While we are marking the day of appreciation of the AI this month, this is the ideal moment to think about how artificial intelligence can be used to support, and not replace, excellent teaching.
A few decades ago, the arrival of digital tools in class, from spelling checks to graphic calculators, aroused intense debate. Some educators considered them shortcuts, but today, many of these tools are standard. This evolution reminds us that technology, when used in purpose, becomes a powerful ally of education.
A tool, not a threat
Artificial intelligence is the last development generating a similar debate. As the calculators before, AI is not something to fear or prohibit, but to integrate in a thoughtful way. This already affects industries around the world, and education is no exception.
Actually, A recent UNESCO report urged education systems from around the world to prioritize the literacy of AI, declaring that “students must be equipped with skills to understand, use and actively engage with AI technologies as part of their digital skills.”
A survey in 2025 by Education Week found that 62% of educators had used AI tools in their classrooms – highlighting the growing recognition of its potential. While the conversation continues, the emphasis must remain on how to integrate AI in a responsible and effective manner to serve the best interests of the students.
Empower critical thinking
We do not need the students to memorize all the facts on the civil war when they can ask their phone on three key causes. But we must teach them to ask better questions, to assess credible sources and to critically think about the information they receive. It is the true value of AI in education – not just instant answers but a more in -depth investigation.
At Idaho Technical Career Academy, we have not yet integrated AI into daily education, but we know that it happens. AI will be part of how we teach, how students learn and how we prepare the next generation for the world to come. The objective is to use it intentionally, improving learning without replacing human information.
Throughout Idaho, education leaders are starting to explore the role of AI in kindergarten classrooms to the 12th year. The Idaho Education Association has launched professional development workshops to help teachers navigate the practical and ethical applications of AI in class. These efforts highlight the right approach to AI: thoughtful integration, and not knee avoidance.
Learn to use the right tools
AI, like any tool, should be used judiciously. Just as calculators do not replace the understanding of mathematics with a student, AI should not reflect for them. But it can support curiosity, help with problem solving and offer new ways to engage in learning. The key is to teach students to use it with competence, integrity and awareness.
Technology will always change. It is inevitable. But our responsibility as a Educators remains constant: preparing the students not for the world in which we have grown up, but for the one they enter. This means kissing the right tools at the right time and helping students build judgment and creativity to use them well.
The next generation will not only need to understand AI. They will have to collaborate with him, innovate with him and shape how it is used. This work begins now, with us.
At Learnopoly, Finn has championed a mission to deliver unbiased, in-depth reviews of online courses that empower learners to make well-informed decisions. With over a decade of experience in financial services, he has honed his expertise in strategic partnerships and business development, cultivating both a sharp analytical perspective and a collaborative spirit. A lifelong learner, Finn’s commitment to creating a trusted guide for online education was ignited by a frustrating encounter with biased course reviews.