“Why do we hear about AI in the news every single day?” my 11-year-old recently complained. “Because there’s so much to learn!” I told him. This is a rare moment in time when we’re all simultaneously navigating a major paradigm shift. AI is what MIT’s Justin Reich calls an “arrival” technology — one that appeared in our laps, widely accessible and shockingly powerful — unlike the many “adoption” technologies that we evaluate, consider, and either choose or ignore.

My son is not alone in feeling overloaded and overwhelmed. AI and the questions surrounding it are evolving so rapidly that it can be hard to know where to focus our attention, for enthusiasts and skeptics alike.

That’s why we’re excited to bring you this journal issue that zeroes in on AI in professional learning. Educators are fortunate to have a wealth of resources about AI, but many of them focus on student use. This issue is focused on youand the educators you work with, diving into how AI can benefit professional learning design and implementation, pitfalls to watch out for, and examples from districts and educators who are experimenting with the technology.

In the Research section, you’ll read about recent studies on how educators are using AI. In the Focus section, you’ll find insights from technology and education experts about key concepts and considerations for using AI in coaching, curriculum-based professional learning, and professional learning systems. The Ideas section features cutting-edge examples of educators learning about and using AI to improve their practice.

This issue’s Tools section is packed with step-by-step activities to help you think critically about how to — and how not to  — use AI. It is designed for professional learning communities or other learning teams but can also be used individually.

Our At a Glance feature presents the results of the AI poll we conducted at our annual conference in December. Spoiler alert: Learning Forward members use AI frequently and believe its impact on professional learning is mostly positive.

You won’t want to miss this issue’s online exclusives, including Thomas Guskey’s article about using AI in professional learning and examples from the perspectives of a career and technical education teacher and a former principal.

Although this is our first AI-themed issue of The Learning Professional, it builds on articles and resources we’ve been sharing about AI over the last two years. And there’s lots more to come. The huge number of article submissions we received for this issue is one of many indicators that you, our readers, are hungry for professional learning-specific information about AI.

We hope you will continue to share with us your stories, examples, insights, and questions about AI.  Keep submitting your articles, as we will be weaving AI into all of our issue themes and perennial focus areas. Submission guidelines and the application form are available at learnfwd.org/write-for-us.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you’re in the right place — and in good company. We invite you to dive in and learn with us, one step at a time.

Download pdf here.