Lesson 2: Why AI – and Why Now?

Artificial Intelligence is becoming increasingly relevant in K–12 education, offering tools that can assist with:

• Feedback and assessment

• Instructional planning
  
  

• Feedback and assessment
  
  

• Differentiation and accessibility
  
  

• Reducing repetitive or time-consuming tasks
  

Recent research highlights the pace of this shift. According to the EdWeek Research Center (2026), 61% of U.S. teachers reported using AI tools in their work—up from just one-third in 2023.

Many school leaders are aware that AI is already being used informally by teachers across content areas and grade levels. And while there is growing interest in supporting this work, many leaders feel uncertain about how to guide it.

This course acknowledges that discomfort. You don’t need to be the expert—you just need a structure that supports intentional exploration and shared learning.

The goal is not to turn teachers into AI experts, but to create a safe, collaborative space where educators can explore AI tools together, ask questions, surface concerns, and reflect on how these tools can—or should not—support their instructional practice.

When that exploration is grounded in a PLC, it becomes safer, more purposeful, and more aligned with your school’s culture, goals, and professional norms.