The 5 Secret Hats Teachers are Wearing Right Now (Thanks to AI!)
New, unanticipated roles for educators sitting in the same boat
As we come up to the two-year mark after ChatGPT 3.5 changed our collective lives and as I continue my rounds of workshops and keynote speeches at educational institutions, I am of 2 minds when it comes to how I am feeling about teachers’ attitudes about generative AI.
On the one hand, I do not understand how there are teachers who have never tried ChatGPT (or any other tools) at all, despite having heard of it and seen or experienced first-hand that students are using it. On the other hand, I understand completely the feeling of being overwhelmed by the rapid pace of developments and not knowing about recent innovations. For example, at a conference last week, I showed an eager audience how to generate images in Padlet, something that has been around since last year (here is a board that I use at each workshop), and here were people who know Padlet well but never noticed this feature!
But really, I continue to be surprised at how few educators are using it and sharing their experiences. Those of you in the AI-educator bubble may now protest and say, that it’s not true. But how many of us can say that 30 % to 50 % of the teachers at our schools are using it? I work at a school of 150 teachers and I know only a handful of people who have tried it, but not all use it regularly. I’m surprised because the writing is on the wall for traditional classroom practices.
Generative AI has compelled new roles upon us, that we have to face sooner or later. In the tradition of #noussommes, let’s explore a few of these roles.
1. We Are All Beta Testers
Of course, in the world of software development, beta testers play a crucial role in identifying bugs, suggesting improvements, and ensuring the final product meets user needs. Today, teachers find themselves in a similar position with AI tools, but we are not being paid for our work (on the contrary, we are the ones paying with subscriptions, feedback and data). Companies are launching tools labelled “beta”, that are unfinished or with limited customization options, or with zero guidance on how to use them. I understand the need to test in real-world conditions, but understand us as well, that we are faced with products that are freely accessible. It would be great to know if we should develop workflows around them or wait for the full version somewhere down the line. Early adopters will do the legwork and invest time and resources on getting to know the nooks and crannies - but it’s really time-consuming.
Picture a Biology professor evaluating AI-driven literature review tools, assessing their accuracy and ability to identify relevant recent studies. We already have full plates, and now this is an additional necessity.
2. We Are All Researchers
In the era of generative AI, teachers have unexpectedly become frontline researchers, transforming classrooms into living laboratories. Educators are conducting real-time tests across diverse settings, from elementary to higher education. They're investigating how AI-generated content impacts learning, experimenting with AI tools, and assessing the performance of these technologies across various subjects and grade levels. They're asking critical questions such as:
How best to motivate students to attribute and document their work when AI was used a co-creative ally?
How best to assess work when AI tools were part of the production process?
How to measure the effectiveness of an AI tool to develop a core competency?
Picture a Middle School History teacher comparing student engagement and retention when using AI-generated interactive timelines versus traditional textbook methods. Yes, through this research, teachers are building a collective knowledge base that will inform best practices for AI integration in education. But we are collectively re-inventing the wheel - developing norms on the basis of trial and error.
3. We Are All Ethical Guardians
As AI becomes more prevalent in education, teachers find themselves on the front lines of navigating complex ethical issues. They must ensure that AI is used responsibly and ethically in their classrooms. While it is true that some students always found ways and means to cheat on assignments and tests, in the era of generative AI, we are finding ourselves spending more time talking about and modelling academic integrity. While again time-consuming, there is a bright side to this, as we are talking more about the importance of authentic student voice, about human creativity and invention, and how learning works sustainably. And it is important to start early, given the ubiquitous nature of the technology.
Picture an Elementary School teacher who develops guidelines for when it's appropriate for students to use AI writing assistants for creative writing assignments. This new role presents challenges:
Keeping up with rapidly evolving AI technology and its ethical implications.
Balancing the benefits of AI tools with ethical concerns.
Navigating potentially conflicting interests of students, parents, administrators, and tech companies.
However, it also offers opportunities:
Engaging students in meaningful discussions about ethics and technology.
Developing new pedagogical approaches that combine technological innovation with strong ethical foundations.
Collaborating with researchers and developers to create more ethical AI systems.
