Teacher Talk Tuesday

Good Morning Y’all,

Recently, a teacher shared this comment with me:

"If you have a robot make your lessons, don’t get mad when students use robots to complete them 🤷‍♀️."

At first glance, it’s a witty remark, but it reflects a misunderstanding of how tools like ChatGPT can and should be used in education. Let’s unpack this.

As alwyas, if you find this info helpful, please share it with your teacher bestie!

ChatGPT is a Resource, Not a Replacement

Using ChatGPT doesn’t mean teachers are outsourcing their creativity, professionalism, or expertise. Instead, it’s a tool to streamline time-consuming tasks, spark fresh ideas, and improve lesson quality. In this way, it’s no different than relying on trusted resources like curriculum from Pearson or Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, or even platforms like IXL.

When educators use ChatGPT to enhance lessons, their ultimate goal is to engage students more effectively—not diminish the learning experience. It’s a resource that helps manage the overwhelming demands of teaching while maintaining the high standards students deserve.

A Flawed Comparison: Teachers vs. Students Using AI

The argument that teachers using AI shouldn’t complain if students misuse it is like saying teachers shouldn’t get upset if students drive cars just because teachers do.

Here’s the reality: educators are trained professionals who use tools like ChatGPT with purpose, understanding, and experience. Students, on the other hand, are still developing the maturity and critical thinking skills necessary to responsibly handle such tools.

Unrestricted access to generative AI for students too early can lead to dependency and a loss of the foundational learning needed to thrive. Just as we wouldn’t put a 10-year-old behind the wheel of a car, we shouldn’t hand over AI tools to students before they’re equipped to use them responsibly.

Generative AI’s Role in Education

Teachers benefit immensely from generative AI—it saves time, fosters innovation, and makes personalized instruction more accessible. But for students, education should focus on developing essential skills: writing, analyzing, problem-solving, and critical thinking.

Introducing AI to students before they’ve mastered these basics risks undermining their growth. Generative AI can complement education, but it’s a tool best introduced later—when students are ready to use it as a supplement to their abilities, not a crutch for shortcuts.

The Bottom Line Y’all…

The idea that teachers shouldn’t use ChatGPT because it might encourage students to use it then misuse it is a false equivalence. Educators are professionals who use tools like ChatGPT to elevate their teaching. Students, however, are still learning the foundations of knowledge and skills.

Our focus as educators should remain on preparing students for life by instilling critical thinking, problem-solving, and a strong work ethic—not teaching them shortcuts. Generative AI has its place, but in K-12 education, that place is in the hands of teachers, not students.

ChatGPT (and/or any generative AI platform) is here to help lighten your load and amplify your creativity. Let’s use it wisely to reclaim our time, energy, and passion for teaching—while ensuring our students build the skills they’ll need to thrive in the future.

Thanksgiving is only 2 days away, so I want to take a moment to encourage you to enjoy this well-deserved time off. You’ve worked tirelessly to pour into the lives of your students, and now it’s time to pour into yourself. Embrace the warmth of family, the laughter of friends, and the joy of good food shared around the table. May your Thanksgiving be filled with gratitude, peace, and plenty of rest. You’ve earned it! Have a blessed holiday and know how much your dedication to education is appreciated.

~Mitch