Unal Karakas: What innovation really means in education

Technology and artificial intelligence are changing the world around us remarkably fast. The students in our classrooms today are preparing to enter a world that will look very different from the one in which many of us grew up. As educators, we have a responsibility to stay informed and prepare our students to navigate this rapidly changing world with confidence, curiosity and good judgment. At the same time, we must thoughtfully introduce new ideas, approaches and technologies to the learning experience.

That’s the thinking behind Valley Stream 24’s Vision 2030. Innovation in our district isn’t defined by technology alone. It’s about thinking differently, and collaboratively, about how students learn and how we prepare them for the world they will enter. It’s about developing students who can think critically, solve problems, communicate effectively, collaborate, create, question and adapt. It means examining our practices, considering current research and professional expertise, listening to our students and educators, and being willing to evolve when we identify better ways to support learning.

Technology is an important part of that vision, but it isn’t the vision itself. Artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies are already part of the world students are entering. We can’t prepare them for that future by ignoring those developments. At the same time, being responsive to change doesn’t mean adopting every new technology simply because it’s available. Our responsibility is to understand its potential, recognize its limitations and determine where it can meaningfully support student learning.

Students deserve a voice in those conversations. Last year I met with representatives of our Student Council to discuss artificial intelligence and what its introduction could look like in our schools. Their perspectives were thoughtful and insightful. We talked about the possibilities A.I. could offer and the importance of ensuring that students continue to develop their own ideas, reasoning and problem-solving skills. They agreed that sixth grade was an appropriate age to begin our A.I. work. Their participation reinforced an important part of Vision 2030: Students’ contributions to conversations about their learning help develop the communication, collaboration and civic awareness they will need beyond the classroom.

That same spirit of thoughtful exploration applies to our educators. A.I. and other technologies can support teachers with lesson planning, instructional design and other tasks, helping them work more efficiently and creating additional opportunities to focus on students and their individual needs. But technology doesn’t replace the knowledge and judgment of a teacher. The relationships teachers build with students, and their understanding of individual learners, remain essential to effective instruction.

Our Vision 2030 work also recognizes that critical thinking, collaboration and problem-solving develop through different kinds of experiences. Students benefit from reading, discussing, writing, experimenting and exploring. They benefit from books, classroom conversations, socializing and collaborating, and playing and discovering. Those experiences are part of the foundation on which innovation can be built.

This is particularly important in an elementary-school setting, where students benefit from a rich variety of learning experiences. As we consider the role of technology, the question shouldn’t simply be how much technology students use, but whether a particular use is appropriate for the learning goal and adds value to the experience. Technology can effectively engage students, support learning and expand opportunities, while books, conversation, hands-on activities, collaboration and play remain essential parts of a well-rounded education. Our goal is to balance technology’s opportunities while preserving the experiences that help children learn, connect and grow.

That balance is what innovation really means in education: being adaptable enough to embrace technology, because the world demands it, while being thoughtful enough to preserve the experiences that support children’s academic, social and personal development. It means preparing students for what’s next while giving them the skills, experiences and relationships they need right now.

Innovation is about preparing students for the world as it is today, and for the world they will help shape tomorrow. That means giving them the confidence to embrace new ideas, the critical thinking to evaluate them, the creativity to imagine possibilities, and the collaboration and problem-solving skills to turn ideas into action. Technology will be part of that future, but so will the human qualities that have always defined meaningful learning. Our responsibility is to give students both: the tools to navigate what comes next, and the foundation to use those tools thoughtfully, purposefully and well.

Unal Karakas is superintendent of Valley Stream Union Free School District 24.