AI tools like ChatGPT are here, and students are already using them. As educators, our job is to adapt, just as we did with calculators, with online information sources like Wikipedia, and with every new technology that has reshaped learning.

That means rethinking our assignments. Students will have access to these tools, so we need to design activities that push them to think, explore trade-offs, and engage in the process, not just deliver a polished final product. The real learning happens in the journey, when students wrestle with risks, nuance, and the grit of working through decisions.

NGPF activities are no different. Some are naturally AI-proof. Others can be AI-assisted while still requiring students to do the thinking needed to complete them. And still others are more prone to being done by AI, which means we need to consider how we assign them. Let’s dive in!

AI-Proof Activities

These activities focus on student voice, creativity, or real-time interaction. Even if AI shows up, it cannot replace the original thinking required.

• ROLEPLAY: Students must respond in the moment, practicing communication and decision-making
• CREATE: Flyers, infographics, or portfolios require design choices and explanations that reveal student thinking
• ANALYZE: Students apply concepts to new scenarios and defend their reasoning
• MOVE/PLAY: Peer interactions and movement produce live participation and discussion
• CASE STUDIES: Real-world scenarios prompt discussion, judgment, and personal recommendation

These formats keep the focus on process, not just product. They are excellent options when you want to ensure students are practicing the “mental workout” that builds lasting skills.

AI-Assisted Activities

Some activities can benefit from AI as long as students go beyond simply copying answers. The key is teaching them to check sources, question accuracy, and make the work their own.

• RESEARCH: AI can be a starting point, but students should verify facts and cite sources. Most AI tools can share sources and this is a great opportunity to have students click those sources and verify what's being shared by the AI tool.
• COMPARE: AI can list pros and cons, but students must apply this information to decide what would be best for their situation
• INTERACTIVE: Most of these activities involve using an online tool, which can’t be replicated by an AI tool. AI can assist with processing the questions and clarifying results, so be sure to check for student understanding of the results
• DEBATE: AI can help students gather supporting evidence, but the real thinking happens when they defend their arguments live

These activities can be a great way to show students how to use AI as a thought partner, not a replacement for their own thinking.

Activities That Need More Structure

Some activities are easier to outsource to AI if done entirely at home, but they remain valuable when paired with in-class structure, checkpoints, or prompts that focus on explanation rather than only answers.

• CALCULATE: AI can do the math and show the steps, so have students identify where numbers come from or explain what the result means in context
• DATA CRUNCH: AI can interpret charts quickly, so instead ask students to make a predictions or apply the insight to a real-world situation
• FINE PRINT: AI can summarize documents, so instead require students to highlight terms, annotate directly, or rewrite confusing sections in plain language
• PROJECTS: AI can generate polished products, so instead break projects into checkpoints, drafts, and reflections that make the process visible.

The arrival of AI is not the end of authentic learning. It is a reminder that our real goal is not polished answers but the thinking that leads to them. Facts and formulas still matter, but what matters more is how students use them to make sense of real-world problems. By leaning into AI-proof activities and adapting others with the right structure, we can keep the focus on reasoning, creativity, and decision-making. In doing so, we give students both the skills to thrive in a world with AI and the confidence that their own thinking is what matters most.

About the Author

Dave Martin

Dave joins NGPF with 15 years of teaching experience in math and computer science. After joining the New York City Teaching Fellows program and earning a Master's degree in Education from Pace University, his teaching career has taken him to New York, New Jersey and a summer in the north of Ghana. Dave firmly believes that financial literacy is vital to creating well-rounded students that are prepared for a complex and highly competitive world. During what free time two young daughters will allow, Dave enjoys video games, Dungeons & Dragons, cooking, gardening, and taking naps.

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