Artificial Intelligence (AI) is advancing faster than most of us can keep pace with and feels reminiscent of when the internet first emerged. We did not know how impactful the World Wide Web would truly be. As parents, we sense a similar shift in technology and cannot help but wonder how AI will shape our children’s future.
The Challenge: How Do We Navigate AI in the Classroom?
In many classrooms around the globe, teachers are embracing AI as a tool to help them be more innovative and deliver more relevant topics. They are also being trained to use software to identify AI-generated work from students. However, we need to ask: are AI detectors really the answer to preparing students to work with AI? If the curriculum being delivered is easily satisfied with AI-generated answers, then the issue is not cheating, it may be the curriculum itself. Additionally, when students are more focused on avoiding detection than learning how to engage responsibly with AI, we have missed the bigger opportunity. Can we elevate the conversation beyond a policing mindset and focus on equipping students with the knowledge on how to empower their learning with AI tools?
My Observations with AI in the Classroom
After two years at Sora Schools, a live and innovative online middle and high school, my daughter is entering ninth grade more prepared to discern how and when to use AI tools. Sora uses a project-based approach where students are at the center of their learning journey. My daughter has had the opportunity to work on interdisciplinary projects like reverse-engineering light technology, which has benefited from AI tools that help her test a prototype. Sora believes that by using AI as a “thought partner,” students can further conceptualize their ideas and go beyond a theoretical exercise. I have watched my daughter use AI not to do her work, but to elevate it. She understands that AI is not there to simply answer questions, but to expand her learning reach.
Deciding Your Approach
Every family holds their own set of values when it comes to the use of technology. For our family, we have carefully researched the pros and cons and have had regular conversations with our daughter on the benefits, ethics and implications of AI. As military families, adaptability is part of our everyday lives and every family should take time to explore this new technology horizon and encourage open conversations with their kids about AI. By our kids building AI literacy now, they will learn to make informed, ethical decisions about how and when to use AI technology.
Want to Explore Sora?
Sora is committed to serving military families and offers a tier-based tuition grant program for active-duty military. Visit https://soraschools.com/military
to learn more.
Erika Nance is a dedicated advocate for military families, drawing from her unique experiences as a former military spouse, Gold Star family member, and a military Veteran with over 20 years of service. As a mother of two, she is deeply committed to helping military-connected families navigate the challenges of securing quality educational resources for their children. Erika’s diverse background includes firsthand experience with private international schools, Department of Defense schools, and public domestic schools. She leads Palo Volta Consulting, an independent firm dedicated to helping clients grow and transform their businesses.
Read this full article and more in the Fall 2025 Issue of Military Spouse magazine.