AI is reshaping education, but how to use it to foster critical thinking? Teachers Cécile Cathelin and Ophélie Gibert share their guide on integrating AI into classrooms while keeping humans at the center.
AI in Education as a Human-Centered Tool
Cécile Cathelin and Ophélie Gibert, literature teachers and authors of the guide Utiliser l'IA en français, argue that artificial intelligence should not replace human elements in education but instead serve as a tool to enhance learning and reflection. Their guide emphasizes the importance of fostering critical thinking and creativity, ensuring that AI supports rather than supplants the teacher's role.AI as a Classroom Assistant
The guide acknowledges that AI is already present in classrooms and suggests that teachers should actively use it as an assistant rather than resist its integration. The focus is not only on technology but also on cultural and civic education, aiming to help students understand AI's mechanisms, recognize biases, and use it for creation and analysis.A Practical Example of AI in Teaching
One of the guide’s standout examples is sheet 28, "Designing tools for a pedagogical escape game." This sheet demonstrates how AI can assist teachers in creating complex escape games, which are time-consuming to prepare. AI handles the mechanics, allowing teachers to focus on creativity and student engagement, turning AI into a tool that supports rather than replaces human ingenuity.AI as a Tool for Critical Thinking
The guide includes activities that help students critically engage with AI, such as analyzing biases in AI-generated images. These exercises encourage students to question the technology they use and understand that AI is not neutral. The goal is to train students to be responsible users who can question the world rather than passively accept it.Re-enchanting Education Through AI
For Cathelin and Gibert, the guide is a response to the challenges facing education today, including the devaluation of teaching and the rapid introduction of AI. They believe integrating AI thoughtfully can re-enchant school for both teachers and students, showing that technology can be an ally in learning, creating, and emancipating.A Quote That Defines the Guide’s Spirit
The authors favor the quote by Edgar Morin: "It is surprise, astonishment that compels us to evolve." This reflects their belief that innovation in education should be driven by curiosity and reflection rather than fear or passive acceptance of change.
