6 Smart Ways Educators Can Use AI Without Letting It Take Over: Highlights From Our Past Episodes

Send us Fan Mail Artificial intelligence is already changing how educators plan, teach and support students — but using AI well does not mean handing over the thinking. In this summer highlight episode of the *Making Schools Work* podcast, SREB's Ashley Shaw revisits six practical AI lessons from the first two seasons of the show. Featuring clips from conversations with Daniel Rock and Leslie Eaves, this episode explores how educators can use AI as a planning assistant, time-saver, brainstorming partner and student support tool without letting it replace teacher expertise or student learning. You’ll hear why strong prompts matter, how AI can help teachers protect time for the work that requires human judgment, and why assignment design matters more than ever. The episode also looks at how AI can support personalized learning, help students get unstuck and prepare them to use emerging technology ethically and effectively. **In this episode, we explore:** - How the SPICE framework can help educators write better AI prompts - Why AI should support teacher expertise, not replace it - How AI can save time on lower-value tasks so teachers can focus on feedback, relationships and student growth - Why assignments may need to change if AI can complete them without student thinking - How teachers’ knowledge of their students remains essential in an AI-supported classroom - How AI can help personalize support for students in the moment - Why students need to learn ethical AI use, not just efficient AI use The big takeaway: AI is not the teacher, the student, the assignment or the thinking. It is a tool. Used thoughtfully, it can help educators plan, personalize and support learning. But it still needs human judgment, strong guardrails and students who are actively doing the work of learning. Subscribe to *Making Schools Work* for more summer highlight episodes as we revisit some of the best conversations from our first two seasons and get ready for season three. *The Southern Regional Education Board is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works with states and schools to improve education at every level, from early childhood through doctoral education and the workforce.*  Follow Us on Social: - Facebook - Instagram - X