AI Vocabulary for Educators
To support our shared commitment to ethical innovation and informed engagement with artificial intelligence, this glossary provides clear definitions of key terms from Pingry’s Community Standards for AI Use. It is intended as a resource for educators who are new to AI, helping to build confidence and clarity around core concepts and practices.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Artificial Intelligence (AI) | Technology that allows machines to simulate human intelligence, such as learning, reasoning, and problem-solving. |
| Generative AI | A type of AI that creates new content—like writing, images, or music—based on patterns it has learned. |
| Large Language Models (LLMs) | A kind of AI trained on huge amounts of text to predict and generate human-like language. ChatGPT is one example. |
| ChatGPT | A widely used AI chatbot created by OpenAI that uses a Large Language Model to generate human-like responses. |
| AI “Hallucination” | When an AI confidently makes up false or inaccurate information that sounds believable. |
| Bias (in AI) | When AI systems reflect or repeat unfair assumptions found in their training data (such as stereotypes). |
| Attribution | Clearly stating when and how you used AI in your work—like giving credit to a source. |
| Prompt | The input or question you give to an AI tool to generate a response. |
| AI Literacy | The ability to understand what AI is, how it works, and how to use it ethically, effectively, and safely. |
| Digital Citizenship | Responsible and respectful use of technology, including understanding privacy, data use, and online behavior. |
| Relational Teaching | A teaching philosophy focused on building strong, meaningful relationships between teachers and students. |
| AI-Enhanced Relational Teaching | Using AI tools to support—not replace—human-centered teaching practices that value connection and trust. |
| Transparency (in AI use) | Being open and honest about when and how you’re using AI, especially in teaching, grading, or creating content. |
| Personalization | Tailoring learning experiences to students' individual needs, interests, or cultural backgrounds. |
| Scaffolding | Providing structure or support to help students build skills and understanding—AI can help with this by generating leveled materials. |
| Socratic Seminar | A classroom discussion technique focused on deep thinking, questioning, and dialogue—often hard for AI to replicate authentically. |
| AI-Resistant Assessment | A type of assignment that’s hard for AI to complete without human insight—like oral presentations or personal reflections. |
| SchoolAI / Gemini / NotebookLM | Specific Pingry-Supported AI tools mentioned in the document that Pingry supports for teaching, learning, or productivity. |