Rachel Karchmer-Klein, PhD, is Associate Professor in the School of Education at the University of Delaware, where she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in literacy and educational technology. A former elementary classroom teacher and reading specialist, her research investigates the intersection of literacy, digital tools, and instructional design. Dr. Karchmer-Klein explores how educators can create learning experiences that leverage technological affordances to support reading, writing, and critical thinking. She has published widely in peer-reviewed journals on such topics as online teacher education, multimodal literacy, and technology-integrated instruction. Dr. Karchmer-Klein's work is grounded in the belief that solid instruction--not technology--is the key to effective digital learning, and she aims to prepare educators to teach thoughtfully and adaptively in an increasingly connected world.
Can generative AI support--not supplant--students' reading, writing, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills? In this practical, literacy-centered guide, Rachel Karchmer-Klein shows how AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot can be integrated into grades 6-12 instruction without compromising academic rigor or student voice. Grounded in the principles of disciplinary literacy, the book helps teachers shift their mindsets, explore ethical dilemmas, and design content-rich lessons that keep student thinking at the center. With ready-to-use lesson plans, classroom vignettes, Try It Out activities, discussion prompts, and reproducible planning forms, this resource empowers educators to reimagine learning in the age of AI.