Before breakfast, you may have already used artificial intelligence (AI) to check the weather, to provide you with directions, browse the Internet, or choose a playlist. By the time you arrive at work, AI is already part of your day- and increasingly, part of education. This technology is reshaping how knowledge is delivered, used, and applied in the academic setting. Education has evolved in a world where artificial intelligence powers everything from search engines to virtual assistants. As AI becomes more integrated into daily life, its role in education continues to expand.
The New Kid in School is Artificially Intelligent
Because AI is being used everywhere, we want our students to be prepared for the present and the future. Artificial intelligence has been around since the 1950s. Over 70 years ago, Alan Turing posed the question, “Can machines really think?” In 1956, the term “artificial intelligence” was first coined. From the 1950s to now, we humans have benefited from artificial intelligence (AI). With the rise of robots- I mean the rise of deep learning, neural networks, and generative AI we have a tool (like calculators) that can be of use to us in education. AI has a myriad of subsets, and we need to understand what matters to us most in education. Since AI is not going away, we have to take the time to be literate, to be AI literate. AI literacy will prevent us from being left behind in our tech-driven world.
AI Literacy: Because “The Computer Did It” Isn’t an Excuse
AI Literacy, just like information literacy, media literacy, data literacy, and critical literacy, deals with being aware of and educated about the concept, so that you are knowledgeable and able to use, analyze, interact with, and evaluate information. AI literacy explains how AI works, its limits, and its risks. Continuous learning, attending workshops, hands-on practice, and reading professional materials on AI will help you stay up to date. Education is evolving, and artificial intelligence is leading that
transformation. So, what does AI literacy mean for educators? AI Literacy means we have to be transparent,
knowledgeable, and flexible in our instruction, allowing students to learn more about this tool without
feeling guilty or unsure about using AI. What does this mean for our students? AI literacy for students
means they should be willing to learn about AI and how to use it ethically, without the stigma of
overreliance on the tool. Although we use AI as a tool, there is always going to be some guardrails for both the student and the
instructor. We have to be careful when we use any tool. We especially have to be careful when we use artificial intelligence with sensitive information. That is why being educated about the advantages and pitfalls of AI is so important.
Function of AI in Schools: What Does AI Do When We Are Not Looking
So what function does AI serve in education? AI in schools enables computers to perform human-like tasks, such as speech recognition, essay grading, or learning recommendations. How can AI help educators and students? AI can help with lesson planning, enhance accessibility for students with disabilities, support data analysis of student performance, personalize learning, and help with reading and writing. This assistance can be accomplished through Instructional AI. In an article by Packback, The AI Trust Gap in Higher Ed: What 691 Students Reveal About Generative AI, Academic Integrity, and Learning the authors highlight a difference in generic generative AI and instructional AI. Generic generative AI tools can provide inaccurate information. Instructional AI tools are used to improve the learning process itself. It’s important to understand that all generative AI is AI, but not all AI is generative. In fact, many of the AI tools we rely on each day are not generative AI. The list below outlines the differences between generative AI and instructional AI. Generative AI was used to distinguish between Generative AI and Instructional AI.
Now What? Your AI Adventure Begins
So, for those hesitant to use AI, I challenge you to learn a little more about it after reading this article. Remember, AI is a tool; use it responsibly and intellectually. AI isn’t replacing educators: It’s enhancing them. By embracing AI thoughtfully, we can create an educational ecosystem where students thrive, teachers feel empowered, and learning becomes more effective and inclusive than ever before.
By: La Shannon Hollinger, Ed.D
References
Chetry, K. K. (2024). Transforming education: How AI is revolutionizing learning. International Journal of Research Publication and Reviews, 5(5), 6352–6356.
Toosi, A., Bottino, A. G., Saboury, B., Siegel, E., & Rahmim, A. (2021). A brief history of AI: How to prevent another winter (A critical review). PET Clinics, 16(4), 449–469. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpet.2021.07.001
The AI trust gap in higher ed: What 691 students reveal about generative AI, academic integrity, and learning. (2026, April 29). Packback. https://resources.packback.co/hubfs/eBook%20The%20AI%20Trust%20Gap%20in%20Higher%20Ed.pdf