AI Is Only as Strong as the System It Sits On

There is real value emerging from AI—but only when it’s applied with precision. As Peter Coe explained, the most impactful use cases are not flashy:

“We see real value where AI is making effective instruction more possible for more students.”

That includes:

• Helping teachers adapt curriculum
• Accelerating feedback cycles
• Supporting targeted instructional decisions

But outside of those focused use cases, AI often creates noise—not impact.

The First Thing That Breaks: Trust

When AI is layered onto weak systems, the risks compound quickly. Larry Johnson highlighted a critical issue:

“It doesn’t always interpret the data correctly… and that’s a concern.”

Without strong alignment:

• AI misinterprets standards
• Outputs appear correct—but aren’t
• Students and teachers may trust flawed results

This is why alignment is not just operational—it’s protective.

From AI Users to AI Thinkers

A major shift emerging from the conversation is how we think about students’ roles. Zarek Drozda emphasized the need to move beyond passive use:

“We should position students as producers—not consumers—of technology.”

This requires:

• Data literacy
• Quantitative reasoning
• The ability to question and validate outputs

Otherwise, students may use AI constantly—but learn very little from it.

The Real Problem: Too Much Curriculum

One of the most striking insights came from the state of curriculum itself. As Peter Coe noted:

“There are too many learning targets… and that limits the depth of learning we can achieve.”

Today’s system often results in:

• Coverage over mastery
• Fragmented learning experiences
• Critical skills (like data literacy) being deprioritized

The solution isn’t less rigor—it’s more focus.

What High-Quality Learning Actually Looks Like

Not all digital learning is created equal. Hillary Rinaldi pushed the conversation beyond “screen time” debates:

“Not all screen time is created equal.”

High-quality experiences are:

• Coherent and aligned
• Focused on core concepts
• Designed for application, not just exposure

And most importantly:

• Built to develop durable, transferable skills

Alignment Is the Infrastructure Layer

As standards evolve—and diverge across states—alignment is becoming exponentially more complex. Larry Johnson described the shift:

“It’s not enough for a lesson to be about a topic anymore—it has to meet the specific expectations of what students must do.”

This includes:

• Writing explanations
• Applying concepts
• Demonstrating understanding in specific ways

Scaling this across states requires more than manual effort. It requires systems.