Teachers don't need a new philosophy to use AI. They need a clear framework for thinking about it. A recent panel hosted by ThriveinEDU in partnership with Kira brought together current and former educators Dr. Rachelle Dené Poth, Jeff Bradbury, Rick Gaston, Courtney Morgan, and to different perspectives about how AI can enhance and support - rather than replace - human-centered teaching.
Watch the recording and read some of the highlights below:
Start Small, Win Big
The fastest way past AI skepticism? A visible time-saver.
"What is the one thing I can try my best to give you that nobody else can? The answer is always time." - Jeff Bradbury
Instead of thinking about how AI can do 1,000 different tasks or create an entire assignment from start to finish, Jeff suggests using AI as the candle on top of the cake.
“It's only at the end of the final product when I click on the button that says, okay, I wrote this sentence, but could you make it sound a little bit nicer?”
And does everything have to be innovative? AI in itself is innovative. “What is something that is very time consuming for you or that is challenging? The word innovative sometimes is scary to people,” says Rachelle.
Quick ideas from our panelists:
Generate vocabulary lists
“I’m a middle school teacher… Can you give me 10 vocabulary words that my kids would need to know? Done.”
Draft/clean up copy (polish sentences)
“I wrote this sentence, but could you make it sound a little bit nicer?”
Create examples & practice problems tailored to student interests
“You can use Kira’s Make It Relevant to create examples and practice problems in a basketball or swimming context, if that’s what a student is interested in.”
Draft emails / adjust tone
“Maybe we don’t know how to raise an email tone… use that as a jumping-off point.”
Save time grading
“Kira's QuickGrader will help you grade and assess student work and check for plagiarism.”
Shift from digital literacy to discernment
As Rachelle noted (riffing on Futureproof by Kevin Roose, NYT), we’ve moved beyond “Can students use tools?” to “Can they judge what’s real, reliable, and appropriate to use?” In an AI-saturated world, students need discernment: the habits of questioning, verifying, and deciding when and how to use AI, without outsourcing their thinking.
Two ideas from the panel:
Metacognitive comparison (inspired by Natasha Singer’s reporting): Have students analyze a teacher-made product and an AI-made version of the same task (e.g., a lesson plan outline).
Discuss: Which parts are fine for AI to draft? Which require a human? Why? This makes the boundary between automation and judgment visible.
AI as an “intellectual sparring partner”: Have students draft a claim, ask AI to generate 3 counter arguments and then revise their position with citations.
"Through this practice, students can learn to anticipate what those counter arguments might be and strengthen their arguments ahead of time. This transforms AI from an answer-giver into a thinking partner.” - Rick Gaston
Think Control, Not Replacement
The right approach to AI integration requires clear boundaries and teacher oversight. The panelists emphasized thinking about AI with "privacy you can explain":
Teacher visibility: All student-AI interactions remain accessible to educators
Human approval: AI-generated grades and feedback require teacher review before release
Data protection: Student information stays anonymous and isn't used for external model training
Adaptive support: Teachers control AI assistance levels for entire classes or individual students
Teaching Is Irreplaceable
The goal isn't to eliminate teacher effort. It's to redirect it. Use AI to handle the mechanical tasks so you can focus on what only humans can do: build relationships, ask probing questions, and provide personalized feedback. And give time back.
Time for deeper conversations. Time for meaningful feedback. Time for the human connections that transform learning from information transfer into genuine growth.
“We don't want AI to replace teachers. Teachers are amazing, and I don't think we'll ever be able to be fully replaced or replicated by AI." - Courtney Morgan
Ready to Begin?
What it is: a short, self-paced PD (about 2 hours) for any subject area that builds confidence using AI in real classrooms.
What you’ll get
Plain-language foundations (key terms, strengths/limits, common pitfalls)
Practical classroom routines
Guardrails you can explain to families
Ready-to-use templates (AI-use note, rubric refresh, exit-ticket ideas)
Cohort activities:
Two live virtual sessions for discussion, reflection, and Q&A
Peer community with other teachers
Take-home resources to share back at school
Learn more about our AI 101 for Teachers PD cohort here.
