AI, as we all know, has created a new “normal” in teaching. Our students are increasingly using generative AI tools for a wide range of tasks, from research to creative projects. As educators, it’s essential that we adapt to this shift, not just by incorporating AI into our teaching but by doing so ethically and effectively. To help guide this transition, I’ve compiled key do’s and don’ts for using AI in the classroom. These insights come from my personal experiences with AI and my research, which culminated in my recently published book titled ChatGPT for Teachers.
AI Do’s:
Embrace AI for creative projects
While I often argue that AI can’t replace human creativity—which is true—AI can actually amplify and extend it.. For certain creative projects, AI can be of tremendous help. For instance, when coming up with ideas for teaching a topic or for a lesson plan, use ChatGPT or Claude to help you brainstorm various ideas then choose the ones that work for you and adapt them to your teaching context. The same applies for when you want to come up with unique and creative classroom activities. Explain to the AI bot what you want to teach and let it provide you with various ideas to go about doing it.
Similarly, when working on a writing project or assignment, you can use AI tools such as ChatGPT, CLaude, Gemini , Jasper, etc., to help overcome, for instance, writing block. The way I do it is by copying the last portion where I am stuck and ask the AI bot to compete it. Though it doesn’t always work perfectly, it opens new paths for thinking and creativity. Use AI as a tool to support, amplify, and enhance your creativity, not replace it.
Learn prompting
I have written a whole book (ChatGPT for Teachers) on the importance of prompting and discussed a wide variety of prompting strategies teachers can use to create well crafted prompts and generate accurate results.
Remember that prompts are the key to unlocking the potential of generative AI and chatbots such as ChatGPT or Claude are only as good as your prompts. We can have the same query in mind but get different outcomes from the chatbot depending on how we structure and word our prompts.
In fact, prompting, as far as I am concerned is one of the most important skills in today’s educational landscape. Both teachers and students need to explicitly learn how to write effective prompts and how to communicate with AI in more efficient ways.
Use AI as an assistant
One of the best ways to leverage the educational power of AI is to use it as an assistant. For instance, in my writing projects I would write the initial draft myself then feed it to ChatGPT paragraph by paragraph and ask it to edit and improve its overall style without changing the meaning. I make sure that ChatGPT works on my own ideas and not include others’ ideas thus reducing the risk of hallucination and plagiarism.
When using ChatGPT as a research assistant, set clear roles in your prompt. For instance, you could start with: “You are my research assistant, please help me find information on [topic] while ensuring accuracy and relevance to my needs.”
Always fact-check AI outputs
As I discussed in my book, ChatGPT can generate inaccurate information and sometimes even fabricate references, a phenomenon known as “hallucination.” This happens because AI chatbots don’t process language the way humans do. Instead of truly understanding meaning, they string together words based on statistical patterns, predicting the most likely sequence of tokens (words) that should follow. This can lead to plausible-sounding, but ultimately incorrect, outputs. It’s important to always verify information provided by AI tools to avoid these pitfalls.
In their current versions, AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude, and Gemini still struggle with the issue of hallucination. Although they have significantly improved compared to earlier versions, they remain imperfect. It’s essential to always fact-check any information generated by these tools. Personally, I avoid using AI chatbots to generate factual data entirely. Fact-checking ensures that you don’t rely on potentially inaccurate or fabricated information, helping maintain the integrity of your work.
AI Don’ts
Don’t substitute AI for teacher-student interaction
AI can assist in teaching, but it cannot replace the value of human connection. No matter how advanced the technology, your personal touch is crucial for enhancing student learning. As social beings, students thrive on empathy, emotional intelligence, and the bonds they form with teachers—qualities AI simply cannot replicate. The relationships you build and the emotional support you provide are far more impactful than any technological tool. You, as a teacher, are irreplaceable in fostering real growth and learning.
Don’t allow AI to replace critical and creative thinking
The goal of education is not just to produce learners, but lifelong learners who can critically engage with the world around them. If we fail to foster the ability in students to question, explore, and see alternative perspectives, we have missed our purpose as educators. This is particularly crucial in the age of AI. Students must understand that not all AI-generated information is accurate. They need to be encouraged to question, fact-check, and dig deeper, ensuring that they don’t accept AI responses at face value.
Don’t neglect ethics in AI use
We can’t fully tap into AI’s educational potential without using it ethically and responsibly. It’s essential to educate students on intellectual property and copyright before they use AI tools. They must understand that AI, like ChatGPT, can sometimes plagiarize content—whether verbatim or through paraphrasing without proper attribution. Teaching students the ethical implications of AI in learning is crucial for fostering responsible use and ensuring respect for original content.
Don’t ignore digital literacy
For students to fully benefit from AI tools, they need a strong foundation in digital literacy. Understanding how AI works, much like we once emphasized coding, is essential. Students should know that AI isn’t intelligent in the human sense—it’s based on statistical learning and computational operations. They need to grasp that effective AI use requires oversight and well-structured prompts. Teaching them how AI generates responses will empower them to better navigate and control these tools
Related: Top 10 AI Tools for Teachers
Final thoughts
I hope you’ve found these insights helpful in navigating the integration of AI into your teaching practice. While AI offers incredible opportunities, it’s important to approach it with thoughtful strategies that enhance student learning without losing the essential human connection. By following these do’s and don’ts, you can ensure AI becomes a powerful assistant in the classroom while maintaining ethical and responsible use
