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Episode 06 No More Teachers, No More Schools?
32 Plays8 months ago
In this episode, I explore the intriguing idea that AI might soon take over the role of teaching, making traditional classrooms and educators seem outdated. I pose essential questions about what makes human teaching unique in an age where machines can provide explanations for almost anything. My goal is to help Christian educators understand how to redeem AI for educational purposes. I encourage you to reflect on these questions and consider the implications for our teaching practices. Join me in this important conversation about the future of education.
Downloadable Resource
Redeeming AI in the Classroom: A Christian Educator's Quick Start Guide
Link https://drive.google.com/file/d/17U_VLBNhMsJjiOOxQuu5IJZnMNm08HCQ/view?usp=sharing
Featured Tool
SchoolAI.Com
Episode Prompt of the Week
Assignment: “Write a short reflection on what makes learning human.
PromptL Then ask AI to describe the same thing. Compare the two responses. Where does the AI miss what humans value most?”
This simple exercise helps students practice discernment and reinforces the truth that relationship and meaning go beyond data.
Recommended
Transcript
AI in Education: Opportunity or Threat?
00:00:00
Speaker
Have you ever heard people say that soon AI will teach every student anywhere, anytime, and that classrooms and teachers might become a relic of the past?
00:00:13
Speaker
Or have you ever wondered what makes human teaching unique in a world where machines can explain almost anything? If you ever wrestled with those questions, welcome to the Christian Educators AI Guide podcast, where we help Christian educators redeem AI for education.
Introduction to Christian Educators AI Guide
00:00:47
Speaker
Welcome to the Christian Educators AI Guide Podcast. I'm your host, Rob Almay, and today we are tackling the bold claim that will make teachers and schools obsolete.
00:01:00
Speaker
We'll explore why that idea misunderstands what God has designed education to be and how AI can actually strengthen and not replace the sacred work of teaching.
AI's Disruptive Potential in Education
00:01:14
Speaker
As we start this episode, I just wanted to share a little something on my heart about why I started this podcast. You might be wondering if you've listened to any yeah of these episodes, why it is that I have even started this podcast.
00:01:28
Speaker
As a Christian educator teaching high school Bible, initially viewed ChatGPT as a novelty, as something new. But the more I learned, the more I realized how disruptive, both in a positive way and in a negative way, that this technology would be for education.
00:01:47
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I began asking an important question as I thought about AI and Christian education. That was, how can AI help me in my teaching? I also asked another question, and that is how will students use AI?
00:02:04
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Will they use it in negative way to cheat, to short circuit the learning process, or will they use it for genuine learning? And then what biblical principles apply?
00:02:17
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How do we apply the scripture to this new technology?
Enhancing Teaching with AI
00:02:22
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One defining classroom moment came for me when I needed to create a test. And so I decided to test the AI.
00:02:30
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I took my notes as a teacher and I uploaded them into AI. And asked the the AI to generate some multiple choice questions for the test based on the material that I uploaded.
00:02:46
Speaker
i asked the the AI to to generate some short answer questions from the material that I had uploaded. I asked the AI to generate some test questions, some essay questions from the material that I uploaded.
00:03:01
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And to be completely honest with you, the AI came back with some great questions all across the board. Now, I didn't use every single question. I went back and I kept my human involvement in it, which is always so important. Remember, keep the human in the loop.
00:03:17
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But it saved time and it improved balance across the material. Instead of me just picking my favorite questions from my favorite parts of the subject matter that I taught, it gave me questions all across the notes that I had shared.
00:03:31
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For me, that experience was a game changer because I realized that AI could be used in a positive way. It could be used wisely to enhance teaching rather than replace it.
00:03:43
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As a follower of Jesus, I felt called to help educators test this technology against Scripture.
Guiding Educators with Christian Values
00:03:51
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I felt called to help educators use this technology with wisdom and integrity and discernment and to help educators equip their students to do so.
00:04:02
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And so that's a little bit about why i i started Scripture. This whole AI for Christian Educators podcast. And having known that, I hope that you'll have a better idea of what this podcast is all about.
00:04:17
Speaker
Well, having shared that, let's check out this week's AI News of the Week.
Responsible Integration of AI in Education
00:04:28
Speaker
In our AI News of the Week segment, the Associate Press has reported that major tech firms, to ah firms like Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic are investing millions of dollars in teacher training hubs and workshops to help educators use AI tools.
00:04:46
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AI tools like ChatGPT or Gemini or Microsoft Copilot in the classroom. The focus is shifting. from how do we ban AI in schools to how do we integrate it responsibly.
00:05:03
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As Christian educators, I think this is a meaningful shift and a good shift to be able to ask the question, how do we integrate AI responsibly, ethically, and biblically versus, well, how do we just ban AI and keep the kids from cheating?
Core Educational Values with AI
00:05:21
Speaker
We can lead the conversation as Christian educators, not to hide from AI, but to help our schools, to help our fellow Christian educators move from fear to faith, using these tools for good, while at the same time, right, holding on to the values that we hold dear, values like integrity, wisdom, and building authentic relationships.
