Hi all! I am a high school English teacher in Philadelphia and have been for over a decade. The biggest change I have seen is the usage of artificial intelligence (especially CHATGPT). Students are using it in place of critical thinking, and some computers students bring into school can highlight a question and get an AI answer instantly that pops up on the side. This has me gearing towards less traditional assessment methods such as debates, speeches, mock-trials, or performance-based projects. In this age where artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping how we work, think, and communicate, should AI literacy be a core component of 21st-century education? Can we afford to ignore its influence, or does resisting its integration risk leaving students unprepared for the world they are inheriting? What does it mean to teach with AI versus teaching about AI, and how might both approaches redefine the role of the educator?
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Cynthia Valenti
English IV Teacher
Central High School
Philadelphia, PA.
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