By Jameson O’Neal

As artificial intelligence tools become classroom staples, educators are finding innovative ways to encourage critical thinking while preserving academic integrity. But it’s not just about how we teachers integrate AI — it’s also about how parents guide their children in using these tools responsibly.

As an eighth grade English Language Arts teacher and Esports teams adviser, I’ve been on the front lines of this shift. In my virtual classroom, students are already turning to tools like Google’s Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, and ChatGPT to support their learning. But the biggest factor influencing whether students use AI ethically is parental involvement.

If a student has a parent who is significantly involved in their academic journey, then they are more likely to use AI responsibly as opposed to abusing AI to do all their work for them. Students model the values and expectations set at home. When parents actively engage — asking questions about assignments, reviewing their child’s work, or setting boundaries around technology — it reinforces the importance of doing the learning, not just getting the answer.

Teachers must be careful to draw a line between using AI as a support tool and relying on it to complete assignments, which is considered a form of plagiarism. There’s a tricky balance of using AI as a co-teacher versus using AI results as a final finished product.

When used appropriately, AI can be a powerful supplement to classroom learning. Gemini and Copilot used in lessons can help students go deeper into literature, such as analyzing grief and symbolism in Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven. Gemini offers analyses that students might not yet have considered. One idea it presents is that although the narrator believes his significant other is likely in heaven, he’s more fixated on the finality of death.

On the writing side, students might be encouraged to use AI to find credible sources or revise components of their essays, always with teacher guidance. Many students use sentence starters in graphic organizers that I made from scratch ensuring that the learning process remains student-driven.

Parents are essential partners in this process. By taking the time to understand the AI tools their children are using and having regular conversations about integrity and effort, parents can reinforce the educational values teachers are working hard to instill.

As debates over AI’s role in education continue we have to remember that students are watching the adults in their lives — both teachers and parents — to understand how these tools should be used. 

Jameson O’Neal is an eighth grade English Language Arts teacher and Esports advisor (Chess, Minecraft) at Insight School of Washington. He brings a thoughtful approach to educational technology, integrating AI tools to support student learning while advocating for academic integrity in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.