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How to Prepare Students for a Fast-Moving (AI)World

Dr. Rachelle Dené Poth Leave a comment

In the world of work and education, the pace of technological change is accelerating, and it is doing so faster than ever. As an educator who divides my time between teaching Spanish, STEM, and emerging tech, as well as an attorney and consultant, plus an avid learner, I’ve made it my mission to keep looking for more opportunities that will prepare our students and ourselves. I ask: “What skills do our students really need to thrive not just in today’s world but in the one that’s moving quickly toward us?”

The answer? We have to equip them with the right skills to be “future-ready.” And while technology is involved, it is not about being able to use the latest tech tool. It’s about building a solid foundation of skills, a resilient mindset, and the adaptability to navigate whatever comes next. With the right strategies, we can ensure every student is prepared for the careers and challenges they may face as they continue their learning careers in the world of work.

Education has always been about preparing for the future. But today’s future is driven by evolving AI, robotics, quantum computing, and more. The traditional school model, focused on memorizing content within siloed subjects, is no longer sufficient. We need to embrace change. Our classrooms must become spaces for risk-taking and helping students develop the skills that truly matter in a tech-driven world: critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and digital literacy. These are the tools that will allow our students to navigate an unpredictable landscape with confidence.

The New Realities of Learning and Work

Artificial Intelligence is Already Here. AI isn’t a sci-fi concept; it’s woven into the fabric of our daily lives and is reshaping every industry, from healthcare to finance. To be prepared, our students need to be more than just users of AI—they need to be AI-literate. They must understand its power, question its ethical implications, and learn to leverage it as a tool that enhances, not replaces, their own intelligence. Future employers won’t just want employees who can do a job; they’ll want employees who can work alongside AI.

The Human Element in an AI World

Automation will continue to transform the job market. While some specific roles or jobs will change or even disappear, new ones we can’t yet imagine will be created. This is what makes our uniquely human skills more valuable than ever. Emotional intelligence, ethical reasoning, creative problem-solving, and resilience are the new power skills. This is where methods like challenge-based and project-based learning shine, as they push students to develop these essential human traits.

From Knowing to Doing

In an age where any fact is a quick Google search or LLM prompt away, what we know matters less than what we can do with what we know. The focus must shift from knowledge consumption to skills application. We need to create learning experiences that challenge students to evaluate, process, and apply information in real-world contexts. Project-based learning (PBL) is a fantastic vehicle for this. Exploring big, authentic questions, like those posed by the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, empowers students to apply their learning in meaningful ways and develop a sense of global citizenship.

So, how do we build this future-ready foundation? It’s about fostering a culture of curiosity, resilience, and lifelong learning.

Preparing for a  Future-Ready Classroom

Here are the core components I focus on to prepare students:

1. Unleash Creativity and Problem-Solving. A future-ready student isn’t a passive consumer of information; they are a creator, an innovator, and a problem-solver. I use methods like design thinking to guide students in developing human-centered solutions to real-world challenges. We tackle big questions like, “How can we use technology to make our city more sustainable?” This process guides them through brainstorming, prototyping, and testing, all while fostering collaboration within the team.

As a STEAM educator, I love showing students how to use AI as a creative partner. We use AI art generators to spark discussions or interact with AI-powered chatbots from platforms like MagicSchool AI to supplement learning. For older students, designing their own simple chatbot can be a powerful lesson in both technology and ethics.

2. Weave in AI and Computational Thinking. In my emerging technology course, I’ve seen firsthand how engaging students with AI cultivates computational thinking and ethical awareness. We analyze AI-generated content to discuss fairness and bias. We investigate how AI powers the tools they use every day, from streaming services to self-driving cars, and I challenge them to imagine improvements.

Hands-on learning is key. Tools like Google’s Teachable Machine allow students to train their own simple AI models and understand machine learning concepts. We’ve also explored robotics with the VinciBot and the Nous AI Set from MatataStudio, which helps students grasp concepts like facial recognition and object detection. By using AI-powered teaching tools like Brisk Teaching, SchoolAI or Snorkl, we model how to use these technologies safely, ethically, and responsibly. This hands-on literacy prepares them not just to use AI, but to question, design, and innovate with it.