00:05:51
Speaker
Let's segue now into the next portion of our show, the big question of the week with AI.
Will AI Replace Teachers?
00:05:58
Speaker
Do we even need teachers in schools anymore?
00:06:06
Speaker
In an article entitled AI in Education, the end of schools as we know them, published by Louis Bouchard, Bouchard offers an optimis optimistic vision, some would say overly optimistic vision, when it comes to AI and education, claiming and writing this, with AI, students will soon be able to get personalized instruction on any topic, anywhere, anytime.
00:06:33
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And then catch this part that he writes, the traditional classroom will disappear and teachers might become relics of the past. Say what?
00:06:46
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That's the claim from some AI advocates online and is gaining traction. It's not just from Louis Bouchard, but others are saying it as well.
00:06:58
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But are we really heading toward a world without teachers? As a Christian educator, I completely disagree.
00:07:10
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Teaching isn't just about transferring information. It's not just about information transfer. It's about transformation. There are parts of teaching that no machine, no AI can ever replicate.
00:07:24
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No AI can ever replicate the nonverbal cues, the compassion cues. Or the prayer or the moment you notice a hurting student and you stop to listen.
00:07:40
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Those are sacred spirit led moments. And they cannot be replaced by a machine.
00:07:53
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Now the argument sounds persuasive, right? Just use AI tutors because you know what AI tutors never grow impatient. AI tutors never call in sick.
00:08:05
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AI tutors never tire. You can get instant lessons a custom to every learner. you get it cheaper and faster than human teachers. It's a school board's dream.
00:08:17
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Paints a picture of limitless access. But I believe it misses the heart of education.
The Role of Relationships in Teaching
00:08:26
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See, rural learning, as any teacher knows, and especially as the Christian educator knows, happens through a relationship.
00:08:35
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The best lessons are not those that we only teach and convey information. But the best lessons are who we are while we teach it.
00:08:47
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Christian educators with a heart for our students. Genesis 1.27 tells us that humans are created in the image of God.
00:09:00
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We call this the fancy theological term that we call this is the imago dei, that human beings were created in God's image. This means that like God,
00:09:12
Speaker
We too have the capacity to to love. We have the capacity to discern. We have the capacity to mentor others. And as we do so, we reflect God's own nature. We're not God ourselves, but we reflect God's nature. That's what it means to be created in His image.
00:09:32
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we know that God himself is the master teacher, full of wisdom, full of compassion. And so when we teach, we participate actually in his creative and redemptive work.
00:09:49
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Now, AI can analyze data. But here's the thing, friends. AI can't interpret it tears, right?
00:10:01
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AI can even simulate empathy. But AI can't share the heart of Christ.
AI as a Tool for Relational Teaching
00:10:11
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So rather than fear AI,
00:10:16
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we can use it wisely. To handle the tasks that keep us from the ministry of teaching. Freeing us to be fully present with our students.
00:10:29
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See, I say we can hand off to AI the stuff that it can do well and better and maybe even faster that we can do. So that we can focus on the things that we can only do as human beings, as Christ-loving Christian educators.
00:10:48
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So let me share with you three ways to keep the human in the classroom as we think and go back to this whole question about, you know, can a is AI just going to do away with teachers? Is AI just going to do away with schools?
00:11:07
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So the first way to keep humans is the in the classroom is to use AI for support and not substitution. Let it help you plan or differentiate, but never outsource the personal connection.
00:11:27
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As I like to say, it's become a cliche in this podcast. Keep the human in the loop. Prioritize relational time with your students. The time you save with AI.
00:11:41
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Spend it mentoring. Spend it praying. Spend it encouraging your students. Maybe you save some time with AI and then that frees you then to go to one of sporting events.
00:11:58
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Or to one of the fine art productions of your students. And they see you there. And they say, wow, there's my teacher coming to see me play basketball.
00:12:10
Speaker
There's my teacher coming to see me in the school concert. There's my teacher coming to see me in the school play. In other words, build authentic relationships with your students. And let the AI free up your time so that you can do so.
00:12:27
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Reaffirm your calling. It's a third way to keep human in the classroom. You know, teaching is not a job. I don't know anybody in teaching that's in it for the money.
00:12:39
Speaker
Because it's not just a job that you get. It's a vocation. Or I would say it's a calling. Something that we feel led to do. Something that we often have a ah passion about.
00:12:51
Speaker
But so many things can rob us of that passion. AI. can take those things that rob us of our passion and it can make it easier for us so that we maintain some of that passion.
00:13:05
Speaker
And when you can maintain that passion for teaching, when you can maintain that passion for your students, then you can show up each day, not just with passion to teach, but with Christ's compassion for your students.
00:13:20
Speaker
You can show up with extra patience. You can show up with extra energy to bring to your teaching, recognizing that you're doing eternal work, that no machine can ever touch That no machine can ever touch.
