Teaching in the age of AI: What now?

These words were spoken before the latest wave of Artificial Intelligence (AI) hit - and they ring even louder now. AI is advancing at breakneck speed, transforming every learner’s future and every teacher’s practice. Ready or not, education is being reshaped. And we must act - not out of fear, but out of purpose.

Why AI matters now

AI is reshaping how we work, learn, communicate, create, and problem-solve. Its ability to generate language, design solutions, and "think" at scale is moving beyond what many imagined possible. This means we’re no longer educating students for the world we grew up in. Our challenge - and opportunity - is to prepare students for a world in which AI is everywhere.

What AI can’t do

It’s easy to feel threatened by AI. But here’s the bottom line: AI can’t replace what makes us most human. AI is not sentient. It does not feel. It can’t understand empathy, nature, or culture. It cannot offer moral judgement, deep connection or purpose.

Where it can help is by becoming our intelligent assistant - supporting learning, increasing efficiency, sparking ideas, helping learners refine their writing, receive feedback, or dig deeper into a topic. But the heart of learning? That still belongs to humans.

The educator’s role in the age of AI

As educators, we have a responsibility to guide our students into a future where being human truly matters. The refreshed NZ Curriculum and Te Mātaiaho  point the way, with their emphasis on communication, critical literacy, identity, and real-world relevance - exactly the capabilities our students will need.

Let learners explore AI tools with purpose. Support them to:

• ask better questions

• reframe and dig deeper

• evaluate, compare, reflect, and create

• use AI to amplify their thinking, not replace it

And most importantly, start critical thinking early. Don’t wait. Teach students from year one to ask:

• Who created this information, and why?

• What’s missing?

• Can I verify it?

Finland teaches these skills from age five. We can too.

If you haven’t already begun, now is the time to start the conversation in your school. You might start by exploring questions like:

• In a world being reshaped by AI, what purposes might education need to serve?

• What capabilities, values, or dispositions might we want to strengthen so our learners can navigate the future with thoughtfulness, care, and hope?

• What would it take to use AI in our school with a focus on ethics, safety, agency and real-world relevance?

• How can we ensure no student is left behind?

AI will reshape education, but it doesn’t have to define it. If we act with purpose, we can ensure every learner develops the skills, values, and dispositions to navigate the future with thoughtfulness, care, and hope.

If you’d like to explore how we can support your school to integrate AI literacy into teaching and learning, get in touch with Evaluation Associates | Te Huinga Kākākura Mātauranga.

To learn more get in touch with Janet today

Contact Janet McCarroll