Mountain Range Staff and Students Share Their Viewpoints on AI in the Classroom
By Isla K. and Kaytlin C.
Teachers in Adams 12 School District are further incorporating AI into their teaching materials as the technology becomes widely available. Adams 12 is implementing guidelines surrounding the use of AI, while informing staff and students to heed the warning and consequences of the over reliance of AI in classrooms. Adams 12 district’s vision for teaching and learning with AI is to ensure, “they effectively serve our diverse educational community”. The district believes that it could help, “every student receive what they need to develop their full academic and social potential”. Adams 12 is aware of the dangers of a potential cognitive offload when using AI in the classrooms and reminds staff that they can, “check the Approved Technology List” to ensure that they are making smart and ethical decisions for themselves and the students.
Numerous teachers, including MRHS Science Teacher Eric Leeper, use AI to draft questions for their formative assessments, adjust lesson plans, and alter assignments to better fit individual students. He explains that AI can be beneficial when drafting specific assignments that just need a little adjustment based on student needs; however, he admits, “it’s kind of bland sometimes and pulls things we haven’t taught yet”. Some teachers also utilize AI to expand on their thinking and to give another angle like, “to generate ideas or examples,” business teacher Ace Vanwanseele informs.
On the other hand, teachers who don’t personally use AI in their classrooms say the source, “should not be coming from a machine, it should be coming from an actual teacher; that’s what we went to school for” Mountain Range Art Teacher Joshua Carpenter remarks. MRHS English Teacher Sara Williams adds that being a teacher means it’s their job to, “inspire others to think and be creative,” so using AI can directly dim this intention. Mrs. Williams also notes the importance of grading students' work firsthand, as it gives educators necessary information to adjust their teaching to better fit the kids.
Students seem to have the unanimous opinion that AI should not be involved in teaching because it impacts the quality of their education; questioning the capabilities of their educators who employ generative AI. MRHS sophomore Anna B. insists that teachers who went to school, specialized in their career, and should be qualified to teach without the assistance of tools that, “can be incorrect and blatantly wrong”. Using Artificial Intelligence to create ideas and lesson plans is, “overall making worse and lazier teachers” according to an anonymous MRHS Senior.
While the Adams 12 School District gave a ‘go-ahead’ to using generative AI, when meeting the regulations, many Mountain Range instructors and students have mixed opinions concerning its use and impacts. AI can be proven to have good applications and sometimes even improve efficiency, but it is just as valuable to survey the generating. While it's evident that staff and students are split on the AI there can be middle ground; it is majorly important to revise AI to ensure the best and most accurate instruction.
Work cited:
“Guidance for the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Adams 12 Five Star Schools.” https://www.adams12.org/academics/curriculum-instruction/instructional-technology-library-services/artificial-intelligence.
Accessed 10/01/26
