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Teacher Education
For those preparing future educators, the question isn’t whether to acknowledge AI in teacher training, it’s how to do it well. As schools increasingly adopt AI for planning, instruction, and assessment, teacher educators have a unique opportunity to help candidates build the judgment and confidence to use these tools thoughtfully. At Eastern Kentucky University, Dr. William Thornburgh and Dr. Emily Zuccaro are doing just that—showing how AI can enhance preparation while reinforcing the core practices of good teaching.
In a presentation at ReAction Virtual, Dr. William Thornburgh and Dr. Emily Zuccaro of Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) shared how they’re helping pre-service teachers navigate this balance, using AI to support instructional planning, feedback, and differentiated learning without losing sight of pedagogy or professionalism.
Dr. Thornburgh, an associate professor and clinical educator at EKU, regularly encourages his students to use tools like MagicSchool to brainstorm lesson plans, generate ideas, and build assessments. But the real value, he noted, comes from how pre-service teachers interact with the output.
As an assignment, he has students create their own lesson, then compare it with one generated by AI. This exercise sharpens their ability to spot vague objectives, scaffold content, and adapt for their unique learners.
Dr. Zuccaro, associate professor at EKU, shared how AI helped her refresh a children’s literature assignment that had started to feel stale. With support from AI tools, she redesigned her Hispanic Heritage Month and Black History Month lessons into choice boards that spotlight joy, identity, and student voice.
“The AI gave me creative, innovative ways to think about the activity,” she said. “And students were more engaged because the lessons felt meaningful and student-centered.”
She also highlighted Diffit as a powerful free tool for multilingual learners. By generating reading passages at different language levels and embedding visuals, AI helps pre-service teachers design accommodations that once took hours.
When it comes to assessment, both instructors model how AI can assist, without handing over the process entirely. Dr. Zuccaro shared how she uses AI to draft feedback based on exemplars and rubrics, but always reviews and revises the output.
Video feedback tools like GoReact and our AI Assistant make it even easier to provide feedback to candidates. With GoReact observations can happen from anywhere, and candidates can receive feedback instantaneously, driving greater reflection and skill growth.
Using AI as a starting point, not a shortcut, is key for any teacher preparation program.
Both instructors integrate conversations about AI ethics, privacy, and bias into their coursework. Zuccaro uses a stoplight system (red = no AI, yellow = limited use, green = approved use with documentation) to help candidates think critically about when and how to use AI responsibly.
“We show students our own decision-making process,” she explained. “We talk through which tool we used, what it gave us, and how we adjusted it. That modeling helps them build habits they’ll carry into the profession.”
For teacher prep faculty, mentors, and instructional leaders, the message is clear: AI doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. In fact, it can be a powerful ally in preparing tomorrow’s teachers if it’s introduced with intentionality and care. With the volume of AI tools now available to educators, it’s best to pick one or two and try them for at least a semester.
Give the AI Assistant a try for free for 60 days, and see why GoReact has been used to prepare 1 in every 5 new teachers.
