The Problem
Teachers hear two loud stories about AI: it will fix everything, or it will ruin everything. Meanwhile, students are already using it, often with no guidance, to write papers, reflections and homework. Banning it outright doesn't stop that, and it leaves students unprepared for a future where they will need these skills. Most teachers don't have time to become AI experts before deciding what to do in their own classroom.
The Idea
Treat AI as a tool, not a savior and not a villain, and keep the teacher in charge of it. Start from your own honest reaction. Weigh the real benefits (differentiation, personalization, assessment support, creativity, collaboration and efficiency) against the real risks (plagiarism, student privacy, over-reliance, bias and misuse). Then choose a clear stance for each assignment: no AI, AI allowed with acknowledgment, or AI used while you monitor. Every protocol on this site follows the same pattern: a real classroom problem, one practical idea, and guardrails that keep student thinking at the center. You don't need to be an AI expert. You need to be a teacher with a problem to solve.
The Steps
Step 1. Name your starting point: Write down your honest first reaction to AI in education, somewhere between "this will save us" and "this will ruin us." Share it with a colleague and listen to theirs.
Step 2. Pick the benefits you want: Choose one or two that matter most in your classroom right now, such as reaching every learner, personalizing practice, or saving time on feedback.
Step 3. Name the risks you'll guard against: Plagiarism, student privacy, over-reliance and bias. Decide how you will handle each before students use any tool.
Step 4. Choose a stance for each assignment: No AI; AI allowed with acknowledgment (students say how they used it, such as "to brainstorm" or "to check spelling," not "to write my paper"); or AI used in class with you monitoring. The Traffic Light Classroom AI Policy turns these into red, yellow and green.
Step 5. Plan your response to misuse: Treat a first offense as a teachable moment. Have the student redo the work in their own words, while keeping accountability in place.
Step 6. Start with one protocol: Browse the site by the problem you want to solve, not in order. Good first stops: Meet Your Co-Teacher, to see how a closed AI container works, and Introducing AI to Your Students.
Step 7. Bring families in: Share your stance with parents and encourage them to help their children use AI appropriately at home.
