HMH Launches Educator Council to Shape AI Tools in Education
Grounding AI in Classroom Reality
In an effort to create more effective AI solutions for educators, HMH, a leader in adaptive learning, has established the AI Educator Council. This initiative seeks to bring together a diverse group of teachers, instructional coaches, and school district leaders from across the United States, aiming to ensure that AI tools are not only innovative but also rooted in practical classroom experiences and research-based pedagogy.
The formation of this council reflects a growing recognition that educators should play an active role in the development of AI technologies, rather than being mere end users. As Andrew Goldman, EVP for HMH Labs, stated, “AI must be built with — not just for — educators.” The focus is on crafting tools that complement high-quality curricula and provide actionable insights based on real-world educational needs.
Collaboration to Improve AI
Council members will collaborate closely with HMH Labs, a dedicated team focused on enhancing the customer experience of emerging educational technologies. Regular meetings are planned where members can test new features, share their classroom applications of AI, and provide feedback directly influencing product design.
Preliminary insights from the council have already led to valuable enhancements in HMH’s offerings in time for the upcoming academic year. Notably, these improvements include features designed to automate routine teacher tasks, freeing educators to focus more on personalized instruction and student engagement.
AI as an Educator’s Ally
Feedback from council member Katherine Beals, an elementary school teacher in Kentucky, illustrates the council’s impact. “It’s been inspiring to hear of the different uses for AI outside of my four classroom walls,” she remarked, adding that rather than replace teachers, AI serves as a powerful tool that enhances their ability to educate.
This sentiment underscores a broader trend in educational technology: AI is not seen as a replacement for human educators but as a valuable ally that can help streamline administrative tasks and promote more meaningful interaction between teachers and students.
Looking Forward
The establishment of the AI Educator Council by HMH could set a precedent for how educational technology companies engage with educators in design and development processes. As schools increasingly integrate AI into their curricula, the need for tools that reflect the realities of classroom environments will be paramount.
This move marks a significant step in ensuring that the evolution of AI in education aligns with the needs and insights of those who are on the front lines of teaching. It raises critical questions about the nature of educational practices and how technology will enhance, rather than hinder, the sacred art of teaching.
As the landscape of education continues to evolve, initiatives like the HMH AI Educator Council signal a pivotal shift towards more collaborative approaches in developing technologies that truly serve the educational community.
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