3. Cultivate Resilience and Adaptability. In a world of constant change, the ability to adapt and bounce back from setbacks is crucial. I design STEM and PBL activities where the process is more important than the final product. Failure is reframed as a learning opportunity. By encouraging students to reflect on their process, adjust their strategies, and support one another, we build the resilience they need to become confident, lifelong learners.

To get started, you don’t need a huge budget. If you are looking to create presentations that will help teach the content or show students the process of PBL, for example, you could try WorkPPT. It even offers AI Chat and Summarizer, and can create mind maps too! Try WorkPPT today!

Free tools like EduaideAi, TeachShare, or Enlighten AI, which can help you generate ideas and explore AI’s capabilities. With a tool like TeachShare, you can create a variety of learning materials aligned to specific standards and accommodations, helping you build these essential skills in your students. Also, dive into all-in-one platforms like School In One for all of your communication, collaboration, and assessment needs and more. (Schedule a meeting with CEO Mati Barbero to learn more and share that I sent you there.)

Ultimately, by designing authentic, real-world learning experiences, we empower our students with more than just knowledge. We give them the creativity, resilience, and critical thinking skills they need to not just face the future but to shape it.

About Rachelle

Dr. Rachelle Dené Poth is a Spanish and STEAM: What’s Next in Emerging Technology Teacher at Riverview High School in Oakmont, PA. Rachelle is also an attorney with a Juris Doctor degree from Duquesne University School of Law and a Master’s in Instructional Technology. Rachelle received her Doctorate in Instructional Technology, and her research focus was on AI and Professional Development. In addition to teaching, she is a full-time consultant and works with companies and organizations to provide PD, speaking, and consulting services. Contact Rachelle for your event!

Rachelle is an ISTE-certified educator and community leader who served as president of the ISTE Teacher Education Network. By EdTech Digest, she was named the EdTech Trendsetter of 2024, one of 30 K-12 IT Influencers to follow in 2021, and one of 150 Women Global EdTech Thought Leaders in 2022.

She is the author of ten books, including ‘What The Tech? An Educator’s Guide to AI, AR/VR, the Metaverse and More” and ‘How To Teach AI’. In addition, other books include, “In Other Words: Quotes That Push Our Thinking,” “Unconventional Ways to Thrive in EDU,” “The Future is Now: Looking Back to Move Ahead,” “Chart A New Course: A Guide to Teaching Essential Skills for Tomorrow’s World, “True Story: Lessons That One Kid Taught Us,” “Things I Wish […] Knew” and her newest “How To Teach AI” is available from ISTE or on Amazon.

Contact Rachelle to schedule sessions about Artificial Intelligence, Coding, AR/VR, and more for your school or event! Submit the Contact Form.

Follow Rachelle on Bluesky, Instagram, and X at @Rdene915

**Interested in writing a guest blog for my site? Would love to share your ideas! Submit your post here. Looking for a new book to read? Find these available at bit.ly/Pothbooks

************ Also, check out my THRIVEinEDU Podcast Here!

Join my show on THRIVEinEDU on Facebook. Join the group here.

AI, Creativity and Adobe Express Classroom

Dr. Rachelle Dené Poth Leave a comment

Part 2 by Laura Steinbrink, @SteinbrinkLaura

One of my go-to edtech tools for my personal and professional use and for use with students has long been Adobe Express. It has undergone quite the overhaul throughout the years, but I could not ask for more from a creative learning tool. Today’s version is truly something special. If you have not checked it out in a while, you might want to give it another look. From creating videos, graphics, webpages, presentations, voice animations, and editable .pdf documents, Adobe Express has beefed up its capabilities by adding very user-friendly features, from a one-click background remover, quick video editing tools, to audio recording options.

Guided Activities

One of my favorite new features offered by Adobe is the featured activities with built-in lesson videos on how to use the template and complete the activity, ready for teachers to assign. These are creative and fun, often include some of Adobe’s built-in generative AI, and free teachers up to assist students with content creation rather than navigating through the technology. Students who need the extra support can watch the one-minute video to see how to do each step, and those who want to figure it out themselves can jump right in and get started. My students really like this feature because it is handy but not obtrusive.

