When AI can generate answers instantly, the challenge for schools is designing learning experiences that still require students to think. Kate works with educators to strengthen reasoning, writing, and discussion by making student thinking visible in classrooms where AI tools are increasingly present.
Kate Avcollie is an educator and instructional leader focused on the intersection of AI, literacy, and thinking-centered instruction. A 2026 CT Teacher of the Year Semifinalist, a classroom teacher and professional learning facilitator, she works with schools to design learning experiences that strengthen reasoning, writing, and discussion in an era where AI tools can generate answers instantly. Her work focuses on helping teachers make students' thinking visible through more robust instructional tasks, discussions, and assessments.
After professional learning sessions facilitated by Kate Avcollie, teachers begin shifting classroom practices so that students must demonstrate their thinking rather than simply produce answers. These routines shift classrooms from producing answers to engaging in visible thinking:
• Evaluating AI responses: Students analyze AI-generated explanations and identify strengths, weaknesses, and missing evidence.
• Defending revisions: Students explain which AI writing suggestions they accepted, rejected, and why.
• Tasks that require reasoning: Tasks ask students to explain, justify, compare, or critique ideas.
• Discussion preparation: Students explore possible claims with AI, then refine and defend their own position.
• Assessments that reveal thinking: Students demonstrate reasoning through explanation, writing, and reflection.
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