Preparing Students for the GenAI Era: From Math Classrooms to AI Literacy

Mathematics

How AI Can Support Math Instruction - This article discusses how artificial intelligence can enhance math instruction by automating tasks and providing real-time data, allowing teachers to focus on personalized learning.

Artificial intelligence tools can be integrated into math class in ways that enhance instruction without replacing teachers or diminishing students’ learning. That was a key takeaway from educators and researchers at a June Seat at the Table webinar on AI’s evolving role in math education. ‘The whole conversation starts around pedagogy,’ said Matthew Karabinos, a 6th grade math and science teacher and a webinar speaker. He advises fellow teachers to first assess their instructional goals and delivery methods and then determine how AI tools might be meaningfully integrated into that work. One of the biggest benefits AI can offer math teachers now is freeing up time for teaching by having AI tools automate more monotonous tasks, webinar speakers said. But as technology further advances, the potential could go further. AI as a support for teachers, not a substitute Janel Vancas, the director of curriculum innovation at Appalachia Intermediate Unit 8 in Altoona, Pa., argues that even as AI technology advances, students will still need a trained teacher in the classroom.
Want Teachers to Learn How to Use AI for Instruction? Let Them Design the Tools - A study reveals that teachers learn more effectively to use AI for instruction by actively designing the tools themselves, emphasizing clear instructional goals.

Teachers may benefit from hands-on learning as much as students when it comes to understanding generative AI—but educators need a clear vision, not just tech training, to make AI tools that solve their classroom problems effectively. That’s one takeaway from an ongoing study of educator-designed AI pilots in California. Researchers from the Center on Reinventing Public Education at Arizona State University tracked more than 80 teachers and administrators in 18 California schools, including district, charter, and private campuses, who created and piloted AI tools through the Silicon Schools Fund’s 'Exploratory AI' program in the 2024-25 school year. “It was really freeing to just play around with AI and explore use cases,” said Daniel Whitlock, who led one development team as a vice principal at Gilroy Prep charter school in Gilroy, Calif. “One of the big benefits of all this AI stuff, is we can now adapt our tech to meet students and staff where they’re at versus them having to adapt to a new platform.” CRPE found even with relatively limited training, teachers learned to build and customize tools quickly. Whether teachers truly integrate AI tools into their instructional practice, though, depended on whether AI was being used to solve a specific problem rather than “efficiency for efficiency’s sake.”
Effective Technology Use in Math Class - The article examines how effective technology integration can enhance collaborative learning and problem-solving skills in math classrooms.

Incorporating technology in mathematics classrooms enables educators to craft powerful collaborative learning experiences that support problem solving and flexible thinking. With strategic integration of both content-specific and content-neutral technology, students and teachers can construct their learning together in authentic ways that elevate mathematics learning. Until recently, one of educators’ primary concerns around educational technology was the lack of access that existed in many American schools. That gap has decreased, but a new digital divide has emerged: The updated 2017 National Education Technology Plan explains that in today’s classrooms many students are using technology as a tool for passive learning rather than engaging in active learning experiences that promote student agency. The Importance of Content-Specific Pedagogy. In order to create technology-infused experiences that support active mathematics learning, educators must of course have pedagogical content knowledge (PCK)—an understanding of best practices specific to mathematics.

Computer Science

AI Literacy for K–12 Students: A Guide for Educators - This article highlights the importance of AI literacy in K-12 education, emphasizing students' understanding of AI systems and biases.

What Is AI Literacy? The simplest definition of AI literacy is an understanding of what AI is and how it works. Digital Promise defines AI literacy as “the knowledge and skills that enable humans to critically understand, evaluate and use AI systems and tools to safely and ethically participate in an increasingly digital world.” Bryan Twarek, head of innovation and research at the Computer Science Teachers Association, believes the definition should include a technological component. Understanding how the AI model was developed — including the explicit or implicit biases it may have acquired in its creation — allows users to critically evaluate the output. “If we’re examining criminal justice data, for example, we know there are a lot of biases in play in our society. So, if we’re training on existing data, we’re going to perpetuate those inequities and biases,” explains Twarek. “There’s this notion that technology creates a neutral space, but it’s based on the values of the creators and the data.” Pati Ruiz, director of learning technology research at Digital Promise, points out that AI literacy includes knowing when it’s appropriate to incorporate the technology into a workflow or assignment. Students must understand that the tools don’t replace the process of learning a new concept.
Teachers are key to students’ AI literacy, and need support - The article stresses the vital role of teachers in fostering AI literacy among students, highlighting the need for policies that empower educators.

With the rapid advancement of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), teachers have been thrust into a new and ever-shifting classroom reality. The public, including many students, now has widespread access to GenAI tools and large language models (LLMs). Students sometimes use these tools with schoolwork. School boards have taken different approaches to regulating or integrating tech in classrooms. Teachers, meanwhile, find themselves responding to these paradigm shifts while juggling student needs and wider expectations.
How Generative AI is Really Changing Education - This article discusses the transformation in education caused by generative AI, stressing the need for educators to guide this change for meaningful learning.

Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude are now used by students and teachers at every level of education. According to a report by Anthropic, the company behind Claude, 39% of student interactions with the AI tool involve creating and improving educational content, such as practice questions, essay drafts and study summaries. A further 34% interactions seek technical explanations or solutions for academic assignments – actively producing student work. What’s being overlooked is how evolving generative AI systems are fundamentally changing our relationship with knowledge itself: how we produce, understand and use knowledge. This isn’t just about adding new technology to classrooms. It changes how we think about learning and challenges the core ideas behind education. And it risks granting power over how knowledge is created to the tech companies producing generative AI tools. The current AI shift is more accurately an intellectual revolution. When we outsource thought unthinkingly to machines, we hand unprecedented power to shape knowledge to the technology companies developing this evolving technology.
Indiana U to Launch GenAI 101 Course for Students, Staff - Indiana University has launched a free online course on generative AI for students and staff, promoting AI literacy across the campus community.

As generative artificial intelligence skills have become more in demand among employers, colleges and universities have expanded opportunities for students to engage with the tools. Indiana University is no exception. It’s developed a free, online course for campus community members to gain a basic understanding of generative AI and how the tools could fit into their daily lives and work. GenAI 101 is available to anyone with a campus login and comes with a certificate of in-demand skills for people who complete it. The self-paced course has eight modules and 16 lessons that include short, YouTube-style video lectures. Students learn practical examples of how to use generative AI tools, including managing their schedule or planning an event, and content areas range from prompt engineering, data storytelling and fact-checking content to how to use AI ethically.

Sources

Suman TewariOctober 6, 2025