Even as teachers across the country experiment with AI, many are skeptical of its role in classrooms, and whether it will undermine student learning. That wariness was evident during a May workshop, part of the “National Academy for AI Instruction,” a partnership between a major teachers’ union and three tech companies, including AI developers.
The American Federation of Teachers is offering its 1.8 million members free AI training and curriculum as part of the $23 million program. Teachers said they saw promise in using AI to plan lessons but are worried about the technology undermining student cognition and critical thinking.
AFT’s view is evolving, too: The union’s president recently called for restrictions on student-focused AI tools, and for research and teacher training on safety and privacy.
