LEADINGtheJOURNEY
An E-newsletter on EXCELLENCE in Leadership
What Does AI Mean for Schools?
AI is rapidly transforming various sectors, and education is no exception. As schools embrace new technologies, understanding what AI means for the future of education is essential, from personalized learning to administrative efficiency and beyond.
This special issue of Leading the Journey opens the dialogue to an important topic.
March 2025 | Volume 13, No. 7
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Pragmatic AI
By Jared Hoskinson
Computer Teacher—Ozark Adventist Academy
I met a gentleman who claimed to know everything there is to know about Artificial Intelligence (AI). At first, I felt fortunate to learn from someone so knowledgeable. However, I soon realized that his understanding was rooted in fear and heavily influenced by Hollywood’s portrayals of AI—dystopian futures where machines enslave humanity, and the creator becomes subservient to the creation. The entertainment industry has popularized apocalyptic scenarios in which humans battle against machines, computers, and software. While it is true that even the noblest inventions can be misused—just ask Alfred Nobel (pun intended)—these exaggerated depictions do not accurately reflect the reality of AI.
Surprisingly, one of the most accurate portrayals of AI in entertainment comes from an unlikely source: the 1966–68 ABC television series Batman, starring Adam West and Burt Ward. In the show, Batman’s Batcomputer could solve puzzles and riddles almost instantly. Batman would input data, and the computer would generate an answer, seemingly working through a hidden process. This concept is quite similar to how AI operates today.
The Evolution and Impact of
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence did not emerge suddenly; it has been developing for decades. In the 1940s, scientists began integrating electronic machines with mathematics to solve logical problems. By the mid-1950s, AI had become a formal field of study. The 1970s saw increased government funding for AI research, leading to significant advancements. In the 1990s, the internet revolutionized connectivity, and algorithms evolved to intelligently route internet traffic. By the 2000s, these algorithms expanded into GPS mapping, guiding automobiles just as they had previously directed internet data.
During this period, machine learning began to take shape. Early implementations included CAPTCHA, a system designed to distinguish between humans and automated bots. Users were asked to identify distorted text, and their responses contributed to machine learning datasets. Over time, AI evolved to play a role in online recommendations, targeted advertising, and even elections.
The Evolution of AI
Though AI has been a fixture in academia, government, and corporate sectors for decades, its recent explosion in consumer technology feels sudden. This rapid integration is mainly due to advances in computing power. Modern smartphones are exponentially more powerful than those from just a few years ago. The rise of cloud computing and the Internet of Things (IoT) has further expanded AI’s reach into everyday life. Smart home devices, voice assistants, and security systems now learn from our behaviors, adapting to our preferences and influencing our decisions.
AI is now deeply embedded in various industries. In education, AI personalizes learning experiences. In business, it optimizes marketing strategies and enhances customer service. The medical field benefits from AI-powered diagnostics and predictive analytics. The military uses AI for surveillance, logistics, and decision-making. Every sector—education, business, healthcare, and defense—leverages AI to improve efficiency, save lives, and increase profitability. AI is too deeply integrated to be removed from society.
The Sudden Consumer Boom
Despite its many advantages, AI presents significant challenges. Recommender algorithms, while useful, can contribute to societal polarization by reinforcing users’ existing beliefs. Privacy concerns have also grown as AI systems collect vast amounts of data to enhance user experiences. Additionally, the rise of AI has sparked debates about job displacement and ethical decision-making.
Ensuring that AI remains a tool for human advancement rather than a replacement for human roles is crucial. Policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders must collaborate to establish ethical guidelines that promote responsible AI use while encouraging innovation.
The Challenges and Ethical Considerations
So, what does the future hold for AI? Some experts, including 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang, have described AI as the next great industrial revolution. While predicting the future is difficult, advancements in quantum computing, natural language processing, and neural networks suggest that AI’s influence will continue to grow. Autonomous systems will become more sophisticated, and AI-driven decision-making will permeate even more aspects of daily life.
The Future of AI
Artificial Intelligence is not a distant concept—it is a present reality shaping our world. If you want to know what comes next, perhaps it’s best to ask AI itself.
