Familiarize Yourself with the Basics (Refer to Summary of Key Messages and Principles, Principle 1. Purpose: Use AI to help students achieve educational goals, Principle 3. Knowledge: Promote AI Literacy and the AI in Education Presentation)

Action: Read or view the toolkit’s foundational materials on AI (what it is, how it works, typical pitfalls like misinformation, and ways to use it for creativity).
Outcome: A clear understanding of generative AI’s strengths and limitations (e.g., hallucinations, bias, harassment).
Why: A teacher’s ability to model responsible AI use starts with personal proficiency and awareness of both benefits and risks. (Refer to Principle 4. Balance)

Clarify Classroom AI Use with Students (Refer to Principle 5. Integrity: Advance Academic Integrity, Principle 4. Balance: Realize the Benefits of AI and address the risks, Sample Student Agreement on the Use of AI, and Sample Guidance)

Action: Explicitly state when AI is allowed, how it must be credited, and in which assignments or portions of assignments it is prohibited. Integrate this process across all subjects.
Outcome: Students understand academic integrity expectations—especially around originality versus AI-generated content.
Why: Transparency prevents misconduct and helps students see AI as a learning aid rather than a shortcut for plagiarism.

Design Lessons and Assessments Thoughtfully (Refer to Principle 3. Knowledge: Promote AI Literacy, Principle 5. Integrity: Advance Academic Integrity, Principle 4. Balance: Realize the Benefits of AI and Address the Risks)

Action: Rethink assignments so they focus on critical thinking, personal reflection, deliberation, debate, or in-class presentations—tasks that can’t be done solely by AI. This work will continue as AI evolves. For instance, agentic AI will have different capabilities and require different assignments for learning with agents.
Outcome: Students build deeper knowledge, leveraging AI as a learning tool, while simultaneously building the skills of voice and agency that the advent of AI will require of them throughout their educational and career pathways.
Why: Adapting lessons, assignments, and assessments to the AI era helps you maintain rigorous standards for creativity, original thought, content knowledge, and agency skills.

Use AI to Enhance Instruction (Refer to Principle 6. Agency: Maintain human decision-making when using AI, Sample Guidance sections Guiding Principles for AI Use, and Responsible Use of AI Tools)

Action: Explore AI for differentiating instruction, creating tailored assessments, generating reading passages at different levels, or providing quick translations.
Outcome: Increased time to offer more personalized support to students.
Why: Generative AI can reduce repetitive tasks, increasing time on relationships and high-value instructional activities.

Model Safe and Ethical Usage (Refer to Principle 4. Balance: Realize the Benefits of AI and Address the Risks)

Action: Demonstrate how to verify AI-generated information, talk about harmful biases, and show students how you incorporate AI responsibly in your workflow.
Outcome: Students develop digital literacy skills and a healthy skepticism toward automated outputs.
Why: Teachers shape student attitudes; modeling best practices fosters a culture of responsible, critical use of technology.

Provide Feedback and Adapt (Refer to Principle 7. Evaluation: Regularly Assess the Impacts of AI)

Action: Share classroom experiences with colleagues and leadership—both successes and pitfalls. Document changes in student engagement or achievement. Involve students in sharing their experiences and ideas for using AI to learn and deliberating over ethical and responsible practices in class.
Outcome: A professional learning community that refines local AI guidelines.
Why: Teacher experiences on the ground should inform how the region or system updates its AI strategies and policies over time.