Thank you for taking the time to read this, Sabrina! I found the roots and branches approach helpful for my own day to day lives and thought to share it 🤍
Thank you for reading! I really enjoyed collaborating with such a thoughtful parent, like Dylan! while much is still unknown, the first step is certainly asking the right questions. :)
Great interview Dhani. Are you concerned about the teachers side, where there may be a strong temptation to simply outsource everything to AI, by design, or quietly like a student handy in an AI essay? Things such as lesson plans, marking assessments and and report card generation
Thank you for reading, Kevin! In all honesty, the temptation is everywhere for everyone. In education, there is a push for teachers to outsource the lesson planning and grading. Some think that is a good so teachers can focus on connecting with students in the classroom; some obviously disagree. I’m genuinely concerned for the future workforce of educators, it’s quite discouraging for some of them.
Totally agree that temptation for outsourcing everything to AI is going to be an issue for everyone, teachers included!
Here in Texas, the state education agency has been working for years to figure out curriculum fixes that can reduce the amount of work for teachers outside of the classroom. Some teachers have been 100% on board, and some have resisted strongly, wanting more control over their classrooms. If I had to guess, I'd say implementing AI in schools will play out similarly.
I was a technical instructor for nine years at a large company where the work was serious—public safety. Students had to pass these programs to remain in their jobs, and not everyone made it. As you can imagine, coming into a two-week program knowing your job is on the line is incredibly stressful.
When it came time for practical assessments in the lab, I had a routine: I’d sit down with a pencil, a ruler, and a Hilroy scribbler—just like the ones kids use in school. I’d draw a simple grid, write the students’ names down the left column, and the assessment items across the top. It took about five minutes.
Now of course, all the scores were logged digitally in a proper spreadsheet for system management and reporting—but that grid in the scribbler? That was for me. It grounded me. It reminded me I was working with people whose lives were affected by my evaluation.
One of my colleagues came in one day and handed me a printed Excel sheet. “Here you go,” he said. In my head, I thought, You don’t think I know how to make a grid in Excel? But I just smiled and ignored it.
Then he came back again, insisting I use his spreadsheet because I “wasn’t being productive.” So I told him point blank: this process, this little ritual of drawing the grid, keeps me present. It’s how I remind myself that these are people, not just data points. Their jobs are on the line. I need to feel that.
My point is this: when a teacher sits at home, sipping tea, reading a Grade 3 student’s story about their summer vacation, then writes a comment, draws a little smiley face, or adds a sticker—that’s the human connection. That’s the moment the child feels seen. My teacher read my story. She cared.
The risk we face with efficiency tools—AI or otherwise—is losing that organic, personal process. Unlike me, who could tell my colleague, “You do it your way, I’ll do it mine,” a teacher might not have that freedom if a school administrator says, “You're wasting time. Just use the automated tools.” And that’s how a teacher’s personal touch might slowly vanish.
That’s why the work you and Dhani are doing is so important. It’s not that AI doesn’t have a place. It does. But we need to protect space for teachers to shine in their own way—because that personal connection is absolutely vital to a student’s success.
Completely agree, Kevin! Both of my grandmothers were teachers, as was one of my grandfathers. All of them loved teaching and connecting with their students - AI absolutely has a role to play, and I think it will be transformative. I believe that role, however, can only work if it supplements the teacher-student relationship, not replace it.
What a thoughtful and timely discussion of the role of AI in classrooms. I love the “roots-and-branches” framework and the questions you ask.
Thanks so much, Sabrina!
Thank you for taking the time to read this, Sabrina! I found the roots and branches approach helpful for my own day to day lives and thought to share it 🤍
Hey Dhani
Great job. These honest efforts by both the authors shows the need of the hour as responsible parents👏👏👏👏👌🏻👌🏻💯
Thank you for reading! I really enjoyed collaborating with such a thoughtful parent, like Dylan! while much is still unknown, the first step is certainly asking the right questions. :)
Great interview Dhani. Are you concerned about the teachers side, where there may be a strong temptation to simply outsource everything to AI, by design, or quietly like a student handy in an AI essay? Things such as lesson plans, marking assessments and and report card generation
Thank you for reading, Kevin! In all honesty, the temptation is everywhere for everyone. In education, there is a push for teachers to outsource the lesson planning and grading. Some think that is a good so teachers can focus on connecting with students in the classroom; some obviously disagree. I’m genuinely concerned for the future workforce of educators, it’s quite discouraging for some of them.
Totally agree that temptation for outsourcing everything to AI is going to be an issue for everyone, teachers included!
Here in Texas, the state education agency has been working for years to figure out curriculum fixes that can reduce the amount of work for teachers outside of the classroom. Some teachers have been 100% on board, and some have resisted strongly, wanting more control over their classrooms. If I had to guess, I'd say implementing AI in schools will play out similarly.
Dylan, I’ll share a story with you.
I was a technical instructor for nine years at a large company where the work was serious—public safety. Students had to pass these programs to remain in their jobs, and not everyone made it. As you can imagine, coming into a two-week program knowing your job is on the line is incredibly stressful.
When it came time for practical assessments in the lab, I had a routine: I’d sit down with a pencil, a ruler, and a Hilroy scribbler—just like the ones kids use in school. I’d draw a simple grid, write the students’ names down the left column, and the assessment items across the top. It took about five minutes.
Now of course, all the scores were logged digitally in a proper spreadsheet for system management and reporting—but that grid in the scribbler? That was for me. It grounded me. It reminded me I was working with people whose lives were affected by my evaluation.
One of my colleagues came in one day and handed me a printed Excel sheet. “Here you go,” he said. In my head, I thought, You don’t think I know how to make a grid in Excel? But I just smiled and ignored it.
Then he came back again, insisting I use his spreadsheet because I “wasn’t being productive.” So I told him point blank: this process, this little ritual of drawing the grid, keeps me present. It’s how I remind myself that these are people, not just data points. Their jobs are on the line. I need to feel that.
My point is this: when a teacher sits at home, sipping tea, reading a Grade 3 student’s story about their summer vacation, then writes a comment, draws a little smiley face, or adds a sticker—that’s the human connection. That’s the moment the child feels seen. My teacher read my story. She cared.
The risk we face with efficiency tools—AI or otherwise—is losing that organic, personal process. Unlike me, who could tell my colleague, “You do it your way, I’ll do it mine,” a teacher might not have that freedom if a school administrator says, “You're wasting time. Just use the automated tools.” And that’s how a teacher’s personal touch might slowly vanish.
That’s why the work you and Dhani are doing is so important. It’s not that AI doesn’t have a place. It does. But we need to protect space for teachers to shine in their own way—because that personal connection is absolutely vital to a student’s success.
Completely agree, Kevin! Both of my grandmothers were teachers, as was one of my grandfathers. All of them loved teaching and connecting with their students - AI absolutely has a role to play, and I think it will be transformative. I believe that role, however, can only work if it supplements the teacher-student relationship, not replace it.