As we mark AI Appreciation Day this month, it’s the perfect time to reflect on how artificial intelligence can be used to support, not replace, great teaching.

A few decades ago, the arrival of digital tools in the classroom, from spellcheckers to graphing calculators, sparked intense debate. Some educators saw them as shortcuts, but today, many of those tools are standard. This evolution reminds us that technology, when used with purpose, becomes a powerful ally in education.

A Tool, Not a Threat

Artificial intelligence is the latest development generating similar debate. Like calculators before it, AI is not something to fear or ban, but something to integrate thoughtfully. It’s already affecting industries across the globe, and education is no exception.

In fact, a recent report from UNESCO urged educational systems worldwide to prioritize AI literacy, stating that “students must be equipped with the skills to understand, use and actively engage with AI technologies as part of their digital competencies.”

A 2025 survey by Education Week found that 62% of educators had used AI tools in their classrooms — highlighting the growing recognition of its potential. As the conversation continues, the focus must remain on how to integrate AI responsibly and effectively to serve students’ best interests.

Empowering Critical Thinking

We don’t need students to memorize every fact about the Civil War when they can ask their phones for three key causes. But we do need to teach them how to ask better questions, evaluate credible sources and think critically about the information they receive. This is the real value of AI in education — not just instant answers but deeper inquiry.

At Idaho Technical Career Academy, we haven’t yet incorporated AI into daily instruction, but we know it’s coming. AI will become part of how we teach, how students learn and how we prepare the next generation for the world ahead. The goal is to use it intentionally, enhancing learning without replacing human insight.

Across Idaho, education leaders are starting to explore AI’s role in K–12 classrooms. The Idaho Education Association has initiated professional development workshops to help teachers navigate practical and ethical applications of AI in the classroom. These efforts highlight the right approach to AI: thoughtful integration, not knee-jerk avoidance.

Learning to Use the Right Tools

AI, like any tool, must be used wisely. Just as calculators don’t replace a student’s understanding of math, AI shouldn’t do their thinking for them. But it can support curiosity, help in problem-solving and offer new ways to engage with learning. The key is teaching students how to use it with skill, integrity and awareness.

Technology will always change. That’s inevitable. But our responsibility as educators remains constant: to prepare students not for the world we grew up in, but for the one they’re entering. That means embracing the right tools at the right time, and helping students build the judgment and creativity to use them well.

The next generation won’t just need to understand AI. They’ll need to collaborate with it, innovate with it and shape how it’s used. That work begins now, with us.