How Educators Are Using AI In Professional Learning: Findings From The Field

RESEARCH

How educators are using AI in professional learning: Findings from the field

By Stacey Alicea, Brendon Krall and Nathaniel Schwartz

Categories: Research, The Learning Professional

February 2026

In November 2023, one year after large language models like ChatGPT were introduced to the public, the Research Partnership for Professional Learning (RPPL) launched a qualitative study investigating the intersection of AI and professional learning (Krall et al., 2024). Our goals were to examine the current use of AI in teacher professional learning and understand how stakeholders perceive its future role in enriching learning experiences. In interviews with staff in and outside of school systems, we found that teachers and district leaders were primarily focused on using AI for efficiency through time-saving administrative tasks, whereas AI developers and professional learning organizations were focused on leveraging AI to drive innovation and transform the products and services they provide to educators. This pattern and other findings in

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References

Alicea, S., Krall, B., Schwartz, N., & Sundar, P. (2025). AI in professional learning: A network survey of professional learning providers. Research Partnership for Professional Learning. learnfwd.org/6abb20

Diliberti, M.K., Lake, R.J., & Weiner, S.R. (2025). More districts are training teachers on artificial intelligence: Findings from the American School District Panel (RR-A956-31). RAND. learnfwd.org/56902b

Doss, C.J., Bozick, R., Schwartz, H.L., Chu, L., Rainey, L.R., Woo, A., Reich, J., & Dukes, J. (2025). AI use in schools is quickly increasing but guidance lags behind: Findings from the RAND survey panels (RR-A4180-1). RAND. learnfwd.org/07z

Krall, B., Fagan, C., Schwartz, N., & Boguslav, A. (2024). AI in professional learning: Navigating opportunities and challenges for educators. Research Partnership for Professional Learning. learnfwd.org/773117

Stacey Alicea

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Stacey Alicea serves as the first executive director of RPPL (Research Partnership for Professional Learning), where she works alongside PL practitioners, researchers, district leaders, educators, and funders to unlock the knowledge required to design professional learning that allows every teacher to meet the needs of every student. She believes that professional learning should be informed by evidence and designed to meet the real needs of educators and students. Stacey’s (she/her)career as a practitioner-researcher of color embodies a deep commitment to bridging research and practice initiatives, particularly when it comes to equitable and holistic youth and adult development in school-based and community settings.

Brendon Krall

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Brendon Krall is a Research Project Director at the Annenberg Institute at Brown University, where he assists the Research Partnership for Professional Learning (RPPL). Prior to joining Annenberg, Brendon worked as a research assistant for Dr. Stephen Raudenbush, at the Behavioral Insights and Parenting Lab at the University of Chicago, and at the World Bank's Development Impact Evaluation (DIME) group primarily focusing on program evaluation for education-related projects. In addition to his research experience, Brendon is a 2018 Teach For America corps member, where he worked as an 8th-grade English teacher and community organizer in Houston, TX.