Teaching from the Heart: How Generative AI Invites Authenticity and Inspiration into Education

In Brazil, some of us were lucky to have those rare teachers who made learning feel personal and fun. I had two like that, and both used music as a way to help us remember things—one for Biology and the other for History. My History teacher was something else. He used to write songs for samba schools, and honestly, his classes felt more like live concerts than lessons. He’d bring his guitar, sing with us, and through those songs, we learned about things like the Portuguese colonisation and the brief period when Brazil was under Spanish control. It wasn’t just good for us—he actually got inspiration for his samba songs during class, and many of them ended up winning contests. He was a gifted songwriter and a passionate teacher, and more than just helping me get into university, he showed me the power of being authentic and creative in the classroom. That stuck with me and still shapes the way I teach today.

I’ll admit it—before attending the Conference Global Approaches to Generative AI in Higher Education hosted by LSE this month, I was seriously worried about the impacts of this technology on education. What if, instead of sparking curiosity, it crushed it? What if it replaced thinking with a culture of copy and paste? But as I listened to colleagues share their experiences, something shifted. I realised that, instead of suppressing curiosity and undermining critical thinking, GenAI tools can, in fact, encourage us to rethink our approach to education. Maybe this is our chance to let our human side come through more boldly in the classroom, by embracing authenticity.

If students can already find definitions, concepts, and resources online—and if AI tutors can offer personalised support—then what’s our role as educators? Maybe it’s to do what only humans can: inspire.

By inspiring students to engage with different sources, use their creativity, expand their horizons, and be ambitious, we may have a lasting impact on their lives — influencing not only their academic development but also contributing to their personal and career goals. We can help them connect ideas, challenge assumptions, and see the world in new ways. That kind of impact can change lives. The question is: how can we inspire them to go beyond given answers? Authenticity may lead the way...

The memory of my History teacher has guided my teaching experience and there is nothing more rewarding than hearing from students at the end of term that my seminars were the highlight of their first year at university. Even when grades didn’t turn out exactly as they hoped, they still loved the learning experience — and that means everything. While GenAI can offer amazing tools, it’s authenticity that can truly transform education because it can also helps us tackle one of the biggest challenges in higher education today: student wellbeing. When students feel genuinely inspired in the classroom, their anxiety about grades starts to fade and, in some cases, it can even prevent depression. This is because students begin to value their learning journey and they feel validated in the classroom. This is something that I learned while implementing a model of education committed to peacebuilding in Brazil. On that occasion, I encouraged students to use their own skills to develop strategies to challenge online hate speech. They explored all kinds of topics through music, animation, photo exhibits, documentaries, storytelling, and campaigns.

Being authentic in the classroom isn’t always easy—it requires self-reflection and a willingness to embrace our vulnerabilities. What unique skills can we bring to the classroom? How much of ourselves can we share with our students? I am not a songwriter, but I am a storyteller. So, I often bring my own stories to the classroom, and I love seeing it filled with curiosity. As I teach a diverse cohort of students, I sometimes let my Brazilian roots shine through. For example, when discussing algorithmic bias, I used Copilot to create an image of Brazil, highlighting how the generated output was riddled with stereotypes. By moving away from generic examples, I encouraged my students to examine how digital technology shapes and often distorts their own cultures. This approach inspired them to dive deeper into the topic, enriching the overall learning experience.

As an early-career scholar, I’ve just started combining my authenticity with GenAI tools to make the teaching and learning process more engaging and impactful. For now, I’m not using music or videos, but who knows? Maybe my storyteller side will soon be expressed in new ways in the classroom.

=> Here’s one of my favorite sambas, a song I learned in school. It tells the story of when Spain invaded Portugal, thereby taking control of its colonies. Yes, Brazilian carnival is much more than beautiful women and parties. It’s a celebration of culture, and samba schools are masters of storytelling.