What Educators Are Actually Asking AI to Do in 2026

At the start of a new academic year, conversations about AI in education sound very different from even twelve months ago.

Most educators are no longer asking whether they should use AI. They are asking something more practical:

What should AI actually help me do, without undermining how I teach?

At Noodle Factory, we work closely with educators across universities, polytechnics, and schools who are already using AI in real teaching contexts. Looking at how they actually use AI, rather than what they say they want it to do, reveals a clear shift.

This is what educators are really asking AI to help with in 2026.

1. Help students engage with my materials, not generic answers

Higher education context

In universities and colleges, the biggest concern is not speed. It is relevance.

Educators want students to:

• Ask better questions
• Stay within course scope
• Work with assigned readings, slides, and case studies
• Stop relying on answers pulled from sources that were never taught

What we consistently see is that educators trust AI most when it works directly from their own teaching materials, so student questions and responses stay grounded in the course itself.

This shifts AI from being an answer engine to a learning support tool. Students are not just getting responses, they are revisiting concepts through the lens of what their educator has already introduced.

The moment AI stops pulling from the open web and starts working inside an educator’s content, trust increases.

2. Support independent learning without removing academic responsibility

Higher education context

Higher Ed educators are navigating a careful balance.

They want students to:

• Think critically
• Attempt answers before asking for help
• Learn through iteration, not shortcuts

At the same time, they know students will use AI regardless.

Instead of banning tools outright, educators are increasingly designing AI-supported learning activities where AI guides thinking rather than completing work.

In these setups, AI helps students:

• Clarify understanding
• Explore alternative explanations
• Reflect on gaps in knowledge

The responsibility for learning remains with the student, while the educator retains control over the structure.

3. Make learning outcomes visible, not just content delivery

Higher education context

Learning outcomes remain central in Higher Ed, but many educators struggle to make them tangible for students.

What educators are asking AI to help with:

• Reinforcing learning outcomes during practice
• Helping students self-check understanding
• Surfacing gaps before assessments

This reflects a shift from content coverage to learning outcomes that students can actually track and reflect on.

When AI is aligned to learning outcomes, it becomes easier for educators to:

• Spot misconceptions early
• Support different learning speeds
• Keep students focused on what truly matters

AI becomes part of the feedback loop, not just a content layer.

4. Fit into existing LMS workflows without adding admin work

Higher education context

No matter how useful a tool is, it fails if it adds friction.

Educators are clear about what they want:

• Fewer logins
• Clear activity links inside their LMS
• No re-uploading of materials
• Simple student access

In 2026, educators expect AI to work inside their LMS, not as another platform to manage.

When AI fits naturally into existing workflows, it stops feeling experimental and starts becoming part of everyday teaching practice.

What this means for K–12 educators

While the context differs, the underlying needs are similar.

In K–12 classrooms, educators are asking AI to:

• Encourage curiosity without overwhelming students
• Support differentiated learning
• Reinforce understanding in age-appropriate ways

What stands out most is the emphasis on safe, guided AI use that reinforces instruction rather than replaces it.

Clear boundaries, predictable behaviour, and teacher control matter even more in younger learning environments.

Where AI fits best in teaching today

From what we see across Higher Ed and K–12, the role of AI in education is becoming clearer.

Educators are not asking AI to teach for them.

They are asking it to:

• Extend their reach
• Support independent practice
• Reinforce understanding
• Free up time for meaningful teaching moments

AI works best when it is:

• Grounded in the educator’s content
• Designed with pedagogical intent
• Transparent in how it supports learning

That is the direction teaching with AI is moving in 2026.