This has freed me up to walk around the classroom and assist a lot more students with other things, rather than help a few students who struggle with the tech pieces of the assignment. It also lets me introduce a new tech piece with Adobe Express and new content simultaneously, whereas in the past, I would have used two class periods for this to stagger the learning of the tech from the application of the content. I highly recommend trying one of these activities with students.

Adobe Classroom

The wonderful thing about Adobe Express’s Classroom option is that teachers can take any template and assign it to students. They are also working to continually update and improve their templates that are organized by subject, grade level, country, etc., too, but absolutely any template can be assigned to students once a class has been created and students have been enrolled in the class. To ensure that you have the Classroom option, make sure that you sign in with your school account and then, instead of selecting “personal,” select “school or district” account when logging in. You should then see the “Classroom” tool option in the side panel (see image below).

Besides the wonderful ability to assign templates, Adobe Express Classroom provides a gallery view for teachers to see student progress at a glance, and it also provides teachers the ability to turn on the gallery view for students to see each other’s work as well. It is a simple toggle on and off that can be done at any time during the work of a project, making this feature a powerful yet simple way to give students an authentic audience for their work.

In the example above, the students’ names have been blacked out, but you can see their progress is color-coded, and the teacher has access to their work at each step of the way once the progress has been started. It is also easy at a quick glance to see which student or students haven’t started the project yet. This saves a lot of time, and perhaps makes this one of my favorite features of Adobe Express Classroom.

Even if all you want to do is search the educator resources to find a quick activity that you can print or assign through Adobe Express Classroom, I encourage you to explore all that Express has to offer you. It is my one-stop shop for energizing my own creativity, so I know that my students get something out of using it as well. It is never a dull moment when you tap into the power of creating, regardless of your subject matter. Students, and if we’re honest, teachers as well, are familiar with the role of consumer in today’s economy, so I take every opportunity to help them learn to cross over into the creator side and learn tools that can set them apart from competitors in the job market or help them rise to the challenge in college, or just enjoy making something rather than passively scrolling. Creating is definitely more fun.

About Rachelle

Dr. Rachelle Dené Poth is a Spanish and STEAM: What’s Next in Emerging Technology Teacher at Riverview High School in Oakmont, PA. Rachelle is also an attorney with a Juris Doctor degree from Duquesne University School of Law and a Master’s in Instructional Technology. Rachelle received her Doctorate in Instructional Technology, and her research focus was on AI and Professional Development. In addition to teaching, she is a full-time consultant and works with companies and organizations to provide PD, speaking, and consulting services. Contact Rachelle for your event!

Rachelle is an ISTE-certified educator and community leader who served as president of the ISTE Teacher Education Network. By EdTech Digest, she was named the EdTech Trendsetter of 2024, one of 30 K-12 IT Influencers to follow in 2021, and one of 150 Women Global EdTech Thought Leaders in 2022.

She is the author of ten books, including ‘What The Tech? An Educator’s Guide to AI, AR/VR, the Metaverse and More” and ‘How To Teach AI’. In addition, other books include, “In Other Words: Quotes That Push Our Thinking,” “Unconventional Ways to Thrive in EDU,” “The Future is Now: Looking Back to Move Ahead,” “Chart A New Course: A Guide to Teaching Essential Skills for Tomorrow’s World, “True Story: Lessons That One Kid Taught Us,” “Things I Wish […] Knew” and her newest “How To Teach AI” is available from ISTE or on Amazon.

Contact Rachelle to schedule sessions about Artificial Intelligence, Coding, AR/VR, and more for your school or event! Submit the Contact Form.

Follow Rachelle on Bluesky, Instagram, and X at @Rdene915

**Interested in writing a guest blog for my site? Would love to share your ideas! Submit your post here. Looking for a new book to read? Find these available at bit.ly/Pothbooks

************ Also, check out my THRIVEinEDU Podcast Here!

Join my show on THRIVEinEDU on Facebook. Join the group here.

