Writing in eSchool News, Jordan O’Connell and Dr. Steve Baule, Winona State University, say generative artificial intelligence (AI) is completely reshaping education, with a particular focus on professional development (PD).
”Generative AI helps educators develop and execute personalized development pathways, streamlines credentialing requirements and records professional growth in real time. Generative AI tools can revolutionize professional development, giving educators tailored support and automating time-intensive tasks. AI can foster a more responsive, efficient, and impactful PD ecosystem by examining specific use cases, benefits, and challenges
“Currently, it is a struggle to balance professional training with the constraints of time, accessibility, and relevance. PD programs often rely on a one-size-fits-all model, which does not address the needs of individual teachers. Generative AI can enable a new era for professional educator growth. As Ferikoğlu and Akgün note in a recent article, early and ongoing professional development for educators is needed to address the new instructional realities of an AI-rich environment.
“AI-driven PD tools can focus educators on meaningful growth instead of administrative requirements by creating personalized professional learning plans and automating continuing education documentation,
“Potential applications of generative AI:
“• Acting as a training planner, an AI-powered platform could identify that an educator is proficient in classroom management but has limited experience with digital tools, then suggest regional or online workshops or courses focusing on technology integration that are suited to the individual.
Tools like Coursera, edX, and LinkedIn Learning already use algorithms to suggest tailored learning paths, demonstrating the feasibility of personalized PD solutions at a broader scale.
“• Generative AI can streamline the process of earning continuing education units (CEUs) to maintain licenses by automating the tracking and documentation of CEUs. An AI-integrated system could log professional development activities as they occur, calculating and updating CEU credits in real time.
“• An AI-powered system integrated into an institution’s human resources portal could soon automatically record an educator’s participation in webinars, workshops, or online courses, converting them into the appropriate number of CEUs without manual input.
“• AI-powered platforms could also provide updates. If a teaching certification is about to expire, the system could notify the educator and provide clear instructions for renewal, minimizing the risk of lapses in licensure. This automated approach not only saves time but also reduces errors, ensuring that educators stay compliant with certification requirements.
“• Beyond renewals, AI can help maintain up-to-date professional biographies and CVs. Generative AI can draft concise and comprehensive bios with minimal input from the educator. A simple prompt asking AI to summarize recent accomplishments can yield polished bios tailored to various audiences.
“It is important to approach these tools with a critical eye. Potential issues include data privacy concerns, the risk of over-reliance on AI recommendations, and the need to address bias within AI algorithms. Gullani, et al. recently wrote that schools and districts must ensure that AI-enhanced tools are transparent, equitable, and aligned with their educational mission.
“Educators must always view AI as a supplement to, not a replacement for, human expertise. Human agency needs to be a core of any effective use of AI tools,” conclude O’Connell and Baule.
eSchool News
