Learning Forward
Equity and excellence in teaching and learning.
TOOLS
Learn to think critically about AI: A tool for PLCs
By Heather Lageman
Categories: Learning designs, TechnologyFebruary 2026
Learning Forward’s (2025) Standards for Professional Learning provide a research-based framework for designing professional learning that leads to improved educator practices and student outcomes. They can be applied to all professional learning topics and focus areas, including one that is top of mind for many educators today: AI. High-quality professional learning about AI’s capabilities and limitations is essential for educators to develop the expertise to help students navigate this technology critically. When educators understand AI well, they can design learning experiences that develop students’ critical thinking, help students recognize when to use AI as a tool versus when human thinking is essential, build students’ capacity to verify information and maintain intellectual independence, and foster student creativity and confidence in their irreplaceable human abilities. They can
Read the remaining content with membership access. Join or log in below to continue.
Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem.
References
Learning Forward. (2025). Standards for Professional Learning.
Walter, Y. (2024). Embracing the future of artificial intelligence in the classroom: The relevance of AI literacy, prompt engineering, and critical thinking in modern education. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 21, Article 15.
Zhai, C., Wibowo, S., & Li, L.D. (2024). The effects of over-reliance on AI dialogue systems on students’ cognitive abilities: A systematic review. Smart Learning Environments, 11, Article 28.
Heather Lageman is a certified life and engagement coach, administrator, and English teacher dedicated to empowering students, educators, and leaders by focusing on social-emotional learning, core values exploration, and professional renewal. Over her 28-year career, she served as Director of Curriculum for the Maryland State Department of Education and held administrative roles in Baltimore County Public Schools. A passionate advocate for computing education, she is Chair of the Maryland Computing Education Steering Committee and Council Member of the Maryland Education to Employment Ecosystem (MSE3) and Technology Advisory Board Member of the Hood College Department of Computer Science and Information, in addition to serving on the Loyola University Maryland School of Education Board of Advisors. She co-authored School Seasons xSELeratED, xSELeratED Schools Framework, and the forthcoming The Hope-Centered Educator(May 2026).
Categories: Learning designs, Technology
CURRENT ISSUE
Recent Issues
WHAT STUDENTS NEED NOW
December 2025
For all students to thrive, we need to understand who they are and what...
LEARNING COMMUNITIES FOR LEADERS
October 2025
Leaders need opportunities to connect, learn, and grow with peers just as...
MAXIMIZING RESOURCES
August 2025
This issue offers advice about making the most of professional learning...
MEASURING LEARNING
June 2025
To know if your professional learning is successful, measure educators’...