4. We Are All Curators
In an era where AI can generate vast amounts of content, teachers must become skilled curators, carefully selecting and organizing the most relevant and high-quality materials for their students. And as the ed-tech market explodes with new AI-powered solutions, educators are tasked with sifting through a vast array of options to select the most effective tools for their students' needs. With new tools emerging almost daily, teachers face a daunting task: how to evaluate, select, and integrate the most appropriate tools into their teaching practice. As the market matures, many of these tools are racing to become the "standard" in their respective niches. This competition creates both opportunities and challenges for educators:
Opportunities:
Rapid innovation and improvement of features
Competitive pricing and free trials
Increased focus on user experience and ease of integration
Challenges:
Pressure to adopt tools before they're fully vetted
Potential for tool abandonment if a company fails or pivots
Need for continual professional development to stay current
Picture a Primary School Science teacher who has to sift through AI-generated science experiments, selecting those that are safe, engaging, and align with curriculum standards. Needless to say - this requires an investment of time and resources (as well as access to tools).
5. We Are All Learners
Perhaps the most important role for teachers in the AI era is that of continuous learners. The rapid pace of AI development requires educators to constantly update their skills and knowledge. Yes, we have always learned. But the pace is different. Education systems are like giant oil tankers, moving at glacial speeds. Curriculum changes take years, as does textbook production. Generative AI innovations are coming month by month. I myself find it hard to keep up.
Some schools are implementing professional development across faculty, while others have no requirements in place and rely on the initiative of each individual teacher to gain skill and expertise on their own time (and money). Not to mention, we are learning alongside our students. What should we do? Participate in workshops, attend online webinars and courses, and search out collaborations with fellow teachers in our networks.
Picture Higher Education Faculty who chooses to engage in interdisciplinary research projects that explore the intersection of AI and their field of expertise.
By embracing the role of lifelong learners, teachers model adaptability and curiosity for their students, preparing them for a future where continuous learning will be essential.
Conclusion
I sincerely hope this new normal will not cause a divide amongst educators into the “SAVVY” and the “NOTSAVVY”. :( These roles are not going away.
As beta testers, we're shaping the tools of tomorrow. As researchers, we're pioneering new pedagogical approaches. As ethical guardians, we're ensuring that AI enhances rather than compromises the educational experience. As curators, we're guiding students through the wealth of information AI provides. And as learners ourselves, we're staying at the forefront of educational innovation.
These new roles require flexibility, creativity, and a willingness to step out of our comfort zones. But being pragmatic and embracing these roles, we can harness the power of AI to create more engaging, personalized, and effective learning experiences for our students.
Are you an AI-educator? What has been YOUR experience with AI in your classroom? What roles have I missed? Which roles have you taken on? Share your story in the comments.
Are you one of the many teachers who hasn't tried ChatGPT yet? Or perhaps you're feeling overwhelmed by the rapid changes? You're not alone. Here are a few tips to launch your journey:
Use two or more text and/or image AI tools every day for as many tasks as possible. There are quite a few freely available, with powerful features:
https://claude.ai
https://you.com
https://www.perplexity.aihttps://poe.com
https://gemini.google.com
Classroom AIs (especially for teachers)
https://web.diffit.me
Many resources are atCreate simple activities for the classroom and test the tools out together with studetnts. at the end have them reflect on the efficiency, accuracy and viability of the tools and establish etiquette and rules for attribution
Connect with other educators via social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Bluesky, YouTube) and follow hashtags like #LearnWithAI. Many share resources for free and test new features so you don’t have to.
Take a free course online. There are many choices - from Coursera, Udemy etc or on YouTube. Here is a list https://fortune.com/education/articles/free-ai-classes-you-can-take-online/ or check out this website
Share within your school and district. Arrange informal coffee breaks to share experiences or post experiences on virtual or analogue notice boards
Attribution
For this post, claude.ai and deepl.com were used for brainstorming and style improvements. The title image was created using Adobe Firefly.
The pace of iterations is exhausting for educators, and the degree to which teachers and administrators are willing to beta test AI tools ranges; there is an inherent vulnerability to learning alongside your colleagues and your students. Not everyone is open to that. To me, that speaks to a broader cultural shift that schools have long needed.
Wow, what a fantastic read this is. I have very fond memories of and huge respect and love for teachers - because I watched many great teachers help my daughter take full advantage of her huge brain. That also gave me an opportunity to see how (at least here in the US) terribly overworked and underpaid teachers are.
I can't imagine why any teacher would not want to read this, and then read it again, and then save it , learn from it and soak in all your wisdom Alicia.