Gaebelein Institute for the Integration of Faith & Learning

Join Stony Brook School Academic Dean Jeff Smith and Gravitas Executive Director Dr. Sean Riley as they tackle one of education’s most pressing questions: How can Christian schools harness the power of artificial intelligence without compromising their core mission? With AI reshaping classrooms nationwide, many faith-based educators are caught between embracing innovation and preserving the human-centered, character-focused education that defines Christian schooling. In this essential presentation, Smith and Riley cut through the confusion with five practical strategies that don’t just integrate AI—they use it to strengthen what makes Christian education unique. From reducing teacher workload to deepening spiritual formation, discover how your school can lead with both wisdom and innovation in the AI revolution

The 5 Ways Christian Schools Can Use Artificial Intelligence:

• To Ease Faculty Workload in Non-Student-Facing Ways – Using AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini to create reading quizzes, grammar worksheets, vocabulary exercises, and document-based questions (DBQs) for history classes, allowing teachers to save time on administrative tasks while maintaining educational quality.
• For Formative Assessments Outside the Classroom – Implementing platforms like Flint for personalized essay feedback, Quizlet for AI-generated study materials, and OtterAI for helping students catch up on missed lectures, providing students with immediate, constructive feedback to improve their learning.
• To Provide Dialogue Partners for Personalized Learning – Creating AI tutors that offer individualized support, including conversational practice in world languages, subject-specific tutoring (like Pre-Calculus), and role-playing scenarios that help students practice presentations and develop critical thinking skills.
• To Enhance Character Formation – Leveraging AI for spiritual development through tools like the Gravitas App for virtue-based learning, Bible memory verse tutors, and spiritual discipline coaches, ensuring technology serves the school’s mission of character development rooted in Christian faith.
• To Craft Clear and Charitable School AI Policies – Developing straightforward policies that prohibit unauthorized AI use while allowing teacher-approved applications, emphasizing prevention through education, encouraging alternative assessment methods, and prioritizing character conversations over punitive measures.