AI Trust

Are teachers scared (or more apprehensive) of AI?

• Summary: 8 out of 8 teachers expressed apprehension on the part of their colleagues about AI, citing concerns over its implications for classroom roles and the potential for student misuse.
• Teacher Insights:

• "AI feels unpredictable and a bit overwhelming for teachers who aren’t tech-savvy."

• "I’m not scared of AI, but I do worry about how it might change the dynamic in the classroom."
• "There’s definitely an age gap—newer teachers seem more open to AI, while some of us who have been teaching for decades are more hesitant."

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Are students scared (or more apprehensive) of AI?

• Summary: Teacher perception of student apprehension was minimal, feeling that most students embrace AI as a useful tool. Teachers noted that students often saw AI as an exciting technology rather than something to fear.
• Teacher Insights:
  
  • "My students are curious about AI. They see it as something that can help them."
  • "If anything, they’re more trusting of AI than they should be—they don’t question the answers."

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How do you think your peers and administrators feel about AI?

• Summary: Peer and administrator responses were mixed. While all teachers expressed apprehension or fear on the part of a segment of their colleagues, teachers noted that some teachers support the use of AI. It is indicated that younger teachers tend to be more willing to embrace AI. Teachers also highlighted the need for training or support amongst colleagues. Teachers emphasized focusing on functionality and usability. Administrators were often more restrictive, especially in districts with limited tech infrastructure.
• Teacher Insights:
  
  • "Some teachers are hesitant to use it because they feel it could take away their control over the classroom."
  • "I think administrators worry about liability and compliance when it comes to introducing something as new as AI in classrooms."

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Does calling Flexi an “AI tutor” influences how people feel? What would be better: tutor or AI tutor?

• Summary: About 4 out of 8 teachers believed the term "AI tutor" could trigger skepticism among teachers and administrators, suggesting "tutor" or "learning assistant" as less intimidating alternatives. Teachers don’t feel the “AI” will scare off students.
• Teacher Insights:
  
  • "The term 'AI tutor' makes it sound experimental. People would trust 'tutor' more."
  • "AI isn’t the problem—it’s how we present it. A softer term would help."

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What would it take for a teacher to recommend and want to use Flexi?

• Summary: Teachers emphasized training and support (mentioned by 5 of 8), evidence of impact on learning outcomes, and ease of integration with existing tools like Google Classroom or LMS platforms.
• Teacher Insights:
  
  • "Flexi needs to feel like an extension of what we already do—not something extra."
  • If it’s intuitive and doesn’t add extra prep time, I’d absolutely recommend it."
  • "It would help if there were testimonials or examples from teachers who have successfully used it in similar settings."

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What do you trust AI to do independently?

• Summary: Teachers trusted AI to answer factual or basic questions, assist with translations for multilingual learners, and provide alternate explanations for difficult concepts. Teachers felt more comfortable with oversight though.
• Teacher Insights:
  
  • "I trust it to fill gaps for students—definitions, step-by-step solutions, things like that."
  • "AI is great for repetitive tasks, but I’d always double-check its answers."

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Knowledge Assessment

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What would a teacher look for in a report of student knowledge?

• Summary: Teachers valued summaries of student progress (75%), identification of misconceptions and gaps (75%), and clear next steps for intervention or enrichment (58%). Teachers noted that they valued classroom summaries over detailed student breakdowns but the availability of transparency and detailed breakdowns was important to building trust.
• Teacher Insights:

• "I need actionable insights. What should I focus on next with this student?"
• "A good report shows me patterns, not just a bunch of scores."
• "I don’t need every tiny detail about a student’s performance—just an overview that tells me where the class as a whole stands. I don’t have time to analyze every student individually during a busy day."

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What metrics are of value to you in a report about student knowledge?

• Summary: Teachers, in general, were unsure about specific metrics. The metrics cited were aligned with state standards, literacy levels, prior skills, and prior knowledge.
• Teacher Insights:

• "It’s essential to tie gaps back to specific standards so I know what needs reteaching."
• "Flexi should provide more than gaps—it should tell me why those gaps exist."
• "If the report could identify foundational skills students are missing, that would be a game-changer."

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What would a teacher look for in a diagnostic assessment?

• Summary: Responses were varied but a majority of teachers wanted to know class trends on upcoming content so that they could adjust how they teach it. Less importance was placed on prior knowledge.
• Teacher Insights:

• "I want to see patterns—what concepts are most of my students struggling with, and how can I address them efficiently?"
• "A diagnostic should guide my lesson planning. What do my students need most?"
• "Specific feedback is better than generic scores—it helps me target my teaching."

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What would make you not trust an AI assessment of student knowledge?

• Summary: Concerns included a lack of transparency in assessment methodology (75%), discrepancies between AI insights and observed student performance, and overgeneralized feedback lacking depth.
• Teacher Insights:

• "I need to know how AI reaches its conclusions before I can trust it."
• "If what the AI says doesn’t match what I see in class, there’s a problem."

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Flexi as an Independent Tutor

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Do teachers feel that Flexi is an effective tutor?

• Summary: All teachers (100%) agreed that Flexi was effective, highlighting Flexi’s ability to provide step-by-step solutions, assist multilingual learners with translations, and clarify difficult concepts with alternate explanations.
• Teacher Insights:

• "Flexi is great for foundational concepts—it helps students catch up on the basics."
• "Advanced topics can be hit or miss, but it’s still a fantastic support tool."

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Would a teacher trust Flexi to be an effective tutor (independent of adult supervision)?

• Summary: All teachers trusted Flexi as a supplementary tool but emphasized that they would not trust it as a replacement. All teachers trusted Flexi but cited their lack of trust around independent use as students not knowing how to get the most out of it.
• Teacher Insights:

• "Flexi is valuable, but students need guidance on how to ask meaningful questions and fully use its capabilities."
• "I trust Flexi to reinforce what I teach, but it can’t replace the teacher."
• "It’s a great partner in the learning process, especially for struggling students."

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Do you feel like AI/Flexi undermines your efforts to help students develop independence and integrity in their academic pursuits?

• Summary: 8 out of 8 teachers acknowledged that AI/Flexi has the potential to both support and undermine independence and integrity, depending on implementation and monitoring. 6 out of 8 teachers expressed concerns about AI encouraging shortcuts and reducing critical thinking, especially in writing tasks. 7 out of 8 teachers emphasized the importance of proper structure, safeguards, and oversight to ensure responsible use and promote academic integrity.
• Teacher Insights:

• "With proper oversight, Flexi encourages students to ask better questions."
• "If students journal their learning or explain their answers, it’s a valuable tool for independence.”