CLIFTON, Oct. 31 — It’s a well known fact that students have started to use AI to complete assignments, quizzes, and even tests; but what about teachers? At Centreville High School, educators are also exploring how artificial intelligence can improve their teaching, ease their workload, and even inspire creativity in the classroom.
AI has quickly become part of education worldwide. Ever since Large Language Models such as ChatGPT became popular in 2022, schools have begun debating how to use them responsibly, for both students and staff. Some Centreville Teachers, like Science teacher Ms. Saccomando, have found AI helpful in improving their writing and efficiency.
“AI is a useful tool, and students should use it as a tool similar to Google,” she stated. She even uses it to help draft letters of recommendation for seniors, letting AI check for any grammar and phrasing mistakes before submitting it to CommonApp. However, she also adds that some students “copy and paste instead of rephrasing,” which can make their work no longer authentic.
Other teachers see AI as a creative teaching tool. Mr. Thornhill, an English 12 teacher, uses it when teaching topics he is not fully familiar with, such as math concepts in literature connections.
“My younger daughter struggles with pre-algebra concepts,” he said. “I’ve asked ChatGPT or Gemini to explain an algebraic concept to her because I am not equipped to actually explain that information.” He believes AI can be “a thought partner,” useful when utilized the correct and most ethical ways.
Nevertheless, to prevent students from overdepending on AI, he continues to monitor students’ writing processes closely to ensure that the work they turn in is genuinely written by them.
Mr. Uden, who teaches German, shared his experience as a member of the Fairfax Country’s AI Cohorts, a group of teachers and staff discussing safe and effective AI integration into schools. He expressed hope that Fairfax County will continue exploring AI’s potential, saying that “If it were more permissive in how we use it, that would be a good thing.”
However, he also emphasized that it is incredibly difficult to get AI programs approved for classroom use, stating that some have been in the approval process for months on end. For example, Google’s Gemini has been in review for educational usages for 48 weeks, but no insight on any further advancements has been shared.
While AI offers teachers new tools for saving time and improving lessons, it also raises many concerns about how fair and authentic the work is. To address these concerns, some teachers now strictly use paper-and-pencil tests in subjects like chemistry, or require step-by-step writing drafts in English to ensure students aren’t overly relying on AI tools.
As Centreville continues to navigate this new wave of technology, teachers are trying to find their own balance between using innovative tools and issues with integrity. So, whether it is using AI to enhance learning or reiterating more traditional methods to keep students accountable, one thing becomes very clear: AI is not just transforming how students learn, but it is also changing how teachers teach.
