Navigating AI in the classroom while preserving critical thinking

As artificial intelligence increasingly finds its way into classrooms across America, teachers face a critical challenge: how to embrace these new technologies while preserving and cultivating students’ ability to think critically. The recent executive order to increase AI education in K-12 schools and the rise of AI writing tools have created an urgent need for educators to develop new approaches to writing instruction that work with, rather than against, these technological changes.

Why this matters: The National Writing Project (NWP) and NoRedInk are launching resources to help teachers adapt writing instruction to an AI-powered world.

• The partnership will debut a webinar series called “Writing Instruction in the Age of AI” starting April 29, 2025, at 10 a.m. PST.
• An online community for educators will also be created, providing access to shared resources and a free version of NoRedInk’s writing platform.

The big picture: Research suggests AI tools may be changing how students develop critical thinking skills.

• A 2025 study by Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon University found that “higher confidence in GenAI is associated with less critical thinking, while higher self-confidence is associated with more critical thinking” during AI-assisted tasks.
• The research noted that generative AI “shifts the nature of critical thinking toward information verification, response integration and task stewardship.”

What they’re saying: NoRedInk’s literacy director emphasized the need to understand how AI is transforming the teaching landscape.

• “Our collective organizations bring decades of expertise in writing instruction and educator development to schools,” said Paige Whitlock in a public statement.
• Whitlock added that their partnership is fundamentally about “empowering students to think critically and express their voices with confidence.”

Key details: The upcoming webinar series will address several critical aspects of AI’s role in education.

• Topics will include the “ethical, learning-focused use of AI in the writing process, research-based pedagogy, and reframing the teacher’s role as a coach for writers.”
• The series will be available at no cost to educators looking to navigate this rapidly evolving educational landscape.