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While educators demonstrate enthusiasm for AI’s efficiency and accessibility benefits–especially younger educators–they have a desire to preserve the human element in teaching and would like clearer guidance on AI usage, according to a new survey from D2L.
AI in Education, a survey of U.S. K-12 and higher education teachers, professors, administrators, and public respondents, shows that a majority of younger educators see AI playing an important role in the future of education and are more likely to use AI chatbots in teaching.
Most educators are optimistic about AI’s classroom potential, but stress the need for clearer policies and guidelines around AI, including direction for use in classrooms. They also feel that maintaining a human connection, thoughtful integration, ongoing training, and implementing policies that balance innovation with academic integrity are critical as they integrate AI into lessons.
The survey findings also reveal:
- Eighty-eight percent of Gen Z educators used AI in the 2024–25 academic year–twice the rate of Gen X (48 percent) and four times that of Baby Boomers (19 percent).
- Sixty-three percent of Gen Z and Millennial educators believe AI will be “important or essential” to teaching by 2030, compared to less than half (48 percent) of Gen X and Boomer-aged educators.
- Thirty-eight percent of Gen Z educators cite cheating as the top reason students use AI, compared to 13 percent of Gen Z non-educators. Just 26 percent of Gen Z educators think students use AI to save time on schoolwork, compared to 34 percent of non-educator Gen Z respondents.
- Educators are 3 times more likely to say AI has enhanced, rather than worsened, classroom engagement when asked how AI has impacted learning in the classroom environment.
“AI is revolutionizing education, but human connections remain at the heart of the learning experience. Educators and leaders seek tools that save time and enhance learning without compromising the personal bonds that drive success,” said John Baker, founder and CEO of D2L. “As younger educators embrace AI-native tools, they’re eager to integrate them into classrooms while maintaining strong ties with students, and to free up time for more personalized feedback and group collaboration.”
Educators prioritize human connection and responsible AI use
Most educators agree that AI should enhance, not replace, traditional teaching, that educators should be in the driver’s seat on how AI is deployed in the classroom, and that maintaining a human connection with students is vital.
- When asked about the increased use of AI in education, educators cited ‘loss of human connection’ as their top concern, followed by student over-reliance on AI tools (combined 52 percent). Privacy, decreased academic integrity, and equity issues were also cited (combined 40 percent). Only 9 percent said they have no concerns about AI in education.
- More than 4 in 10 Educators surveyed (44 percent) said AI made learning more efficient, but not necessarily more engaging or personalized. This opinion mirrors the response from general population respondents (43 percent).
- Nearly two-thirds of educators (65 percent) believe teachers, professors and school administrators should be the primary decision-makers on AI adoption, compared to just 13 percent who favor state or federal government control.
- Nearly a quarter (24 percent) of educators said they worry that using the AI tools provided to them by their institutions could be tracked or interpreted as taking shortcuts. ChatGPT (OpenAI) ranks as the AI tool most used by educators, followed by Gemini (Google) and Copilot (Microsoft).
Regardless of generational or philosophical views, AI is becoming embedded in learning environments. Most educators (54 percent) already say they used AI tools in the 2024-2025 academic year and that number will grow slightly (to 56 percent) in the 2025-2026 academic year. The three most-cited growth areas for AI use among educators include supporting students with accessibility needs, detecting plagiarism, and developing lesson plans.
This press release originally appeared online.
eSchool Media staff cover education technology in all its aspects–from legislation and litigation, to best practices, to lessons learned and new products. First published in March of 1998 as a monthly print and digital newspaper, eSchool Media provides the news and information necessary to help K-20 decision-makers successfully use technology and innovation to transform schools and colleges and achieve their educational goals.
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