📚 Back to School with AI: How Teachers Are Rewriting the Playbook

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As schools reopen this fall, one thing is clear — AI is no longer a side note in education, it’s the main act. With ChatGPT and similar tools now embedded in student workflows, educators are rethinking how to keep learning real.

️ The Challenge: AI as Shortcut vs. AI as Superpower

Since ChatGPT’s release, students have found it easier than ever to “outsource” work. For some teachers, that’s cheating. For others, it’s a teaching moment.

Daniel Myers, associate professor of computer science at Rollins College, warns:

“The biggest challenge of AI is that it breaks the connection between submitted work and actual learning.”

He’s redesigned his classes so coding assignments happen in-person under supervision, while out-of-class tasks are now bigger, creative projects where AI use is guided rather than banned.

John von Seggern, founder of Futureproof Music School, takes another angle:

“AI can offload the tedious parts of music production so students spend more time listening, making decisions and finishing work.”

At his school, students must submit their entire workflow, not just the finished product, ensuring teachers can track how they worked, not just what they submitted.

The Shift: Agency, Process, and Personalization

Educators are converging on a new principle: if assignments give students agency — the power to make choices, shape vision, and own outcomes — then low-effort AI answers just won’t cut it.

Used wisely, AI can “supercharge” learning by compressing feedback loops from days to seconds and acting as a 24/7 personal tutor. Von Seggern calls this “true personalization at scale.”

🧪 AI Tools Built for Education

AI developers are moving fast to meet demand:

Anthropic launched Claude for Education, which emphasizes guided exploration over direct answers, walking students through problem-solving instead of handing them solutions.

In July 2025, Anthropic formed a Higher Education Advisory Board with leaders from Yale, Stanford, Michigan, Texas, and Rice to ensure alignment with academic values.

Early research shows nearly half of student-AI interactions are still just direct answer-seeking, highlighting risks of overdependence.

The Takeaway

AI is not leaving the classroom. Instead, it’s forcing schools to evolve faster than at any point in decades. The new era of education will hinge on how well students, teachers, and AI developers can balance convenience with critical thinking.

In short: AI can be a crutch, or it can be a catalyst. The difference depends on how it’s used — and how educators adapt.