AI, Creativity, and Adobe Express Classroom

Dr. Rachelle Dené Poth Leave a comment

Guest post by Laura Steinbrink, @SteinbrinkLaura

Generally speaking, when educators think about artificial intelligence, or AI, it is usually in the frame of a tool students use to cheat, avoid thinking, or come up with an easy and quick answer. We all know that AI can do significant mental heavy lifting for us. The news has been saturated with the accomplishments of large language models like ChatGPT from the beginning, and they are only getting started. However, as we continue exploring their capabilities, edtech companies have successfully integrated them into their products with amazing results that benefit students and teachers alike. Rather than merely limit student thinking by replacing it, AI can also help students break through barriers and expand their creative thinking skills. Adobe for Education is at the forefront of companies that can harness creativity, AI, and their existing edtech platforms to maximize student learning.

Generative AI

Adobe Express also offers four generative AI features for teachers and students to use in their projects and creations. We are only limited in our ability to think of ways to use them because there is plenty of creative and critical thinking power here.

Generate Image

How you use this in the classroom is up to you and your subject matter. It is pretty easy to find ways to use it in ELA or art, for example, but there are applications to be found in other subjects, too. One really fun way to have students use it is for images that they need for presentations. No more searching the internet for an image that might be copyrighted or the incorrect image size, and therefore not visually appealing. The engagement factor of creating their own image cannot be overlooked either. If you are now thinking that you don’t have students create presentations, you might reconsider that. It is a college and career-ready skill that students will need beyond our K-12 classrooms, as is the actual presenting of information. I had a business owner comment recently that she wished more local students graduated high school with the skills to be able to jump right in and do on-the-job presentations. They need both technical skills and communication skills to be able to share information at work or at school. Adobe Express has the tools to help engage them in both.

Generate Text Effects

This feature is just as fun and also as creative as the text-to-image generator. Type in the description of the text you want or fill type you want, look at the examples generated, and choose the one that suits your project the best. This can be used on more than presentations, too, of course. Adobe Express has a lot of template projects that fun text effects can enhance, and again, the engagement factor is huge here, too. If you start a project with just having students create their names with the most creative or crazy test effects, that will help them learn the tools and have a blast while doing it. It can seem like overkill to worry about adding outlines, shadow effects, etc., but creating posts, flyers, newsletters, publications, and presentations that are well-designed and legible is a skill that is not generally taught but should be. With Adobe Express, a few minutes of fun can turn students into competent creators.

Generate Template

This might be the most innovative generative addition to Adobe Express yet. Sometimes a blank canvas is terrifying, just like a blank document or a blank paper. We don’t know where or how to start our paper, project, drawing, etc. Templates help with that, but if we can type in a brief description and then watch AI bring it to life, even if it does not materialize like we suddenly envisioned. However, just seeing the iterations come to life from just a few words can spark more creative ideas for any template or project.

Insert Object

This one was fairly new to me. I saw that it had been added, but I had not tried it until recently. It is simple and also fun to use. Just upload a picture, type in a description of what you want to add to the picture, select your brush size, and color in on the original picture where you would like to add the object.

It is another fun way to create what you need for an image, but this time you start with an image you have but you add something to it. This could really be useful for a variety of situations, and part of the fun for us as educators is to use our own critical thinking to find ways to use these tools that maximize student learning and engagement.

Whether your year is winding down, just beginning, or facing the winter blues, Adobe Express has what you and your students need to inject some creativity and critical thinking, with some talented AI help to fuel the learning needs of your students. It also has the added benefit of engaging your creative juices too, with the flexible templates, powerful tools, and add-ons, which is just as important. Educators need to flex their creative muscle and break through barriers in order to lead students in innovation, and these tools can be the right fit for just such a task.

About Rachelle

Dr. Rachelle Dené Poth is a Spanish and STEAM: What’s Next in Emerging Technology Teacher at Riverview High School in Oakmont, PA. Rachelle is also an attorney with a Juris Doctor degree from Duquesne University School of Law and a Master’s in Instructional Technology. Rachelle received her Doctorate in Instructional Technology, and her research focus was on AI and Professional Development. In addition to teaching, she is a full-time consultant and works with companies and organizations to provide PD, speaking, and consulting services. Contact Rachelle for your event!

Rachelle is an ISTE-certified educator and community leader who served as president of the ISTE Teacher Education Network. By EdTech Digest, she was named the EdTech Trendsetter of 2024, one of 30 K-12 IT Influencers to follow in 2021, and one of 150 Women Global EdTech Thought Leaders in 2022.

