AI as a Tool for Teachers & Administrators

Artificial intelligence is no longer a future concept for schools. It’s a present-day classroom tool that can help teachers save time, modify instruction and help administrators make smarter operational decisions.  When used thoughtfully and ethically, AI supports lesson design, assessment for learning, personalized learning and administrative workflows while freeing educators to do what matters most: teach and lead.  

Why AI Matters 

AI tools can automate routine tasks (such as grading multiple choice tests), discover actionable data (such as identifying students at risk for low performance) and help inspire student creativity (such as giving students feedback to help them develop more effective writing skills). 

For administrators, AI can help streamline scheduling, forecast enrollment and create communication workflows while helping analyze program outcomes. All these benefits are most meaningful when coupled with pedagogical clarity: AI should amplify, not replace, teacher judgment, cultural context and ethical responsibility. 

Practical Classroom Uses 

• Use AI to generate tiered reading passages, scaffolded writing prompts or adaptive practice paths tailored to students’ readiness. 

• Auto-generate quick quizzes, then use AI summaries to spot common misconceptions and group students for targeted teaching. 

• Ask students to draft a short story or lab report, then teach revision strategies informed by AI feedback. 

• Automate family communication workflows, summarize lengthy meeting notes or generate data visualizations from simple spreadsheets. 

Ethical Guardrails 

AI must be used with transparency and safety in mind. Educators should disclose when AI was used and why, vet tools for data privacy and student protections, check for bias in outputs and teach students critical literacy about AI: how it works, what it can’t do and how to evaluate its responses.  

How to Get Started 

• Pilot a single tool with one grade or department and define success metrics (student engagement, time saved, improved mastery). 

• Create an AI use policy that covers consent, privacy and acceptable classroom practices. 

• Provide professional development or consider a formal credential like Concordia University, Nebraska’s AI in Teaching and Learning certificate to build deeper capacity across teams.  

Pursue an AI in Teaching and Learning Certificate 

A graduate certificate can provide the theoretical background and applied practice to integrate AI responsibly across curriculum and school operations. Concordia University, Nebraska offers an online, educator-focused AI in Teaching and Learning certificate that explores tools and application in education, covers ethics and includes hands-on integration strategies, making it a practical fit for working teachers and school leaders.  

If you want a structured, ethically grounded way to explore how AI can enhance teaching, learning and leadership, start by focusing on how these tools can support, not replace, the human connection, creativity and critical thinking in your teachers and administrators. 

Concordia University, Nebraska’s Artificial Intelligence in Teaching and Learning graduate certificate is built to help educators turn emerging tools into better instruction, fairer practices, and more time for the human work of teaching. Learn more about the certificate and available single-course offerings on Concordia’s graduate studies page.