Philadelphia schools explore classroom AI as educators focus on responsible use

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — A North Philadelphia classroom is offering a glimpse of how artificial intelligence is beginning to reshape daily teaching, as educators and researchers work to ensure the technology enhances – rather than replaces – human instruction.

At Gesu School, fifth-grade teacher Mike Talvacchia said every second counts in a busy classroom. That’s where an AI assistant called Merlyn has become useful.

“Bring up mixed fractions,” he instructed during a recent lesson, demonstrating how the voice-activated tool can quickly pull up materials while he continues working with students.

Students say the technology helps streamline learning.

“The teacher can help you and teach the class at the same time,” said Austin, a Gesu student.

The devices are part of a broader effort to integrate AI into Philadelphia classrooms.

University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education, which has studied artificial intelligence for a decade, recently launched a partnership with the School District of Philadelphia to guide responsible adoption.

“AI is definitely here. That genie is out of the bottle,” said Betty Chandy, director of AI Integration and Technologies at Penn GSE. She said early concerns from parents centered on plagiarism and cheating, but the goal is to use AI to build students’ critical thinking skills.

“What we need to do with AI is use it as a coach and a tool. It cannot replace critical thinking,” said Katharine Strunk, dean of Penn GSE.

School District of Philadelphia Superintendent Tony Watlington Sr. said the district wants to help educators learn how to integrate AI “not just in the classroom but also in the operations side of the house.”

Penn recently received a grant from Google to bring more school districts into the program.

The Merlyn devices at Gesu and six other schools were donated after Pennsylvania State Rep. Amen Brown connected the schools with Merlyn for Education.

“I strongly believe this is a step forward to leveling the playing field,” Brown said. He hopes to secure $11 million in the Pennsylvania Legislature’s budget to expand the technology to every public school in Philadelphia.

Merlyn for Education CEO Jason Mayland said the tool is designed to save teachers time.

“We can help teachers maximize time. We can help teachers engage with students. We can help teachers prepare lessons,” he said.

The system includes guardrails.

“It won’t allow expletives, it won’t allow sexual language. It won’t allow anything we consider inappropriate,” he said.

Educators and researchers emphasize that technology cannot replace the human relationships at the heart of learning.

“Teachers are irreplaceable. The human connection in classrooms cannot be taken out,” Chandy said.

Strunk added that learning is “an incredibly human-focused, relationship-focused endeavor.”

At Gesu School, Principal Alana Lee said the impact has been immediate.

“It has helped our students and teachers in only a short few weeks! We’ve only had it a few weeks!” she said. “It’s amazing! It really is!”

Merlyn for Education says it does not buy, sell or trade data, and Google’s contract with the School District of Philadelphia keeps data confidential.