Exploring the Possibilities and Pitfalls of GenAI With Teachers: Insights From a Community of Practice

• In Event: From Instagram to AI: Teacher Professional Development on the Frontlines of Educational Technology

Abstract

This paper explores how university researchers and teachers worked together to explore the possibilities and pitfalls of implementing GenAI in K12 classrooms. The study draws on communities of practice and teacher inquiry frameworks to investigate how teachers used GenAI tools in their instructional planning processes and with their students. Data collected included teacher interviews, video recordings of monthly meetings, and artifacts such as teachers’ instructional plans and student work. Findings focus on the benefits of using GenAI to enhance creativity, provide efficient feedback, and differentiate instruction, as well as the importance of discussing the ethical usage of GenAI with students. The study highlights the importance of teacher voices in developing clear policies that promote the ethical usage of GenAI.

Authors

• Lindy L. Johnson, College of William & Mary

• Siyuan Chen, College of William & Mary