The Uncharted Classroom: A Prelude to AI and the Teacher’s Dilemma

In the sprawling conference hall of the Unisa, where South Australian Science Teachers Association had the conference, Clark and I found ourselves in the middle of something that felt at once like a glimpse of the future and an echo of the present. It was a teacher training session, some of the workshops that promised to unpack the mysteries of Artificial Intelligence in education. The hall hummed with curiosity—rows of science teachers, coffee cups in hand, sat poised between eagerness and uncertainty.

29 November, we joined some workshops organized by SASTA

Over the past few years, AI has surged into classrooms like an unstoppable wave. Tools promising automated grading, personalized learning, instant lesson plans, and simulated experiments have become a staple of the tech world’s utopian pitch. The promise? To lift the daily burdens of teachers and transform how students learn. The reality, as we would come to learn in the room that day, is far murkier.

We had come, initially, to learn. To observe. To understand what teachers—the ones in the trenches, wrangling labs and lesson plans—actually thought about AI. What we found was a shared enthusiasm tempered by a quiet sense of overwhelm.

“There’s something new every day,” one teacher sighed during a coffee break, shaking his head. “I just figured out how to use one tool, and then ten more show up.” Another chimed in: “The updates are constant—how are we supposed to keep up?” Heads nodded in agreement. For every story of AI streamlining a lab report or suggesting a classroom activity, there were stories of frustration—confusion over which tools to trust, where to start, and most importantly, how to use them responsibly and effectively in education.

There it was—the tension at the heart of the conversation. AI has never been more accessible. Yet in its accessibility lies its challenge: the sheer volume, the speed of change, the glut of products, tools, and platforms clamoring for teachers’ attention. It isn’t just a question of what these tools can do—it’s about what they should do.

How can teachers wield AI responsibly, ensuring their use of it enhances learning rather than obscures it? How do we teach students to think critically in an age of generative text and automated answers? How do we ensure that the integration of AI doesn’t replicate or amplify inequities already embedded in our educational systems? For all the excitement, there was no consensus in the room—only more questions. The need for dialogue was glaringly clear.

I sat listening to these teachers’ reflections—the frustrations, the triumphs, and the hopes—an idea took root. Perhaps, we thought, we could carve out a small corner of this chaotic AI landscape. A place to explore AI for education with teachers, not just for them. A space for questions, for cautious experimentation, for shared successes and inevitable failures. A space to collectively figure out how to use AI more thoughtfully, safely, and purposefully—not to replace educators, but to empower them.

And so, this website was born.

We don’t claim to have all the answers—far from it. What we offer instead is a shared journey: a commitment to engage with AI’s ever-expanding possibilities for education while keeping our eyes on what matters most—effective, responsible teaching and learning. Alongside teachers, we want to test tools, share insights, and wrestle with the tough questions. Can AI reduce administrative burdens without eroding human judgment? Can it help personalize learning without deepening divides? Can it help us inspire curiosity, creativity, and rigor in our students, rather than passive consumption?

The answers will come not from the tech industry alone, but from classrooms, teachers, and students themselves. And we’re here to listen, learn, and explore together. The tools may change, the challenges may shift, but the fundamental goal remains the same: to make education better—more equitable, more thoughtful, and more human—with AI as an ally, not an obstacle.

So, if you’ve ever felt lost in the labyrinth of AI tools or wondered how to use these technologies to serve your teaching rather than complicate it, welcome.

You’re not alone. Let’s figure it out, together.