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a ready-to-run workshopStudents Using AI for Learning
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Teaching With AI: Students Using AI for Learning (Workshop)

Beyond policing AI, there is a bigger opportunity: teaching students to use AI as a tool for learning, a thinking partner, a tutor, a thing to critique, in ways that build their skills rather than replace them. The goal is students who use AI well, not just students who do not cheat.

Key takeaway

Beyond integrity, there is an opportunity to teach students to use AI as a learning tool, a thinking partner, tutor, or thing to critique, in ways that build their skills rather than replace them.

Format
PLC / team meeting
Length
45 minutes
Group size
Any (works 4-40)
Who can run it
Any teacher-leader
You will need
Slides (5)Printed handoutYour AI policy to handA timer
Aligned to
Learning Forward: Rigorous ContentInTASC 8: Instructional StrategiesISTE Standards for Students
Share / assign

Why it works

As AI becomes part of how people work and learn, students benefit from learning to use it productively and critically, not just from being told not to cheat with it. Thoughtful uses, AI as a tutor to explain, a brainstorming partner, a draft to critique and improve, a source to fact-check, can support learning when designed so students still do the thinking. The key is tasks where AI aids learning rather than replaces it.

The research: ISTE Standards; emerging practice on AI in learning.

The run-of-show

Choose your slot. The agenda, timings, and length update to match.

    The core activity: design a learn-with-AI task

    Teachers leave with one task where students use AI and still do the thinking.

    Students who use AI well, not just students who don't cheatThe opportunity is bigger than policing. Design tasks where students use AI and still do the thinking, and they learn a tool for life.

    Facilitator notes

    Do not let AI do the thinkingIf the task's value is in the AI's output, students do not learn. Design so the thinking, critique, and judgment are the student's.

    Adapt it

    Participant handout

    One page for every teacher. Print it, or save it as a PDF.

    K12 Academics · Professional Learning

    Students Using AI: keep the thinking theirs

    <b>Use it well, not to cheat:</b> tasks where students critique, improve, or verify AI and still do the thinking.

    1. The learning where AI could help:
    2. The task where students use AI but still think:
    3. The student judgment or revision I grade:
    4. How I keep it within policy and age-appropriate:
    5. How AI aids rather than replaces learning:

    Make it stick

    Thinking stays theirs:

    Common questions

    Isn't letting students use AI just enabling cheating?
    It depends on the task. Designed well, where students critique, improve, or verify AI output, or use it as a tutor, students still do the thinking and learn to use a tool they will use for life. Designed poorly, it replaces thinking.
    What are good ways for students to use AI?
    As a tutor that explains, a brainstorming partner, a draft to critique and improve, or output to fact-check. The task should require the student to think, not just accept.
    How do I keep students doing the thinking?
    Design tasks where the value is in the student's critique, revision, judgment, or application, not in the AI's output. Make the thinking the point.

    Go deeper

    Build it into a bigger day

    Workshop
    Student AI Use & Integrity
    Workshop
    AI Literacy for Teachers
    Workshop
    Metacognition & Study Skills