AI - Teacher

AI in the classroom

You can ask yourself the same questions forever:

• Why should I use artificial intelligence in the classroom at all?
• Why is it our job to deal with it again?
• How much will AI affect students' lives?
• How much will it change teachers' everyday lives?
• Will AI limit students' creativity - or perhaps even encourage it?
• What will happen to reading skills, text comprehension, general education, motor skills - in short, to the entire learning process?

The answer to this question is often uncertain and of course depends on many factors - technical developments, social conditions and last but not least: you.

As with every major change, the question arises:
Do I want to be against it - or a part of it?

AI in the classroom? Yes - but with a plan!

AI is finding its way into our schools - and with it the opportunity to rethink learning. For this to succeed, however, it needs more than just technical know-how: it needs pedagogical clarity. The focus here is on four key 21st century skills, also known as the 4 Cs: creativity, critical thinking, communication and collaboration.

Creativity is more than just crafting or painting. It is about developing new ideas, finding unusual solutions, and customizing learning processes. AI can serve as a source of inspiration by providing food for thought, creative suggestions, new perspectives, or initial drafts on which students can continue to build.

Critical thinking is essential in a world full of information - and disinformation. School kids need to learn to question AI-generated content, check sources, and make their own judgments. AI can teach this skill if it is not perceived as a "truth machine" but as a basis for open discussion.

AI is changing communication - in terms of form, language and scope. AI tools help formulate, translate, and structure text. They help students express themselves more clearly and consider different perspectives. At the same time, they open up new possibilities for intercultural and multilingual communication.

Collaboration is being reimagined through AI. Digital platforms enable collaboration across space and time. AI can support group processes, coordinate tasks and provide feedback. What remains important is to keep the focus on people. Collaboration requires relationships - technology alone is not enough.

Tips for practical everyday use:

Tip	Reference to 4C	Example / Usage
Start small and give it a try	Critical thinking & communication	Have students ask an AI tool a simple question. Compare the answer with a textbook text and discuss similarities and differences.
AI is a tool, not a replacement	Creativity & Communication	Use AI in specific ways, such as: Gathering ideas for creative writing. Simplifying or summarizing complex texts. Assisting in paraphrasing role plays/dialogues in foreign languages.
Question the answers - don't just accept them	Critical thinking	Teach students to check AI answers: Is this answer logical? Are there other sources, or is the source trustworthy? What do other media report on this?
Set clear rules	Collaboration & responsibility	Discuss with your class: Where can AI be used appropriately in everyday school life? Where should AI not be used by students? What qualifies as „original work“?
Talk about ethics	Critical thinking & communication	Discuss questions like: Can AI be trusted? Where does AI get its information from? How neutral are AI answers? What happens to my personal data?
Exchange ideas with other teachers	Collaboration	Exchange ideas with colleagues: What role should AI even play in our school - tool, topic or both? How do we prepare students to use AI sensibly, safely and critically? What opportunities and risks do we see - also with regard to equal opportunities and performance assessment?