When Students Turn to AI: What Educators Need to Know

AI is becoming a normal part of young students' lives. Increasingly, students are using AI not only for information and schoolwork, but also for advice, reassurance and companionship.

This is something the adults and educators around young people need to understand and pay attention to.

This course draws on current research, emerging good practice, and experience from international schools to explore how children and teenagers are engaging with AI, including questions around AI companions, trust, emotional support, and wellbeing.

The focus is not on creating fear around AI. It is on understanding what is changing and considering why human connection, judgment and care become more important as AI becomes more capable.

Intended Audience

Educators, Leaders, Counselors

ISCA Student Standards

Social-Emotional

SE:A2:2 Develop essential components of healthy relationships, including empathy, respect, compassion, and acceptance of differences

SE:A2:6 Differentiate between situations requiring peer support and situations requiring adult or professional help

SE:B1:3 Apply effective problem-solving and responsible decision-making skills to make safe and healthy choices

SE:B1:5 Demonstrate when, where, and how to seek support for solving problems and making decisions

SE:C1:2 Develop skills to utilize personal and community resources related to mental health

SE:C1:8 Demonstrate digital citizenship focusing on Internet safety skills (AI infrastructure and systems)

SE:C1:10 Identify trusted adults in the school and community and know how, when, and where to ask for help for self and others

Academic

A:A1:2 : Foster and affirm student identity and psychosocial development

A:A5:1: Build relationships that foster wellness and student success

A:A15:6: Help students understand appropriate communication and boundaries

A:A2:1 : Apply critical-thinking skills

A:A15:5: Clarify the benefits and limitations of technology tools

A:B1:3: Demonstrates independence as a self-directed learner

ASCA Professional Standards and Ethical Standards and Practices

Student safety and responsible decision-making

Healthy relationships, trust and human connection,

Privacy, ethical technology use and shared responsibility

Essential Questions

1. How are our students of all ages beginning to use AI for advice, support and companionship?
2. What happens to trust, relationships, and wellbeing when students increasingly turn to AI rather than people?
3. What are the consequences of mistaking AI’s ability to respond for its ability to understand?
4. What makes a human relationship with a teacher, counsellor, or other trusted adult irreplaceable?
5. How might schools begin conversations with students, families and colleagues?

Participants will have knowledge about:

1. How young people are using AI;
2. What research is beginning to tell us about trust, relationships and wellbeing;
3. Questions around privacy, safety and safeguarding;
4. The continuing importance of trusted adults and human judgment;
5. How schools might respond and begin these conversations.

Participants will be able to:

1. Reflect on how young people are beginning to use AI for advice, support and companionship;
2. Discuss what current research suggests about trust, relationships and wellbeing;
3. Identify key questions around privacy, safety, ethics and safeguarding;
4. Consider when human judgment and trusted adults need to remain central;
5. Recognize possible signs of over-reliance or misplaced trust in AI;\
6. Explore how schools might develop appropriate boundaries and guidance;
7. Continue to support informed conversations with students, families and colleagues.

John M. Mikton

John M. Mikton is currently the Digital Learning Facilitator at the International School of Geneva La Châtaigneraie, bringing 30 years of experience in education and media technology. He has worked in international schools across Africa, Asia, and Europe, holding leadership roles including IT Director, Director of eLearning, Head of Education and Media Technology, and Deputy Principal, with a consistent focus on integrating digital fluency into education.

He is a trainer and course designer with the Principal Training Center and a course designer and facilitator with ECIS, contributing to the Middle Leader Certificate and Global Pedagogy Certificate, as well as delivering bespoke workshops on AI and digital learning.

John serves on the advisory boards of the International School Technology Leadership Certification (ISTLC) and Faria Education Group, following four years as a coach and mentor with Faria Education Group.

He is also the co-host of the International Schools Podcast and a two-time recipient of the ISC Research Award.

Portfolio: https://beyonddigital.org

ISCA Member Price: $180

Non-Member Price: $260

Dates and times of offerings:

April 12, 2027; 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM UTC

Contact Hours: 3 hours facilitating session

Time commitment between sessions: 4 hours preparation, research and creating presentation and set up

Required Resource(s): N/A