Beyond the AI Hype: What Actually Works in Classrooms

Brooke James, Managing Director of Teaching Lab Studio, hits on something crucial in the video above — the gap between AI promises and classroom reality. After working with teachers and districts nationwide, Brooke along with the Teaching Lab Studio team have learned what separates useful AI tools from expensive distractions.

The Three Principles That Matter

The principles Brooke outlines aren’t theoretical. They come from real pilots, real failures, and real successes in schools:

• Coherence means AI works with quality instructional materials teachers already use, not against them. Too many tools try to replace curriculum instead of enhancing it.
• Clarity gives teachers transparent recommendations they can adjust, not mysterious algorithms they can’t understand or control.
• Scale ensures tools fit into daily workflows and survive beyond pilot funding — because sustainability matters more than flashy features.

Why This Conversation Needs to Happen

The tension Brooke mentions — will AI improve learning or just distract from it — plays out in schools every day. Teachers want tools that make their jobs easier and help students learn better. They don’t have time for solutions that create more work or promise everything while delivering little.

That’s exactly why sessions like “AI in Classrooms: Distraction or Breakthrough?” matter at SXSW EDU. These aren’t vendor pitches or theoretical discussions. They’re practitioner-led explorations of what’s actually working.

Real Stories, Real Results

When Brooke and Alice Waldron, Vice President of Innovation at Relay GSE, take the stage, they’ll share the classroom stories behind the principles — the AI tools that helped teachers spot learning patterns they missed before, the lesson planning features that actually saved time, and yes, the failures that taught them what not to do next.

These are the conversations educators need: honest, evidence-based discussions about turning AI potential into proven results.

Your Vote Brings This to Austin

Community voting determines 30% of SXSW EDU panel selection, and voting closes August 24th. This is your chance to prioritize sessions that start with teaching and learning, not technology.

Help ensure the AI conversation in education stays grounded in what actually helps teachers and students.