Chatbots took many schools by surprise upon their release a few years ago, leaving students and teachers navigating sudden changes to homework and lesson planning. Organizations ranging from Open AI to UNESCO encourage AI use, but many educators feel confused about how to handle it. Case study Cheshire Academy, a private boarding and day school in Connecticut with about 400 students, has adopted a flexible approach.

Administrators do not force instructors to use AI, though the school's librarian and technology coordinator George Aiello claims the vast majority of staff use it. Educators there employ a patchwork of tools, including general-purpose chatbots like Chat GPT and Perplexity, as well as specialized platforms like Magic School. This approach stems from staff training on general AI techniques rather than prescribing specific technology.

Training covered prompt crafting and highlighted the technology's limits, such as potential for generating incorrect and biased responses. Teachers now use AI to prepare class materials, plan lessons, and create grading rubrics. French teacher Miriam Przybyla-Baum addresses AI use directly with students, assigning reflections on how AI can and cannot teach language skills.

The academy has implemented a traffic light system labeling assignments: green for full AI allowance, red for bans, and yellow for partial permission. Cheshire Academy is also piloting a Student AI Council, where students create media and lead discussions on healthy AI use to benefit the community. The school continues to experiment with productive AI harnessing in education.