BrainPOP’s mission is to help students understand the world around them and within them. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now part of that world—and part of their classrooms. That’s why BrainPOP creates AI-enabled learning opportunities and teaching tools with intention: designed to equip students and teachers to understand, teach, and use AI with confidence.
We design these tools to solve real classroom needs, and we test them in partnership with teachers and students. Teachers are always in the driver’s seat, with AI serving as support (never a replacement) for their judgment and instructional expertise. We openly share how our tools work and how data is protected, so districts can feel confident that what they adopt is dependable, aligned with instruction, and worthy of trust.
Our guiding principles below demonstrate our commitment on three levels:
- Helping students learn about AI as part of digital citizenship
- Using AI to build teacher capacity and save time
- Designing student-facing AI that scaffolds and supports learning
Principle 1. Learning about AI is part of digital citizenship
Understand AI before you use AI.
AI literacy is essential for responsible participation in today’s world. Students shouldn’t simply encounter AI; they need background knowledge and digital citizenship skills that help them question, interpret, and use technology thoughtfully. With this foundation, students gain confidence instead of confusion and grow as responsible digital citizens—ready to thrive in the world they’re inheriting.
Where we do it:
- Artificial Intelligence topic: introduces students to what AI is, how it works, and where it shows up in their world.
- Digital citizenship units: a collection of topics that build skills in online safety, ethics, media literacy, and responsible participation, helping students think critically about their choices and behaviors online.
Principle 2. AI should build teacher capacity and save time
AI makes the suggestions. Teachers make the decisions.
We believe teachers know their students best, and they should always be in the driver’s seat. That’s why every BrainPOP tool is built with teachers in control: AI may suggest, but teachers review, refine, and decide. By handling repetitive tasks, AI extends teacher capacity—giving them back time to focus on sparking curiosity, building relationships, and guiding learning.
Where we do it:
- Assisted Grading™ in BrainPOP Science: helps streamline scoring of students’ Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (CER) writing tasks. A secure, custom-built model suggests rubric-based scores and feedback, saving valuable time. Teachers stay in control—reviewing, editing, or overriding suggestions—so students only see teacher-approved scores. Administrators can also opt out of using BrainPOP Assisted Grading™.
Principle 3. AI should support—not short-circuit—student learning
AI gives every student a way in.
Instruction is strongest when it’s inclusive by design: all learners benefit when they can access the same content in ways that meet their needs. Student-facing AI should serve as a scaffold, creating multiple pathways into learning while keeping critical thinking and problem-solving in students’ hands.
Where we do it:
- AI Reading Scaffolds in Connected Texts: Connected Texts are short, high-interest passages that reinforce key vocabulary, build background knowledge, and check comprehension. Each passage is supported by built-in Reading Scaffolds that make grade-level content more accessible. These scaffolds are powered by AI, which generates contextually relevant, student-friendly support with Word Help (definitions, audio support) or Sentence Help (simplified rewrites), helping them make meaning of what they’re reading.
All AI outputs undergo both automated and human review for safety and accuracy, and every scaffold is clearly labeled “Made with AI” so teachers and students know how it was created. Learn more about BrainPOP’s approach to leveraging AI transparently, responsibly, and securely to benefit students, teachers, and schools in our privacy policy.