AI in K–12 Education: Practical Strategies, Fresh Look, and National Recognition
- Lindy Hockenbary
- May 29
- 4 min read
Artificial intelligence (AI) isn’t a buzzword, fad, or hype. It’s already changing how we live, work, and yes… learn. According to the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025, 44% of workers’ core skills are expected to change by 2030, driven largely by advances in AI.
The AI in education conversation is heating up fast, and I’m honored to be a leader in the space. I was recently named one of the Leading Women in AI, a series by ASU-GSV and The AI Revolution Show that spotlights women who are leading with integrity and impact in the AI in education space.
I see this as recognition of the incredible work K–12 educators are doing to thoughtfully integrate AI. It’s a sign that the broader conversation is finally catching up to what educators need: practical AI strategies.
A Fresh Look: LindyHoc
This recognition came right on the heels of my refreshed brand, announced earlier this year at LindyHoc.com. The updated look isn't just a facelift. It better reflects what I'm really about: helping educators navigate the evolving world of K–12 EdTech with clarity, purpose, and confidence.
There's a lot of noise out there about what AI can and should do in education. My job? Cut through that noise and give you practical ways to actually use these tools with your students.
Read the full feature here: LindyHoc Founder Lindy Hockenbary Named a 2025 Leading Woman in AI by ASU+GSV, Launches New EdTech Brand Identity
Why AI in Education Matters (Even If You're Tired of Hearing About It 🙂)
Look, I get it. You're probably tired of hearing about AI. But here's the truth: AI is not going anywhere. In fact, it's only gaining steam. We're in this exciting (and let's be honest, sometimes overwhelming) moment where the potential to enhance learning is huge but so are the pitfalls if we get it wrong.
That’s where I step in. I work with schools, districts, and organizations to implement AI tools in ways that are ethical, practical, and grounded in strong pedagogy. It's not just about what AI can do, but what it should do to serve learners and teachers alike.
3 Strategies You Can Try This Week
Teach AI Literacy: Teach students how to critically evaluate AI responses. New research continues to underscore the importance of AI literacy. One study found that people with lower AI literacy are more likely to view AI as magical and over-trust its outputs: Lower Artificial Intelligence Literacy Predicts Greater AI Receptivity. Google's Quick, Draw! is one of my favorite tools for teaching students that AI is literally a predicting machine, and it makes predictions from patterns. If you are intrigued to learn more, I am offering a free virtual event on the topic in June 2025:
🗓️ June 19, 2025, 1:00-2:00 Eastern time
Create safe spaces: Leverage tools like SchoolAI Spaces where students can gain personalized guidance while you oversee every part of the interaction. Check out this example Space to learn more about the U.S. Memorial Day holiday. Follow the AI's prompts and have a conversation. Act like your students. Try to break it—you know you want to! Push the guardrails and see how it responds, just like a curious student would.
Personalize learning materials: Let AI quickly adjust reading levels, translate content, or connect concepts to student interests.
This can be accomplished in any general-purpose, conversational chatbot, such as Gemini, Copilot, ChatGPT, or Claude.
⚠️ Using a public AI model? Never share confidential, sensitive, or proprietary information (this is really good advice for any AI model, IMO). Review my Navigating AI: Educator's Rules of Thumb for more tips.
This can also be accomplished using a school-approved tool such as SchoolAI, GuardRailz, Chat for Schools, MagicSchool, BoodleBox, or Colleague AI. The example Memorial Day Space offers a quick way to demonstrate how AI can personalize learning materials. Try prompts like:
Explain it like you are talking to a kindergartner
Change to a 700 Lexile score
Translate to Spanish
Relate the topic to hockey
What's Next?
With this new recognition and a refreshed brand, I'm doubling down on what I do best: helping educators bridge the gap between AI innovation and classroom realities. Whether you're curious about responsible AI use, wondering how to design future-proof learning experiences, or just trying to figure out where to start, I'm here to make it less overwhelming and more actionable.
The bottom line? AI is here, it's powerful, and when used thoughtfully, it can be an incredible tool for both teaching and learning. My mission is to help you navigate it with confidence, one practical step at a time.
Want more practical strategies?
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