From “in the loop” to “in the lead”— teachers shaping the role of AI in education
As we celebrate World Teachers’ Day, it’s an important time to acknowledge that the role of teachers and how we support them is continuously evolving. This is especially true as we adapt to the age of AI. Over the last few months, we have been excited to see that across the education and technology communities, a shift is underway — one that moves beyond seeing teachers as implementers of AI-driven tools toward acknowledging their agency, expertise, and leadership in shaping how AI is used in education systems.
Through our Teacher-in-the-Loop survey, we heard from hundreds of educators across low- and middle-income countries about how AI is already influencing their work — from reducing administrative burdens to raising new challenges around trust, quality of learning and equity. These are early but illustrative findings which we think help us better understand how teachers experience this new technology. We’ll soon be sharing more from this survey to help bring their voices to the forefront.
Our survey aimed to listen deeply and to document teachers’ own experiences with AI. But we’ve also been listening to the discourse evolving around us. Recent work, including the International Task Force on Teachers’ position paper on strengthening teacher agency in the age of AI, has underscored the importance of placing teachers’ voice, creativity and professional judgement at the heart of decision-making. Notably in “Beyond the Loop: Reclaiming Pedagogy in the AI Age”, Daniela Hau has challenged the very framing of “teachers-in-the-loop,” arguing that educators should not inherit and implement AI systems — they should lead in defining their purpose, use, and ethical boundaries, with learning and pedagogy at the centre of these decisions.
We’ve heard — and been inspired by — these arguments. That’s why, as we move forward, we’re launching a new phase of our work: Teachers-in-the-Lead Sandboxes.
What’s coming next
These sandboxes will test a simple but powerful hypothesis: If teachers are meaningfully engaged in shaping whether and how AI is used across education systems — from policy to practice — we will unlock more effective, equitable, and grounded approaches that improve teacher wellbeing, enhance the quality of teaching, and strengthen learning outcomes.
Over the coming months, we’ll be partnering with organisations that are already working closely with teachers. From those designing AI-enabled tools to those providing professional development, pedagogical support, and beyond. Each partner will engage in a sandbox over 6 months, supported by small grants, technical assistance, design coaching, and collaborative learning sessions, to centre teachers’ voices in their approaches to AI in education.
We will also be digging into this topic and sharing a lot more insight from our work on the AI Observatory and Action Lab. Including more detailed insights from the Teacher-in-the-Loop survey, along with a review of the latest evidence on AI use cases to support teachers in their role. And of course, we’ll also announce and learn-out-loud with our sandbox partners.
Centring teachers in the AI age
The story of AI in education should not be written without teachers. As we continue to explore AI use cases in the classroom and in support of learning, we see this work as a vital step: ensuring that teachers are not just part of the conversation — but leading it.
We look forward to sharing more soon. In the meantime, we invite you to join us in celebrating teachers everywhere for their creativity, leadership, and unwavering commitment to shaping the future of education.
EdTech Hub’s AI Observatory is made possible with the support of the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
