Ver January 14, 2026
Feel free to adapt and use.
AI is a powerful tool for work you've mastered. It's a dangerous shortcut for work you're learning.
I use AI extensively in my professional work - for tasks I already know how to do well. It makes me faster and better at work I've spent years learning to do. But that's key: I already know how to do this work. I spent years building that foundation. You're in the process of building yours.
In education, learning requires struggle, cognitive work, the messiness of not knowing. AI can eliminate that struggle - and with it, the learning. This isn't about whether AI is good or bad. It's about protecting the learning you came here to do.
Here's what I'm asking of you - and of myself:
Own your thinking. That means being able to explain your choices, connect ideas across your work, articulate what you considered and rejected. The goal isn't performing confidence - it's demonstrating genuine understanding. We'll figure out together what that looks like for you. Some of you think best in conversation, some in writing, some need time to process. Tell me what you need.
Be transparent about AI use. If you use AI tools, document it. Which tools, for what, to what extent. If you're hiding it, that's a signal we need to talk about whether that use served your learning. Transparency protects both of us.
Do the foundational work. I know you're working full-time, managing families, dealing with real constraints. I'm not asking for equal time - I'm asking for genuine engagement with the core learning. We can negotiate how that happens, but we can't skip it.
Name when this isn't working. If the standard feels unclear, arbitrary, or like gatekeeping - say so. I'm still learning how to teach in the AI era. I'll make mistakes. Push back. Help me see what I'm missing.
My commitments to you:
I will make my criteria explicit. I will show my own thinking and uncertainty. I will recognize that you bring expertise I don't have. I will create multiple ways for you to demonstrate understanding. I will acknowledge when structural barriers exist and work with you to navigate them.
This is hard work for both of us. Let's do it together.