She is the author of ten books, including ‘What The Tech? An Educator’s Guide to AI, AR/VR, the Metaverse and More” and ‘How To Teach AI’. In addition, other books include, “In Other Words: Quotes That Push Our Thinking,” “Unconventional Ways to Thrive in EDU,” “The Future is Now: Looking Back to Move Ahead,” “Chart A New Course: A Guide to Teaching Essential Skills for Tomorrow’s World, “True Story: Lessons That One Kid Taught Us,” “Things I Wish […] Knew” and her newest “How To Teach AI” is available from ISTE or on Amazon.

Contact Rachelle to schedule sessions about Artificial Intelligence, Coding, AR/VR, and more for your school or event! Submit the Contact Form.

Follow Rachelle on Bluesky, Instagram, and X at @Rdene915

**Interested in writing a guest blog for my site? Would love to share your ideas! Submit your post here. Looking for a new book to read? Find these available at bit.ly/Pothbooks

************ Also, check out my THRIVEinEDU Podcast Here!

Join my show on THRIVEinEDU on Facebook. Join the group here.

Principal Turnover is a Real Problem

Dr. Rachelle Dené Poth Leave a comment

Guest post by Al Kingsley CEO of NetSupport, Inc.

Principal Turnover is a Real Problem. Let’s Do Something About it

It seems that every day, there’s a new education survey, a new report, or some new finding, with its authors begging for our attention – a new or ongoing challenge that merits action.

If you’re in any way like me, most of those surveys earn not much more than a nod, a modest affirmation of the issue under scrutiny. Most of the time, we know already. And honestly, the issues rarely change. The investment and attention lines have been drawn in roughly the same places for some time.

But every once in a while, a new survey comes out that truly opens my eyes or refocuses my attention on critical issues in education.

That was the case in August when the Arizona School Administrators (ASA) and Northern Arizona University (NAU) shared the results of a new study on school and district administrator wellbeing.

As a preamble, the report repeated some sobering statistics about school administration retention, which we may have known but warrants repeating. For example, according to research from 2019, in the United States, “principal tenure averages four years.”

That was before the pandemic. I cannot imagine that it has improved.

If you’re reading this, I don’t need to explain why an average principal tenure of just four years is a serious problem and that is where the Arizona information comes back in.

In their survey of nearly 300 administrators and principals in K12 schools, the organizations wrote that while principals found their work meaningful, they also “noted high levels of job-related stress.” According to the survey, “High levels of stress and poor work-life balance are major factors pushing administrators to consider leaving.”

Administrators also told the survey makers that “Top stressors … included heavy workload, staffing shortages, the political climate in Arizona, and lack of resources/funding.” And that “Overall, administrators rated their work-life balance between poor and fair.”

None of that may be entirely surprising. But none of that is good, either.

We founded NetSupport nearly 36 years ago specifically to make educators’ jobs easier. By educators, we included and focused on IT professionals and school administrators, although we do have products used exclusively by teachers. Our products have been designed, installed, and updated across more than 22 million users worldwide because they reduce the burdens on education professionals in organizing and managing the technology in their schools. Over many years, countless school leaders have told us how our products and services make their jobs better and less stressful.

So, being reminded of the extremely limited tenure of principals in the U.S. and seeing the dismal results from Arizona was a bit of a shock. It was, however, not a surprise. I think we all know how stressful and draining education work is. But seeing this dramatic rate of turnover was a rude reminder that we all must do more to make the work of running a school less stressful, to move the needle on work-life balance to at least fair. If we cannot, we are – we will continue to be – experiencing unhealthy and unproductive high turnover among school leaders.

It’s well worth remembering that we can invest all the time, treasure, and technology we wish in classroom interventions and innovations. Yet, if the administrative layer in a given school is constantly in transition, overwhelmed, or otherwise ineffective, we are wasting those investments.

Likewise, we can create all the school policies we want at the federal, state, or district level, and it won’t matter one bit if the corps of school-level leadership is degraded by “high levels of job-related stress.”

