‘We want to prepare them to be able to use AI effectively’ How Ohio Virtual Academy is traversing the new era of learning

The virtual school, which serves more than 12,000 students statewide, created a teacher-led AI committee in the fall of 2025.

OHIO, USA — As artificial intelligence becomes more common in classrooms, schools are figuring out how to manage it. But what happens when that classroom is entirely online?

That’s the path Ohio Virtual Academy has been working to navigate.

The virtual school, which serves more than 12,000 students statewide, created a teacher-led AI committee in the fall of 2025 with the goal of helping shape how AI is used by students, teachers and staff. The timing of this move comes as schools across Ohio are preparing to meet the state’s requirement to have a formal AI policy in place by July 1.

Ohio Virtual Academy social studies teacher Jared Shoup said he and other teachers face some of the same issues with the integration of AI as traditional in-person schools, most notably plagiarism. But he says it’s a challenge that can look a little different in a virtual setting.

“It is very easy for students to copy and paste an entire test or a quiz, drop it into a program like ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude, and get all of the answers,” said Shoup, who is also a member of the school’s AI committee.

To address that, Shoup says the committee has been working on assignments that are harder for AI to complete automatically. That includes creating what he describes as “AI-resistant” questions and projects that require more original thinking from students.

Teachers are also starting to rethink the types of assignments students are given.

“One really important way that we can work to prevent AI replacing learning is by changing the way that we assign work,” Shoup said. “So instead of having essays, I am moving more toward projects, something that is practical, something that’s a lot harder for an AI to do.”

One recent example of this is an entrepreneurship project in Shoup’s class. Students come up with their own business idea and then apply for a loan as part of the assignment.

To make the process more realistic, Shoup said he created a customized AI tool that acts like a loan officer reviewing the proposal. While he might be inclined to encourage every idea, the AI tool provides more practical feedback on the student’s business plan before the final project is graded. The goal, Shoup says, is to mirror how the real world works.

“One way that students will be encountering AI in the future is probably in the workplace,” said Shoup. “We want to prepare them to be able to use AI effectively when they get there, and part of that is going to be using it here in the classroom.”

Teachers are also experimenting with ways AI can help behind the scenes. For example, Shoup says he’s been using a customized chatbot to help create guided notes for students. Shoup adds that the school is also testing additional AI tools for teachers that can help with lesson planning and creating classroom materials. Officials say it will start with small groups, so they can gather feedback before deciding whether to expand it.