The Language of AI: E28 - The question I keep hearing (and the framework that finally helps)

Fellow Educators,

I've been having a lot of conversations with faculty lately, and they all start the same way:

• "Should I let students use AI for this assignment?"

• "When does it help? When does it hurt?"

• "I don't want to be the teacher who bans everything... but I also don't want to hand learning over to a chatbot."

If this sounds familiar, I get it. The challenge isn't finding AI tools, they're everywhere. The real challenge is knowing how to decide when and how to use them.

That's why I created the 4Ws Ethical Framework and honestly, it's become my go-to thinking tool when I'm stuck on an AI decision.

It's not a rulebook. It's not a checklist. It's four questions that help you slow down and see your choices more clearly.

Here's how it works:

"What am I gaining?"

Before you add AI to anything, ask: What value does this actually add?

Maybe it saves you time for higher-impact work (like giving better feedback). Maybe it makes learning more accessible for students. Maybe it sparks creativity that wasn't possible before.

Example: Using AI to generate varied practice problems so you can spend your energy analyzing how students are thinking…….that is a real gain.

"What am I losing?"

Now flip it: What might disappear if AI steps in here?

Will students lose the chance to struggle productively? Will you lose a window into their authentic thinking? Will classroom discussions start feeling more generic?

Example: If AI drafts all your feedback, students might lose the sense of your voice, your encouragement, your specific attention to their work.

"What am I not practicing?"

This one's subtle but powerful: What skill or habit goes dormant/atrophies if we let AI do this?

Are students still practicing synthesis and reasoning? Are you still practicing the art of explaining? Could over-reliance weaken the very "muscles" we're trying to build?

Example: If students always use AI to summarize readings, they stop practicing how to identify what matters most.

"What am I accessing?"

Finally, ask: What new doors open because AI is here?

Can students explore multiple perspectives they couldn't access before? Can you give more frequent formative feedback? Can you bring in global voices or simulate complex scenarios instantly?

Example: Using AI to simulate debates lets students engage with thinking they'd never encounter otherwise or what skill are they accessing with the help/use of AI that they otherwise do not have yet?

Why this works

When I run these four questions before making a decision about AI, something shifts. The answer isn't always clear-cut but I can see the trade-offs more honestly.

Sometimes I realize, "Oh, this is absolutely worth it." Other times I think, "Wait, I'm about to trade away something essential." And often, the answer is somewhere in between: Yes, but with guardrails. Yes, but with reflection built in.

The 4Ws don't tell you what to do. They help you make better decisions aligned with your teaching values.

And when you use them with students? It opens up incredible conversations. Instead of "Did you use AI?" (which leads to defensiveness), you can ask: "What were you gaining or losing by using it here? What skills weren't you practicing? What did it give you access to?"

Those are conversations about learning, not policing.

Try it this week

Next time you're designing an assignment, choosing a tool, or responding to a student's use of AI, pause and run through the 4Ws:

• What am I gaining?

• What am I losing?

• What am I not practicing?

• What am I accessing?

Then decide from there intentionally, not reactively.

I'd love to hear how it goes. Hit reply and let me know what comes up when you try the framework … I read every response.

You can explore the full framework here: aitraining101.com/4wframework

Thanks for taking the time to be part of a positive change in education compared to simply burying your heads in the sand.

Cheers,
Matthew

P.S. — AI doesn't replace good pedagogy. But these four questions? They help make sure it actually serves it.