The Arizona report offered several recommendations, such as implementing support programs that “Develop comprehensive wellness programs that address both personal and professional wellbeing” and to “advocate for policies that reduce administrative burdens and provide adequate funding for schools.”

That sounds great. And I understand that very few of us can do much about getting the state or other education overseers to create and fund wellness efforts. We also probably can’t do much on funding. But the part about reducing administrative burdens – we can do something about that.

AI and other technologies are getting too good, too fast to continue to leave such a vital part of our education leadership under these burdens, to allow them to roll these burdens and stresses and eventually into professional flight.

All of us in the education technology ecosystem have to be better, faster, and more intentional in making solutions that include principals. Even if new products are aimed, for example, at personalized learning or managing offsite activities, they should all consider how they will contribute to easing administrative burdens on principals. Any edtech product that does not is only doing half the job.

At the same time, those of us who have solutions that can help administrators need to move from raising our hands to energetically waving them about. The ongoing strain and its consequences are too important for professional modesty.

I realize that there are many issues with, and serious threats to, education. But this one – the stress burden we’re placing on principals – needs moving up a notch or two. So do the solutions that can help.

About Al Kingsley

Al Kingsley, the CEO of NetSupport, Inc., writes about school innovation and education technology. He serves in several capacities in local schools and has published four books about education, leadership, technology, and school governance.

Want to submit a guest blog or work with Rachelle?

Contact Rachelle to schedule sessions or keynotes about Artificial Intelligence, AI and the Law, Cybersecurity, Coding, AR/VR, and more for your school or event! Submit the Contact Form.

Follow Rachelle on BlueSky, Twitter(X) Instagram at @Rdene915

**Interested in writing a guest blog for my site? Would love to share your ideas! Submit your post here. Looking for a new book to read? Find these available at bit.ly/Pothbooks

************ Also check out my THRIVEinEDU Podcast Here!

Join my show on THRIVEinEDU on Facebook. Join the group here.

7 Ways AI is Set to Make Teachers’ Jobs Easier

Dr. Rachelle Dené Poth Leave a comment

Collaborative blog post.

Since the early 2000s, education has had to evolve with the rapid integration of technology into the classroom. From the general use of computers and laptops for schoolwork to the rise of smartphones and tablets in the classroom, teachers have had to be agile to keep up with these changing trends. Unfortunately, despite these advancements, many teachers struggle in their jobs, leading to a mass exodus in recent years. In August this year alone, Statista reported that 51,000 teachers and other educational staff quit their jobs in the United States. As the education sector is struggling to find teachers to replace them, artificial intelligence (AI) could be the next advancement that not only changes how students learn but also improves the teaching profession by making the job easier. In a guest post by Matthew Rhoads, Ed.D., he wrote that AI can improve teachers’ workflow by providing opportunities for them to optimize their workflow and instruction in the classroom. Below are 7 ways that AI will make teachers’ jobs easier.

Grading

One of the biggest reasons for teacher stress and burnout is the extra work they must do in addition to teaching. Grading is one of the most time-consuming tasks and is often done outside of regular school hours, eating into a teacher’s work-life balance. As discussed in A Look Back at AI in Education, AI grading tools can automate this process. AI can appraise student work instantaneously with very little human input needed, thereby increasing the time teachers can spend on other aspects of their job as well as increasing their free time. These tools also provide much faster feedback to the students, which in turn will help with engagement.

Roleplaying

One factor of AI that will provide a new dimension to how students learn about different subjects is Generative AI (GenAI). MongoDB details how GenAI is based on foundation models that can perform tasks like classification, sentence completion, the generation of images or voice, and synthetic (artificially generated) data. This means that teachers can use AI to educate students through roleplaying. Gabriel Rshaid, co-founder and director at The Learnerspace & The Global School, writes on LinkedIn that GenAI systems that can impersonate a famous, historical, or even current person as well as replicate historical situations. He argues that not only will it foster critical thinking, but it will also elevate the level of interest and engagement for students. Lack of engagement in lessons is regularly touted as a common issue in modern classrooms, leading to added stress for teachers.

