AI technology is transforming education, and its potential for supporting teacher development is just beginning to be realized. Beyond classroom use, AI can serve as a powerful tool for teachers’ own professional learning. Here are three ways teachers can leverage AI to enhance their professional growth and learning.
1. Learning new knowledge or skills
For teachers who may be teaching new grades, subjects or topics, AI can act as a helpful tutor. By asking an AI chatbot to explain concepts or break down complex material, teachers can quickly grasp new knowledge and build confidence in teaching unfamiliar subjects. Whether it’s understanding a scientific concept or exploring new teaching strategies, AI can support teachers in efficiently gaining the expertise they need to engage their students effectively.
2. Personalized coaching
AI offers an accessible form of personalized coaching, enabling teachers to seek targeted feedback and advice on improving their teaching practices. Teachers can ask an AI chatbot for suggestions on classroom management, student engagement or differentiated instruction tailored to their specific challenges. This instant coaching can serve as a supplement to traditional professional development, offering guidance whenever it’s needed, right at their fingertips. While AI doesn’t replace the expertise of our instructional coach colleagues, it can offer teachers an additional on-demand coaching option.
3. Professional development resources
AI chatbots can help teachers quickly access research, articles or summaries on education-related topics like classroom management, student engagement and the latest pedagogical approaches. Potentially more effective than an internet search, it’s like having a personalized research assistant available 24/7 that can offer summaries of materials teachers feed to it or even develop its own materials for teachers to learn from.
Professional considerations
While AI can be a valuable tool for professional learning, it’s important for teachers to use their professional knowledge and judgment when evaluating AI-generated content. AI outputs may sometimes be biased, inaccurate or misaligned with best practices in education. Teachers should critically assess any suggestions or information AI provides to ensure they meet professional standards and align with sound teaching practices and school division policies. Cross-referencing AI-generated materials with trusted educational resources will help mitigate the risk of AI hallucinations or misinformation.
For assistance in learning more about effective AI prompting to generate high-quality results, feel free to contact the ATA PD team at PD@ata.ab.ca.
A staff officer in the Professional Development (PD) program area of the Alberta Teachers’ Association, Danny Maas is a subject matter expert in the productive use of AI by teachers.
