Artificial Intelligence in the 2026 Classroom

When we mention Artificial Intelligence (“AI”), the big question that always comes up is: “To use or not to use?” All teachers currently struggle with this conundrum. In 2026, we’re undergoing a technological revolution that is akin to, and likely greater than, the advent of the internet. This electronic tidal wave has already engulfed us inside its swell. There’s no going back.

We can, however, take control over how Artificial Intelligence is used in our classrooms. It comes down to a delicate balance between allowing AI on assignments versus banning it completely and leaving students in the dark about this new technology. Students need the AI skill sets that employers are demanding, yet if we allow AI to replace the development of their own critical thinking skills, we are graduating students who simply have replaced one skill with another. The truth is, students need BOTH skills in order to succeed as a productive member of modern society.

It’s no longer a good enough skill set to use ChatGPT® as a substitute for a Google® search. Today’s employers are looking for people who have the ability to tackle more complex tasks. Basic prompt engineering for a large language model is a given skill all students now need to possess. Taking it to the next level means learning agentic AI. An AI agent is one that a user creates via a basic prompt and without coding knowledge. The AI agent is then able to perform hefty data compilation and analysis tasks that would have taken a human hours or even days parsing through spreadsheets. Fact: AI is replacing teams who used to do this data grunt work. However, the reality is that businesses still need skilled people to oversee the machine output. AI hallucinates and humans need to recognize when it does.

Our job is to prepare students for adult life and their new careers. Of course, we want them to be as prepared as possible so they have an advantage at that job interview with their dream employer. That old question surges back in again: do we allow AI into our classrooms or do we assume that our students are prepared for adulthood without it? The safest argument is middle ground. Encourage them to use AI but also include a component of critiquing AI and where it falls short. Everyone has seen some version of AI Slop, whether it’s in an infographic with a typo, an ad where the model has six fingers, or an essay with conjured sources. The best skill for a student to have is the ability to discern good product from bad. AI is just one of the tools we can use at our jobs; it’s not a “be all, end all” replacement for human oversight. However, those who ignore AI do so at their own peril. They risk stagnation. Don’t be one of them. If AI frightens you, there are a host of free online courses that teach the basics. The opportunity is out there. Seize it. Your students are counting on you to lead the way.

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