Foreign Language Teaching

Language learning in the classroom can be very difficult for teachers due to the lack of one-on-one time with students. With AI, students can speak to a Language Learning Model such as ChatGPT or an AI interlocutor to create a dialogue that is exactly pitched at their level. In a previous post on AI Literacy, we asked a student about the benefits of using AI for language learning. She replied: “The chatbot was very helpful. Immersing yourself with technology that helps you learn Spanish or any other language can help a lot. You have real-time conversations, and the chatbot expands the conversation so you can learn even more about the language. It also helps you become more comfortable speaking!” As students engage with the AI on their own terms, foreign language teachers will have more time to address individual needs.

Plan Lessons

Like grading, a good amount of time outside teaching is spent planning lessons due to the amount of research and reinvention needed. AI can streamline and optimize this process by not only creating new plans from scratch very quickly but also analyzing past lesson plans to cater to the teacher’s own preferences and style of teaching. Curriculum standards also change very frequently, and AI can be used to ensure that the lessons are updated with the latest requirements. This decreases the time teachers spend on planning lessons and increases their ability to work with students.

Personalized Learning For Students

One of the major issues that makes a teacher’s job difficult is not being able to adapt their teaching methods for individual students. It is not possible for teachers to create personalized learning plans for each student in their classroom, which can lead to some students getting left behind and resulting in a lack of engagement. AI-powered adaptive learning platforms can analyze students’ strengths and weaknesses and provide personalized lessons and study paths. 

Improve Classroom Management

While AI will revolutionize how teachers can adapt their lessons to students to improve their learning outcomes, another important aspect of AI that will make a teacher’s job easier is classroom management. A Medium post notes how “one of the most pressing challenges for teachers has always been classroom management,” with discipline being one of the most difficult aspects of the job. When it comes to class management, AI can create a more harmonious classroom environment by being able to “detect when a student is distracted, struggling with a concept, or even feeling unwell.” This will allow teachers to immediately intervene and address the issues before they escalate and result in classroom disruption.

Reduce Burnout

As the above benefits show, AI can have a positive impact on many different facets of teaching to make the job easier. By improving each of the above aspects, AI will reduce overall burnout in teachers, which is having a massive impact on the industry. HMH’s 9th Annual Educator Confidence Report found that burnout is a critical issue, with 82% of educators citing that what they need most is a more balanced workload. Education and students are changing fast, with one teacher noting that “today’s student is different from students even five years ago.” AI will not only allow teachers to keep up, but it will also reduce their workload and give them more time to focus on their students. This will make their job easier and improve their work-life balance, which will hopefully stem the number of teachers leaving the profession.






About Rachelle

Dr. Rachelle Dené Poth is a Spanish and STEAM: What’s Next in Emerging Technology Teacher at Riverview High School in Oakmont, PA. Rachelle is also an attorney with a Juris Doctor degree from Duquesne University School of Law and a Master’s in Instructional Technology. Rachelle received her Doctorate in Instructional Technology, and her research focus was on AI and Professional Development. In addition to teaching, she is a full-time consultant and works with companies and organizations to provide PD, speaking, and consulting services. Contact Rachelle for your event!

Rachelle is an ISTE-certified educator and community leader who served as president of the ISTE Teacher Education Network. By EdTech Digest, she was named the EdTech Trendsetter of 2024, one of 30 K-12 IT Influencers to follow in 2021, and one of 150 Women Global EdTech Thought Leaders in 2022.

She is the author of nine books including ‘In Other Words: Quotes That Push Our Thinking,” “Unconventional Ways to Thrive in EDU,” “The Future is Now: Looking Back to Move Ahead,” “Chart A New Course: A Guide to Teaching Essential Skills for Tomorrow’s World, “True Story: Lessons That One Kid Taught Us,” “Things I Wish […] Knew” and her newest “How To Teach AI” is available from ISTE or on Amazon.

Contact Rachelle to schedule sessions about Artificial Intelligence, Coding, AR/VR, and more for your school or event! Submit the Contact Form.

Follow Rachelle on Twitter(X) and Instagram at @Rdene915

**Interested in writing a guest blog for my site? Would love to share your ideas! Submit your post here. Looking for a new book to read? Find these available at bit.ly/Pothbooks

************ Also check out my THRIVEinEDU Podcast Here!

Join my show on THRIVEinEDU on Facebook. Join the group here.