🎄 Day 19 of 25
AI tools are now part of everyday teaching and learning. In 2025, the challenge is no longer whether AI should appear in education, but how to use it in ways that support learning, fairness, and academic integrity.
Today’s AI insight
Responsible teaching with AI focuses on learning outcomes, not tool adoption. AI can support explanation, practice, feedback, and accessibility, but it should not replace the cognitive work that students need to do to develop understanding.
Well-designed AI use in teaching makes expectations explicit: when AI is allowed, how it may be used, and what remains the student’s own responsibility. Transparency helps prevent confusion, inequity, and unintentional misconduct.
Why this matters
Unclear or inconsistent approaches to AI in teaching risk widening inequalities. Students with greater access to tools or prior knowledge may benefit disproportionately, while others are left uncertain about acceptable use.
There is also a risk of over-reliance: if AI completes core learning tasks, students may progress without developing the underlying skills needed for advanced study, research, or professional practice.
A simple example
An instructor might encourage students to use AI to:
- Generate alternative explanations of a concept
- Create practice questions for self-testing
- Receive formative feedback on structure or clarity
At the same time, assessments are designed so that key reasoning and synthesis must be demonstrated without AI assistance, or with clearly defined constraints.
Try this today
✅ State explicitly in module or course materials how AI may and may not be used.
✅ Design activities where AI supports learning (e.g. practice or reflection) rather than producing final answers.
✅ Discuss AI limitations openly, including errors, bias, and uncertainty, as part of the learning process.
Reflection
Teaching with AI responsibly means treating it as a learning aid, not a shortcut. When educators align AI use with pedagogical goals and academic values, AI can enhance understanding while preserving fairness, integrity, and student agency.