Stop Waiting for PD: The Future of AI Learning for Educators Is Self-Directed

Let’s be honest: most traditional professional development is structured like a fire drill.
Rushed. Top-down. No one really wants to be there.
It ticks a compliance box, but rarely changes behavior.

Meanwhile, AI is exploding.

• Educators are quietly testing ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, MagicSchool, and Perplexity…

  • On their lunch breaks.

  • In between grading.

  • On the commute home.

Not because they were trained, but because they were curious.

Here’s the Reality… The best AI learning for educators right now is happening outside of PD. It’s self-directed. It’s agile. And it’s tailored to real problems educators are facing, right now.

Compare the two models:

• Traditional PD Model

  • Scheduled quarterly

  • Led by external experts

  • Focused on broad initiatives

  • Passive attendance

  • Minimal hands-on practice

  • Little personalization

Result? — Educators leave with notes, not tools.

• Self-Directed AI Learning

  • Happens in real time, during real work

  • Centered on curiosity and experimentation

  • Driven by relevance (“I need a rubric…now”)

  • Hands-on, iterative, practical

  • Often collaborative via TikTok, LinkedIn, Discord, and YouTube

  • Refines daily instructional habits

Result? — Educators leave with tools, and more confidence.

What’s Driving This Shift?

1. Relevance beats rigor
   Educators are tired of theory. AI tools provide immediate utility.

2. Agency fuels growth
   When teachers choose what they want to learn, they actually use it.

3. PD can’t keep up with tech
   By the time a district rolls out AI training, the models and tools have already evolved.

4. Leadership gaps create space for experimentation
   In the absence of clear district guidance, educators are becoming their own innovators.

The Danger: A New Kind of Divide… If we’re not careful, we’ll create a new professional development gap:

• Educators in well-resourced or innovative schools will learn by doing.

• Everyone else will wait for permission.

We can’t afford that.

So What’s the Move?

It’s not “PD vs. self-direction.” It’s strategic integration, a blended model that respects teacher agency and elevates collective learning.

Here’s what I’m recommending to schools right now:

For Leaders:

• Shift from 2-hour sit-and-get to micro-PD cycles

• Create AI exploration zones in PLCs

• Document and showcase early adopters

• Let teachers lead internal AI sessions (peer-to-peer)

For Teachers:

• Give yourself permission to explore

• Use AI daily in small ways (reword directions, write rubrics, summarize articles)

• Keep a running list of prompts that work

• Share your wins, we need grassroots storytelling

Prompt of the Week

Here’s a simple but powerful prompt to try in ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini:

“Based on my role as a [grade/subject] teacher, suggest 3 time-saving ways I can use AI this week that align with best instructional practices and help me support all learners equitably. Include sample prompts and a 2-sentence explanation for each.”

Try it. Reflect on it. Share it.

Final Thought

We can wait for formal AI training to arrive in a PD session. Or we can build a culture where learning is constant, self-directed, and connected to purpose.

PD will always matter. But the most powerful learning starts with a question, not a slide deck.

The future of educator development isn’t on the calendar. It’s in the moment, and in your hands.

— Uche