As a future teacher, I am starting to realize that planning lessons can be harder than it looks. Figuring out how to break a unit into daily lessons and how long things will actually take can be tricky. That is where AI has been really helpful for me. I like using it to get ideas for pacing and to check whether my lessons support all types of learners. I can ask it to suggest sports where students may need extra help or ways to challenge students who are ready to move ahead. It helps me make my lessons more inclusive and make sure no one gets left behind.
Even though AI is helpful, I do not think it should create full unit plans for teachers. AI can be wrong, and it does not know your classroom, your students, or your teaching style. Planning lessons still needs a human touch. I also do not think AI should be used for grading. Part of teaching is knowing what you taught, what you expected students to learn, and how each student is growing. That understanding comes from being in the room with your students, something AI cannot replace.
For Students, AI can be a really useful tool. It can take difficult concepts and explain them in ways that make more sense for students. I have seen students use AI to get explanations that click for them that weren’t given in class. AI can also help students organize large projects, break assignments into steps, and brainstorm ideas.
The problem comes when students rely on AI to do all the work for them. I have seen students copy and paste essay questions into AI and submit the answers as their own with no research into the question. When this happens, students are not learning the topic or practicing important skills like writing, thinking critically, and forming their own ideas. I worry that using AI too much could reduce creativity and independent thinking.
As AI becomes a bigger part of our world, one of the most important skills we can teach students is how and when to use it responsibly. Understanding digital literacy and seeing AI as a tool rather than a replacement will help students use it to support their learning without losing their own skills and ideas.