(We imagine in the following a candid communication from a student to a teacher.)

Dear Teacher,

Thank you for the opportunity to share some thoughts about our class.

I’ve been thinking a lot about how we learn and I want to be honest. The textbook just isn’t working for me. Or for most of us, really. It’s not just boring. It’s static, uninviting and completely out of step with how we engage with the world.

In a time when we swipe, search, remix and interact with content all day long, textbooks and even digital textbooks can feel stuck. Sure, many now have search bars, links, videos and customization options. But they’re still mostly static. They don’t invite us to explore, create or collaborate the way we’re used to. We need learning tools that move with us: dynamic, interactive and designed for how we actually learn today.

We’re learning in an era of infinite media. Shouldn’t our resources reflect that?

Let’s learn by doing

Here’s the thing: I don’t just learn by reading. I learn by doing, by using my hands, listening, trying, failing, making. I learn best when I’m building something meaningful or solving a real problem.

Reading still has its place. But if the goal is deep understanding, textbooks rarely get us there alone. Interactive simulations, visual explanations, collaborative tools bring the material to life. They let me explore ideas rather than just memorize them.

And these tools are more accessible than ever — thanks to artificial intelligence.

AI isn’t the enemy, it’s the opportunity

I know change can be daunting. But AI isn’t some distant sci-fi threat. It’s already here, and it’s being used in powerful ways: designing buildings, composing music, folding proteins, writing code.

Some of my classmates are already using AI tools to create entire applications or generate customized study guides. You could build a class simulation or a dynamic lesson plan just by talking to ChatGPT or another tool. That’s what people are calling “vibe coding.” It’s not magic. It’s practical, and it’s getting easier by the day.

We’re not asking you to become software developers. We’re asking: What could happen if we let AI help us teach and learn?

Content should keep up with the world

Another reason to move beyond textbooks: They age too quickly. The world isn’t the same as it was even last year. And yet, many of our learning materials are five, 10, even 15 years out of date.

When we learn from stale content, we miss the context that makes learning relevant. Imagine content that updates weekly or even daily drawing on real-time data, current events or new discoveries. That’s possible now. AI can help build materials that stay current without requiring a full rewrite every semester.

I don’t care who wrote it – as long as it works

Some say AI shouldn’t be used because it’s not “real” or it might make mistakes. But so do people. The important thing is whether the material helps us learn.

I don’t need perfection. I need relevance. Clarity. Engagement. If AI can help deliver that, I’m in.

And yes, there are risks. Bad content, bias, misinformation. But those are problems to be solved, not reasons to give up. Just like calculators didn’t kill math, AI won’t replace thinking. It might actually give us more space for it.

Let’s learn with each other

Here’s a thought: Maybe the real opportunity here isn’t just to replace textbooks with AI-generated content. Maybe it’s to rethink altogether how we learn.

What if we spent less time delivering content and more time co-creating it? What if we tackled real-world problems together, with me watching you solve things, and you helping me design something new? What if class was less about receiving knowledge and more about building it?

I think AI can help make that possible. But only if we use it thoughtfully — not to replace you, but to elevate what we can do together.

So this year, how about we try something different? Let’s take our course week by week and create something new, together. Something dynamic, interactive and real. Something that helps us think harder, not less.

Are you ready to help us build the future of learning together?