00:13:39
Speaker
At the end of the day, when we keep Christ at the center of our teaching, AI doesn't replace us. It releases us to do more of what we're called to do.
00:13:54
Speaker
ah a special invitation I'd like to make for all of you who are
Biblical Principles in AI Usage
00:13:58
Speaker
listening. If you'd like a simple way to start using AI redemptively in your classroom, I have put together a free downloadable guide that I will include the link to in the show notes.
00:14:10
Speaker
It's full of sample prompts, biblical framing questions, and practical ways to keep human the human self in your teaching. while saving time on teacher prep.
00:14:23
Speaker
Think of it as your first step toward using AI with wisdom and with confidence. Again, I'll put the link to it in the show notes, and it's free to you to use and to share with others, and I hope that you will make use of it.
00:14:40
Speaker
Let's transition now to our feature tool and resource for this episode.
School AI: Keeping Teachers Involved
00:14:50
Speaker
Last episode, we shared a resource called Magic School AI. Today, we share a similar resource, although a little bit different if you ask those that use these resources the most.
00:15:03
Speaker
Today, we focus on school AI. School AI is an AI platform designed like Magic School AI for educators and administrators that emphasizes student safety and relational use.
00:15:17
Speaker
It keeps the teacher in the loop so that even if you have a tutor, a study tutor or a study bot that you create using School AI,
00:15:29
Speaker
It keeps you in the loop because it will automatically notify you of any concerning type of conversation that might go on between the bot and your student. And it also gives you a full history of the conversation between your student and the bot.
00:15:46
Speaker
So it helps teachers generalize personalized learning activities and reflections while giving you as the teacher full control and visibility over your content.
00:15:58
Speaker
and it protects students' privacy. So use it as your digital assistant, but as always, keep yourself as the heart of the classroom.
00:16:09
Speaker
Knowing about the tools available can help you as a teacher. But let's move on now to an activity and actionable prompt that you can try with your students this week inside of your classroom.
Activity: Human vs AI Perspectives
00:16:28
Speaker
Here's our prompt of the week and kind of centers around both a short assignment and then prompt that you can use with your students and then another assignment on the other side of that prompt.
00:16:41
Speaker
So the assignment part is to have your students write a short reflection on what makes learning human.
00:16:50
Speaker
Write a short reflection on what makes learning human. And then after they have spent some time doing that, then go two the chat bot, whether that's ChatGPT or Google Gemini, and ask AI to describe the same thing.
00:17:11
Speaker
Maybe you do it in the front of the room on the smart board, and you take what is put out by the AI, and you as a class compare the two responses.
00:17:23
Speaker
Where does the AI miss what humans value most? By doing this simple exercise, you help your students to practice discernment. You help your your students to practice that critical eye and that action of keeping the human in the loop to look at what the machine produced and see where it fell short.
00:17:47
Speaker
where it missed out. So the Simple Life Stars helps the students to practice discernment and rear reinforces the truth that relationship and meaning go beyond data. I'll go ahead and include the assignment in the prompt and the in the show notes so that you will have it.
00:18:05
Speaker
As always, we have covered a tremendous amount. We have shared a lot of stuff to think about and to pray about in this episode. So it's always good as we bring our episode to a close,
00:18:18
Speaker
to spend some time in prayer as we bring the episode in for landing, to ask for the Lord's help as educators to navigate this new AI landscape.
Prayer and Educators' Irreplaceable Role
00:18:33
Speaker
So if you would join with me in a word of of prayer, let's pray. Lord, we thank you for calling us to the sacred work of teaching.
00:18:47
Speaker
We thank you for the calling to be Christian educators. Remind us that every student that we meet bears your image. And deserves our presence and our care.
00:19:00
Speaker
That can't be brought through a machine. But that comes uniquely from us. Help us use technology as a servant. And not a master.
00:19:12
Speaker
And Lord, as we hear talk that we as educators will be replaced. Or that the schools that we value and cherish and all of the relationships contained therein will be replaced.
00:19:27
Speaker
Help us always to cling to the truth that they are things that you have created us for. to help your students to learn, help your students to experience that no machine can ever replicate.
00:19:44
Speaker
We thank you for your wisdom and for your grace, and may you help us make our classrooms with reflections of your great love made known to us and your son, Jesus Christ, in whose precious name we pray.
00:19:59
Speaker
um
00:20:03
Speaker
Today's conversation encouraged you.
Encouragement to Redeem AI for Education
00:20:06
Speaker
Would you share this episode with another Christian educator who maybe needs you a reminder that their work still matters? Be sure to follow the Christian Educators AI Guide podcast on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube so that you don't ever miss an episode.
00:20:24
Speaker
Because no matter how advanced technology becomes, God's design for teaching remains uniquely human first.
00:20:35
Speaker
And not only human first, but holy and Christ-centered. So until the next time, go and redeem AI for education.
00:20:47
Speaker
Go and redeem AI for the furtherance of the gospel. And may you go in peace.