KI in der Schule: Warum wir jetzt handeln müssen – für die Generation von morgen - Tinkrebels.com

AI in schools: Why we must act now – for the generation of tomorrow

A wake-up call to teachers and educational institutions

The digital wave is rolling – but many classrooms are at a standstill

ChatGPT, Midjourney, deepfakes, autonomous systems – our students are growing up in a world where artificial intelligence is no longer the future, but everyday reality. But while TikTok filters and AI voices have long been a topic of conversation in schoolyards, the foundation is often still lacking in the classroom: a solid, age-appropriate understanding of AI .

The question is no longer whether AI should play a role in education—but how quickly we can integrate it meaningfully . Teachers and schools play a key role here.

How far is Germany really?

  • Only about 38% of students in Germany have had any contact with AI in class so far.

  • However, over 80% of young people are confronted with AI technologies in their everyday lives (social media, voice assistants, chatbots).

  • According to Bitkom, 60% of students demand that AI become an integral part of their curriculum.

  • At the same time, many teachers say they do not feel sufficiently prepared to convey the topic competently.

Hypothesis: Those who do not understand AI will be left out in a world shaped by AI

We are preparing students for a future whose rules are currently being rewritten – and AI is a key technology in this. But those who simply consume AI without questioning it remain vulnerable to manipulation, lose their ability to act, and have little opportunity to actively participate.

Only those who understand AI can take responsibility – technically, socially, creatively.

Why schools must take action now

🧠 1. Early competence determines future opportunities

AI is becoming a part of virtually every profession – from medicine to architecture to education. Those who understand how AI works early on can not only better handle it but also shape it.

🧭 2. Train critical thinking & ethical reflection

AI can deceive, discriminate, and control—or it can help, heal, and connect. Schools must create spaces where students can discuss ethics, risks, and opportunities .

🎨 3. Promote creative and technical talent

AI isn't a purely technical topic. It combines logic with design, data with language, and structure with storytelling. This makes AI projects the perfect learning ground for interdisciplinary thinking .

🔐 4. Communicate digital sovereignty and data protection

Deepfakes, algorithmic bias, data shadows – students need to know how to protect themselves , assess their data, and confidently interact with AI systems.

How can schools implement this? – Concrete approaches

  • Project weeks & electives on AI, data ethics and creative AI use

  • Linking STEM subjects with AI labs (e.g., image recognition with Python, chatbots with Scratch)

  • Interdisciplinary AI modules , e.g. “AI & Language” in German lessons, “AI & Society” in politics

  • Collaboration with external partners (e.g. “AI goes to school”, TinkRebels, HPI Student Academy)

  • Open source tools & age-appropriate platforms such as “Machine Learning for Kids”, “AI & You” or “Fobizz Courses”

Conclusion: AI doesn’t belong on the waiting list – but in the classroom

We are at a turning point. The current generation of students is the first to grow up with AI —but also the last we can prepare without it .

Now is the time to do courageous educational work: with trust, curiosity and the willingness to discover new things together with the learners .

Teachers are future companions

AI can be frightening—or it can inspire excitement. What makes the difference are people who provide guidance.

Teachers who integrate AI into their educational work today give their students not only knowledge – but real self-efficacy.

Let us together empower the next generation not just to watch – but to help shape things.

Sources & studies (with links):

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