From Fright to Insight: Facing AI Fears with Confidence
It’s that time of year again. Pumpkins glow, shadows grow, and eerie whispers float through the halls. But this Halloween, the ghost that’s haunting many educators isn’t in a costume. It’s artificial intelligence.
Across schools and campuses, teachers are asking:
“Will AI replace creativity?”
“How can I trust it?”
“Where do I even begin?”
These are valid fears, but like any good Halloween story, the scariest things often lose their power once we shine a light on them. The truth? AI isn’t here to haunt education. It’s here to help it evolve.
Let’s grab our metaphorical flashlights and confront these “AI fears” one by one, with some powerful (and not at all spooky) resources designed to help every educator build confidence, creativity, and ethical understanding in this new AI age.
Fear #1: “AI is too mysterious to understand.”
Your ghostbuster: Experimenting With AI by Stacie Chana
If AI feels like a mysterious force you can’t quite grasp, Experimenting With AI is your guide to pulling back the curtain. Stacie Chana offers hands-on experiments, adaptable discussions, and ethical reflections that make AI literacy approachable for any grade level.
Think of this as your spellbook for building digital confidence—one ethical experiment at a time.
Fear #2: “AI will take the creativity out of writing.”
Your light in the digital darkness: Teaching Writing in the Age of AI by Troy Hicks & Kristen Hawley Turner
Don’t let AI haunt your writing lessons! Hicks and Turner show how tools like ChatGPT and Gemini can enhance creativity and help students become thoughtful, ethical writers. They offer frameworks for integrating AI without losing the human voice at the heart of every story.
It’s not about replacing the writer; it’s about inspiring one.
Fear #3: “I don’t know what to ask AI.”
Your lantern in the fog: Fifty AI Prompts for Teachers by Paul Cancellieri
If you’ve ever stared at a chatbot wondering where to start, Fifty AI Prompts for Teachers is the perfect potion. Paul Cancellieri shares ready-made prompts and examples to help educators personalize instruction, assess understanding, and create engaging content.
A must-have for teachers who are experimenting with AI and want to gain confidence in using it in their classrooms.
Fear #4: “AI will replace collaboration.”
Your trusted ally: Learning by Doing (Fourth Edition) + the AI Book Assistant
AI doesn’t replace community—it enhances it. The newest edition of Learning by Doing combines the timeless wisdom of DuFour and colleagues with a modern AI Book Assistant that offers real-time insights and guidance as you apply PLC concepts in your school.
Proof that the smartest classrooms blend people power and digital support.
Fear #5: “AI ethics are too complicated.”
Your moral compass: Education and the Ethics of AI by Douglas Reeves
Ethical use of AI doesn’t have to be murky. Douglas Reeves demystifies the moral questions of AI in education—from students’ ethical AI usage to lesson planning—and gives leaders the tools to create fair, transparent, and responsible policies.
A guiding light for any educator who wants to model integrity in the digital age.
Fear #6: “I can’t keep up with AI’s pace.”
Your crystal ball: Free Solution Tree webinars for every educator
Another School Year with Generative AI: How Do I Prepare?
By Adam Garry | Free Webinar
Get ahead of the curve with practical, systemwide strategies for implementing AI responsibly in schools. Learn the importance of AI literacy and policies, and support educators through this digital shift.
Watch free webinar
Enhancing PLC at Work® with Authentic & Artificial Intelligence
By Regina Stephens Owens & Sarah McFarland | Free Webinar
Learn how to use ChatGPT and other AI tools to support the PLC at Work® process with your teams, sites, and districts. Participants explore prompt strategies, balanced integration, and the synergy between human and artificial intelligence.
Bonus resource: Prompt Engineering AI² by Owens & McFarland—your key to crafting smart, effective AI conversations.
Overcome your AI fears with the right tools and resources
AI doesn’t have to be the monster under the bed. With the right tools, resources, and mindset, it becomes something far less frightening. It’s a powerful partner in creating engaging, equitable, and ethical learning experiences.
So this Halloween, when AI whispers through your classroom door, don’t scream. Invite it in. Teach it. Shape it. And most of all, use it to empower your students for the world ahead.
🎃 More Inspiring Reads for Fearless Educators
Face the spooky side of teaching with confidence and care. Check out these blogs on supporting students and tackling challenges:
