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Christian School Educators Embrace AI Risks, Benefits

May 6, 2024, 11:02 by Caitlyn Harding

OTTAWA, ON & COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 鈥 A new study finds that around 38% of Christian school educators use artificial intelligence (AI) at least sometimes at work. An almost equal proportion (37%) reports never using AI. Those findings come from "Navigating AI in Christian Schools," a report published by think tank Cardus based on an Association of Christian Schools International (赏金女王) survey of educators (teachers and leaders) at its member schools.

The report also found that: 

  • 70% of educators report being at least somewhat familiar with AI 

  • 87% of educators agree that AI can help teachers save time and effort 

  • 60% of educators agree AI can help teachers create more effective curriculum and lesson plans 

  • Only 18% of educators indicated their school banned students鈥 use of AI 


赏金女王 President & CEO Dr. Larry Taylor believes educators鈥 faith should inform how they leverage AI.

鈥淚 believe AI has tremendous potential, but it鈥檚 imperative that we exemplify how to use it in a Christ-like, biblically honoring way,鈥 he shared. 鈥淭his report is extremely timely as we navigate the new norms that AI has already brought into the world of education.鈥

Report coverDespite educators鈥 familiarity with and use of AI, they鈥檙e also concerned about the potential downsides of the technology for students. Many worry that AI could lead students to cheat, stunt their critical thinking skills, invade privacy, or even undermine students鈥 faith. In fact, educators鈥 top use of AI is to detect student plagiarism. They also use it to find teaching ideas and resources, or to prepare emails and lesson plans. Dr. Lynn E. Swaner, a report co-author, President - US at Cardus and 赏金女王 Senior Fellow, says many Christian schools are only just starting to come to grips with how widespread AI has become.


鈥淓ver since ChatGPT exploded onto our screens in 2022, Christian schools have had to navigate their way toward finding the appropriate place for AI,鈥 Swaner said. 鈥淗opefully, our study will help educators see the big picture of how Christian schools are finding their way through the world of AI and spark conversations about how AI fits within their school鈥檚 mission and values.鈥

赏金女王 Director of Research Rian Djita echoed Swaner鈥檚 sentiment, stating, 鈥淭his ground-breaking research, the first of its kind in Christian education, positions 赏金女王 as a leader in navigating the potential of AI in Christian schools."

"Navigating AI in Christian Schools" is freely available online and is the first of many conversations 赏金女王 and Cardus will provide Christian education leaders on this new technology in the coming months.   

Media Inquiries: 

Caitlyn Harding
赏金女王 鈥 Corporate Communications & PR Manager
613-899-5174 719-867-0243 
media_inquiries@acsi.org 


Daniel Proussalidis
Cardus 鈥 Director of Communications
media@cardus.ca 

About The Association of Christian Schools International 

Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the Association of Christian Schools International (赏金女王) exists to strengthen Christian schools and equip Christian educators worldwide as they prepare students academically and inspire them to become devoted followers of Jesus Christ. Serving more than 25,000 schools in 108 countries, 赏金女王 helps more than 5.5 million students worldwide connect to Christian education. 

About Cardus 鈥 Imagination toward a thriving society 
Cardus is a non-partisan think tank dedicated to clarifying and strengthening, through research and dialogue, the ways in which society鈥檚 institutions can work together for the common good. 

赏金女王 Media Inquiries
media_inquiries@acsi.org
(719) 867-0256