparing our students for, we have to know how to best provide opportunities to help them be successful. 

We have to teach them about protecting their data and being safe and secure when interacting online, especially with AI-powered systems. Many employers are seeking employees with skills in artificial intelligence, and educators beginning from preschool through 12th grade and onto higher education, need to provide learning experiences for all students.  

Connect with Me

Copies of the book are available via ISTE, Amazon, or through my website or book order form. I am scheduling AI training workshops with schools around the country, both in person and virtually. I also provide training on AI and the Law. You can connect with me via my socials or my contact form. 

Thank you to Victor Rivero for the opportunity to share my latest and ninth book, one that I am truly proud of. I am thankful for the whole ISTE team and some educators who contributed their own experiences, insights, and even cautions about bringing this powerful technology that we are still learning about into our classrooms. 

I hope that you will grab a copy of this book, share it with colleagues, and leave your feedback. Let me know what your thoughts are, what you tried, how it went, and, maybe most importantly—how I can improve and offer more support to you. Thank you.

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Dr. Rachelle Dené Poth is an edtech consultant, presenter, attorney, author, and teacher. She has more than seven years of teaching and presenting on AI in her classroom and working with educators worldwide. She is the author of nine books including her most recent “How to Teach AI: Weaving Strategies and Activities Into Any Content Area.” Connect with Rachelle via bit.ly/thriveineduPD See her books here: bit.ly/pothbooks and find her writings here: www.Rdene915.com

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The choices we make today will have lasting impacts. 

GUEST COLUMN | by Jeff Faust and Melissa Loble

AI is dominating conversations in public education and is all but certain to be a key theme at education conferences for the foreseeable future. The choices we make today will have lasting impacts on our profession, our institutions, our leaders, our teachers, and most importantly, our students. While it’s important to avoid hype and futurism, doing nothing is risky. The rapid development of AI requires action, as we are already experiencing economic and professional impacts across industries with a rate of change almost certain to further accelerate.

‘The rapid development of AI requires action, as we are already experiencing economic and professional impacts across industries with a rate of change almost certain to further accelerate.’

‘We’ve Opened Up the Gate’

In a recent Instructure-hosted webinar focused on the role of AI schools, high school teacher Paul Satchwill explained the changing technological landscape succinctly: “We’ve opened up this gate…and there’s not a lot of direction.” While the potential of AI is immense, the lack of clear guidance and understanding poses significant challenges. As with any edtech, districts are worried about data privacy protections for both their teachers and students. The information provided by AI can’t always be trusted. Algorithms can perpetuate the biases of the humans who created them. Faulty models can also lead to data hallucinations –  incorrect or misleading results generated by the AI. But as the saying goes, “knowledge is power”, and with the increase in knowledge, comes the ability to overcome these issues.

Vendors need to be open with administrators regarding many data privacy concerns. Instructure, for example, is providing its clients with “nutrition fact sheets” that highlight the imperative information about its products. Districts can also use products, such as LearnPlatform by Instructure, to assess whether these AI products meet evidence-backed standards. With increased AI literacy, users will also know the best use cases for AI and how it applies to their classroom experience. 

Crucial Role of Schools 

Schools play a crucial role in addressing this by providing comprehensive education and training around AI for both teachers and students. This includes developing AI literacy programs, establishing clear expectations for AI use, and fostering open communication about its implications. Schools are uniquely equipped to foster open communication and collaboration with their communities through community conversations focused on AI. 

Schools can highlight the steps they are taking to responsibly incorporate AI, including the development of AI literacy programs, the establishment of clear guidelines for AI use, and ongoing professional development for staff. 

By proactively engaging parents, educators, and community members in these conversations, schools can build trust, address concerns, and ensure that AI integration aligns with the values and goals of the community. This collaborative approach not only promotes transparency but also empowers stakeholders to actively participate in shaping the future of AI in education.

Immense Promise 

The integration of AI in education holds immense promise for transforming teaching and learning experiences. AI has the potential to revolutionize education by offering personalized learning journeys, optimizing efficiency, and sparking creativity. By leveraging AI’s capabilities, schools can create a dynamic environment where each student receives tailored support, teachers can dedicate more time to inspiring students, and learning becomes an engaging and immersive adventure. AI-powered feedback enables educators to provide real-time insights, nurturing students’ abilities to think critically and become self-directed learners. 

AI has the potential to be a valuable tool for overcoming writer’s block and creativity challenges, enabling users to quickly generate ideas and content, save time, and “visually bring things to life” even without prior graphical expertise. However, it should be used as an aid rather than a replacement for human creativity. Through this practice, we can prioritize critical thinking, creativity, and adaptability in education and empower learners to excel in a world alongside AI.

Embracing the Potential 

AI will have lasting impacts on education, and its potential to enhance teaching and learning is vast. We should accept that leveraging AI to increase efficacy or to be the best educator possible is not cheating; rather, it’s a strategic move toward preparing ourselves and our students for the future. Schools must embrace this reality and begin exploring, training, and integrating AI tools purposefully and strategically. 

By leveraging industry partners, experts, and thought leaders in the field, schools can navigate this complex landscape with confidence, ensuring that AI is both effective and responsible. As we embark on this journey, let us embrace the potential of AI to create an education system that empowers every learner to reach their full potential in a future world that is all but guaranteed  to look vastly different from the world we know today.

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Jeff Faust is Chief Technology Officer for Chesapeake Public Schools. Connect with Jeff on LinkedIn. Melissa Loble is Chief Academic Officer at Instructure. Connect with Melissa on LinkedIn.

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