The Artificial Intelligence Playbook: Time-Saving Tools for Teachers that Make Learning More Engaging Second Edition
By Meghan Hargrave, Douglas Fisher and Nancy Frey
(Corwin, 2025 – Learn more)
Reviewed by Andi Jackson
When Douglas Fisher and Nancy Frey publish something new, I pay attention. Their playbooks have guided my practice through some of the most challenging shifts in education – most notably when COVID forced us all to pivot overnight. Their Distance Learning Playbook was a lifeline.
Since then I’ve collected and relied on four different playbooks by this duo. As a teacher with over 30 years of experience, I don’t say lightly that their work continues to push and evolve my thinking.
So when I saw that Fisher and Frey, along with Meghan Hargrave, had written a second edition of The Artificial Intelligence Playbook, I didn’t hesitate. I believe that it is our professional responsibility, as educators, to not only understand emerging technologies but to teach our students how to use them responsibly and effectively. I knew this playbook would help me do exactly that – and I was right.
A Clear, Classroom-Focused Framework
Like all of their playbooks, The Artificial Intelligence Playbook is structured in an accessible, modular format. Fisher and Frey always begin with the “why” – grounding their content in current research and educational context – and then walk readers through the “how.” Their approach in this book is no different: they set the stage for what AI is (and isn’t), offer guidance on how it can support – not supplant – quality instruction, and provide specific, teacher-tested strategies to try right away.
One of the most powerful takeaways from the book is the idea that prompt writing is a new form of technical literacy. Fisher, Frey and Hargrave emphasize that the output we get from AI tools is only as good as the input we provide. In other words, “garbage in, garbage out” is more relevant now than ever. Teaching students how to write purposeful, specific prompts is not yet part of most curriculum standards, but it should be – and this book makes the case for why, along with how we might begin.
A Human-Centered Approach to AI
I found myself returning again and again to a quote from Module 4: “We encourage educators to see AI as a great place to start generating content – a tool to help speed up pace or give a little boost – but not lose sight of the importance of providing students with reliable, aligned, and evidence-based materials…” (p. 75). For me, that sentence captures the spirit of this playbook.
Fisher and Frey don’t promote AI as a shortcut or silver bullet. Instead, they frame it as a support – something that can enhance, but never replace, the presence and expertise of the teacher. Their emphasis on maintaining high-quality, evidence-aligned instruction resonates deeply, especially as conversations around AI in education often become polarized. This book stays grounded, hopeful, and realistic.
Practical Tools for Today’s Classrooms
The real gift of this playbook is its abundance of ready-to-use resources. Each module includes reflection questions, sample prompts, and what the authors call “Task Takeovers” – ways to gradually incorporate AI into familiar instructional practices. The “Try It Out” sections are especially helpful for educators who may feel unsure about where to begin. There are so many entry points here, regardless of your current comfort level with technology.
Personally, I’ve already begun rethinking how I spend my planning time. Before, I might have spent 90% of my time generating ideas for lessons, and only 10% refining them. With AI, that ratio flips. I can input my outcomes, objectives, and learner needs, and generate multiple starting points in minutes. This lets me focus my energy on adapting and refining for my students – which is where the magic really happens.
I also appreciated the strong focus on equity and inclusion. Fisher and Frey provide prompts and strategies specifically aimed at meeting the needs of diverse learners. Whether you’re differentiating for multilingual learners, designing culturally responsive materials, or planning targeted interventions, the playbook offers ideas that feel actionable and thoughtful.
Room to Explore and Evolve
Of course, not every idea in the book is guaranteed to work perfectly the first time. As with all innovations, integrating AI into the classroom will require experimentation, reflection, and adjustment. But the authors acknowledge this too. Their tone throughout the book is invitational rather than prescriptive, and that’s what makes it so effective.
This school year I find myself feeling something I haven’t felt in a while when it comes to new tech: excitement. I feel more prepared – not just to use AI – but to teach my students how to use it in meaningful, ethical, and creative ways.
Final Thoughts
If you are an educator wondering how AI fits into your practice – or if you’re feeling pressure to integrate it without a clear understanding of how – this book is for you. The authors once again deliver a guide that is grounded, practical, and deeply respectful of the teacher’s role. The Artificial Intelligence Playbook doesn’t claim to have all the answers. But it does offer a thoughtful framework, practical tools, and an encouraging reminder: teachers still matter. Perhaps more than ever.
Andi Jackson is a veteran middle school educator in California’s Silicon Valley with over 30 years of classroom experience. Passionate about literacy, equity, and instructional design, she continually seeks ways to push her own practice and empower her students.
A longtime follower of Fisher and Frey’s work, Andi approaches emerging technologies like AI with curiosity, responsibility, and a commitment to student-centered learning. She believes teachers are irreplaceable – and that the best ones never stop learning. This is her first book review for MiddleWeb, where she hopes to contribute to the ongoing conversation about meaningful, future-ready teaching.
