I wrote these do’s and don’ts of using AI as a teacher to help educators navigate this powerful tool. You’ve heard the buzz. Perhaps you’ve even experimented with AI tools like ChatGPT, hoping to simplify your workload.
But let’s be honest—most of us didn’t go into teaching thinking we’d need to become tech wizards.
So here we are: AI is here, it’s powerful, and now we’re all asking the same thing…
What the heck do I do with this thing?
And maybe more importantly…
What are the biggest mistakes to avoid?
Additionally, that’s why we need to talk about how to use AI in the classroom—without compromising your values, your sanity, or your student data.
To that end, if you’r ready to dive deeper into using AI for teachers, sign up for my FREE 5-Day Teacher Training.
In this series, I’ll teach (and show) you the frameworks I use in my classroom that save my soooo much time! Sign up here.
At last, this is exactly how I incorporate AI into my teaching– effectively and ethically!
First: What IS AI, Really?
To start, AI (short for Artificial Intelligence) is not magic, and it’s not a teacher.
It’s basically a turbo-charged assistant that can read, write, and analyze—fast.
Additionally, tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, CoPilot, etc. are trained on billions of pages of information, but:
- They don’t know your class
- They don’t understand your students
- They don’t have your teacher instincts
Still, with the right prompts, AI can save you serious time. Here’s how:
The DOs of Using AI as a Teacher ✅
These are the things that’ll make AI work for you, not against you:
✅ DO write your own prompts.
To start, don’t rely on someone else’s wording. Customize it to your voice, your students, and your classroom.
✅ DO check your sources.
AI might sound confident, but it doesn’t always fact-check itself. Google important info before sharing.
✅ DO edit the results.
Think of AI’s output as a rough draft. Make it sound like you. Add your magic.
✅ DO use it to speed up planning—not replace it. Lesson plans, parent letters, rubrics—AI can help you get started, but your wisdom makes it work.
Finally, here’s a sample prompt I used earlier this school year…
The DON’Ts of Using AI as a Teacher ❌
Additionally, here’s where you can get into some trouble as a result of copyright and privacy.
Again, these are the things I want you to avoid with a 32.5′ pole:
🚫 DON’T input paid content.
Putting someone else’s copyrighted work into ChatGPT? Not cool. It’s also unethical.
🚫 DON’T rely on AI to write IEPs or report cards.
These are high-stakes, high-context tasks. Again, AI doesn’t know your kids like you do. Period.
🚫 DON’T expect it to know your students.
It can’t predict behavior, tailor to personalities, or differentiate with heart. That’s undoubtedly your job.
🚫 DON’T skip the human check.
Everything that comes out of AI should pass through your eyes first. In fact, you should never copy, paste, send/post. Always double-check it!
So… Is It Ethical to Use AI in the Classroom?
Short answer: Yes, if you use it responsibly.
To clarify, AI is a tool, not a cheat code. And like any tool, how you use it determines whether it helps or harms.
In other words, here’s what ethical AI use in education looks like:
- Be transparent (especially if you’re collaborating or sharing content)
- Use it to support your ideas, not steal others’
- Save time– not cut corners
- Keep student data private
Again, use it to save time—not to cut corners.
For example, think of it as doing 80% of the work, and you do the remaining 20% of the work.
You should also use it to brainstorm—not to plagiarize.
Yes, you can use it to brainstorm a list of goals for IEPs, but don’t let it write the document itself.
In addition to all that, you can use it to support your creativity in planning despite replacing it.
For example, think, “How can I say this with more clarity, spunk, friendliness, etc.?”
Finally, AI Is Not Replacing You. Here’s Why 👇
Can AI tie a wet shoestring? Spot a meltdown coming? Laugh at your student’s weird dinosaur joke?
Didn’t think so.
Ultimately, your ability to build relationships, shift in real-time, and teach with heart is irreplaceable.
All in all, AI is just a helper, and above all, you’re still the lead teacher.
TL;DR
- AI can be helpful—but only with the right boundaries.
- Keep your content original.
- Always double-check.
- And never forget: You’re still the teacher.
Coming Up Next…
In the next post, I’ll show you how to write better prompts that get you exactly what you want—without rewriting the same request 12 different ways. 🙃
Specifically, you’ll learn the EEAS prompt framework and how to make AI sound exactly like you.
Plus, you’ll learn the EEAS prompt framework and how to make AI sound exactly like you.
Want to get all the trainings right now? Register here and I’ll send you 13 frameworks I used in my own classroom. Additionally, you’ll get my 28 AI prompts for Teachers.
Meanwhile, bookmark this blog or hop on the email list so you don’t miss it!
Lastly, what more would you add to this list of using AI as a teacher? Comment below!
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