Empowering Teachers to Support Students in the Age of AI
The Big Problem
Most of us know that spark of relief when technology just works. One click, and a task that used to take hours is suddenly done—no hesitation, no hassle. For teachers juggling deadlines, lesson prep, grading, and everything else that spills beyond the bell, that kind of help can feel like salvation. Tools such as MagicSchool and Gemini now produce full slide decks, readings, and classroom activities in seconds. It’s fast, it’s seamless—and it changes how teachers handle their mental workload. Behavioral scientists call this cognitive offloading: using external systems to lighten the brain’s load and boost efficiency.1
Used intentionally, it gives teachers space to focus on students and creativity. However, when it runs on autopilot, judgment can fade. Imagine a classroom where an AI-generated slideshow on disabilities looks impeccable until phrases like “confined to a wheelchair” and “suffers from” appear on-screen—language that unintentionally reinforces harmful and outdated stereotypes. While hypothetical, it mirrors real risks identified in the field. A recent risk assessment found that when asked about a false claim that Haitian immigrants in Ohio were “eating pets,” AI tools like MagicSchool and Khanmigo didn’t flag the misinformation.2 Instead, they built lessons around it, treating rumor as fact.
Incidents like this highlight a deeper design challenge. AI can absolutely enhance instruction—but only if it’s built for reflection, not replacement. As classrooms grow more digital, the real task isn’t resisting automation. It’s ensuring that teachers remain curious, critical, and confidently in command of the knowledge they share.
About the Author
Maryam Sorkhou
Maryam holds an Honours BSc in Psychology from the University of Toronto and is currently completing her PhD in Medical Science at the same institution. She studies how sex and gender interact with mental health and substance use, using neurobiological and behavioural approaches. Passionate about blending neuroscience, psychology, and public health, she works toward solutions that center marginalized populations and elevate voices that are often left out of mainstream science.