Looking Forward
By Robert Fetters
Physical Science, Chemistry, and Physics Teacher—Georgia Cumberland Academy
Years ago, my mother shared an article with me titled "Could you have passed 8th grade 100 years ago?". The article contains an 1895 8th-grade exit exam from a school in Salina, Kansas. Here is one of the math questions: "What is the cost of a square farm at $15 per acre, the distance around which is 640 rods?" The underlying premise is that education has declined over the years. I hear people say we need to get back to the fundamentals of education, and with that, I agree; however, to know what the fundamentals are, we must understand the purpose of what we are trying to accomplish.
I would say Adventist Education has a twofold purpose:
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Assist students in accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior
Prepare them to become productive members of society who share God's love with those around them
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Simply put, the second part is the academic part of what we do, preparing them to be part of the workforce. To do this, we must understand today's workforce and predict what will be needed in the future.
A quick internet search will provide a plethora of articles on future workforce needs, skills, and direction. Many include leveraging technology to improve production, analysis, and problem-solving. To teach these skills as teachers, we must be using and implementing them in the classroom.
Many shy away from AI because they are afraid of how the students will use it. I am leaning into AI to make my work easier, more productive, and more efficient. Many educational platforms today have integrated AI. Quizlet is one example. Study sheets, vocabulary notecards, and learning tools are created from the information you upload. As with most products, a few minutes are needed to look over the content created to ensure it is correct and will best assist your students.
I use AI machines such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and a few others that students introduced me to. It is excellent for creating test questions and quizzes. They are able to write Depth of Knowledge (DOK) questions, writing them with the DOK you want. Instead of trying to find a lab or project to match what I am teaching, I can ask AI to generate it. With some minor changes, I can create a learning lab or project directly on point with what I am teaching.
I have yet to have students implement it in the classroom; however, it is on my list for the near future. Taking that step will need careful planning and implementation. I will look to other teachers who are leading the way for advice.
I want to continue to look forward, ensuring my students are prepared for the workforce they will face. Preparing our students to be productive in the 21st century is much better than preparing them for the 20th century. Besides, do you know how long a rod is?
Many shy away from AI because they are afraid of how the students will use it. I am leaning into AI to make my work easier, more productive, and more efficient.
Generative AI:
Changing the Way We Learn
By Desmond Suarez
Computer Teacher—Richmond Academy and Co-host EdTech Unpacked Podcast
People learned differently after the Gutenberg press was invented; we memorized less information but had access to so much more of it. When calculators became accessible, we did math differently; we became less capable of doing large calculations on our own, but calculators made higher levels of math more accessible. Google changed our relationship with facts; we no longer memorized them but had access to facts whenever we wanted. Each of these developments changed our relationships to learning. The results have been both positive and negative. Generative AI is already having a significant impact on the way students learn, but how is it affecting the way our students learn and what should we do about it?
Leonardo Da Vinci was a master of art, architecture, engineering, science, map making, and more. He was one of the greatest geniuses of all time and had a massive impact on many diverse fields. However, if he were alive today, he would likely be encouraged to specialize so much that while his impact would still be significant, it would also be limited. We have made so many developments that allow us to learn and process information at such high levels, but this has also reduced our scope. Technology has changed the way we learn.
Our students are using Generative AI to do their homework, study, and more. The honest students might not use it to do their homework, and as a result, they are doing a lot more work for lower grades. Students using it to help them write are learning how to write differently than we did. The pathways they use to develop their ideas and then communicate them are being radically changed. Is this better? It's hard to say, but it is different, and it is happening.
Our approaches to instruction and assessment also have to change. I don't think we will completely understand all the methods that need to change for a decade or more. We need to continue researching to understand better how Generative AI affects our brains when we are learning. Here are a few starting principles that give us a head start:
Teaching critical thinking skills is more important than ever.
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Teaching an ethical approach helps our students adapt as the world around them introduces new moral questions quicker than we can teach them.
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Help the student develop processes and assess them throughout these processes.
Teach them how to use Generative AI as a tool instead of something that will do the work for them.
Have times of learning that are disconnected from technology as well as those that use Generative AI.
Connect with them on a personal level so they can experience how to be a good human who is in love with God.
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This list needs to grow and evolve and is by no means comprehensive. These items not only equip your students in a world with Generative AI, but these principles help them no matter what happens in the world. Predicting what the world will be like when our students are adults is impossible. We will get a lot of things wrong. However, it is our job to teach our students how to be adaptable, ethical, and in love with God. That is our calling.
MISSION: STRENGTHENING ADVENTIST EDUCATION ONE LEADER AT A TIME
Issue Coordinator
Physical Science, Chemistry, and Physics Teacher
Georgia Cumberland Academy
