Bonus: Teach Like a Human
My new book is out in the world, available now!
Today is the day! My new book, Teach Like a Human: Playful Practice and Serious Faith in the Age of AI is out in the world!
This book is for Christian educators who are interested in the role of artificial intelligence in education today, and how to wisely respond to the challenge to quickly adopt these powerful-but-still-emerging technologies. It is intended to do four things:
Help educators understand that however they are feeling about AI in education (excited, anxious, angry) these emotions are shaped by their imagination for what AI is, and what it can do.
Help to demystify what large language models (i.e., AI chatbots) are, and how they work to better understand the benefits and concerns of using AI as part of the teaching & learning process,
Develop a biblically-framed way of understanding what it means to be human, and how to respond to the challenges of AI in education in God-glorifying, humanity-affirming ways, and
Provide some use cases for AI in education to illustrate the possibilities and pitfalls of using AI as part of the teaching & learning process.
I’m amazed at how quickly this book went from concept, to writing, to editorial, to proofing, to print. My publisher, Wipf & Stock, went above and beyond for this one. I’m grateful, because AI is such an important topic for educators right now, and my deep hope is that this book will be a real blessing and encouragement for all who read it.
So what’s this book about?
Here’s the description from the back cover:
Are the machines taking over? Artificial intelligence suddenly seems to be everywhere, including in the world of education. With new AI-powered tools popping up every day, it’s no wonder that educators might feel overwhelmed. How can we navigate the strange new world of AI without losing our humanity—or our sense of humor?
Blending thoughtful theology, practical wisdom, and a deep love for teaching, this book invites educators to reflect on big questions: What does it mean to be a real human in an age of artificial intelligence? What tools should we adopt, and which ones should we avoid—and how can we decide? How do we stay grounded in the Gospel story while adapting to emerging technologies?
Rather than offering easy answers or alarmist warnings, let’s consider an approach that is curious and courageous, developing a hopeful vision for education that forms both minds and hearts. Standing on the truth of Scripture and keeping a finger on the tech pulse, this book helps Christian educators practice thinking faithfully, acting ethically, and teaching joyfully—even when algorithms are everywhere. Teaching Christianly with technology isn’t about keeping up with the latest tools and trends; it’s about being the humans God created us to be!
Curious about the details? Here’s the table of contents:
Part I: The (Latest) Brave New World
1. Artificial Intelligence: Problem? Panacea? Something Else Entirely?
Part II: Stories, Imagination, and Technology
2. An Imagination for AI: 2001, the Terminator, the Matrix, and More
3. Examining Your Imagination: Stories We Tell Ourselves
4. Imagining Humans and Machines: You Are Not a Computer
5. Contours of a Christian Imagination: The Big Story of the Bible
Part III: The Big Story, and Why It Matters
6. The Metanarrative of Scripture: Finding Our Place in God’s Story
7. Creation: God Doesn’t Make Junk
8. Fall: Everything is Actually Awful
9. Redemption: Jesus Loves You!
10. Restoration: How Then Shall We Live?
11. Becoming a Truth-Seeker: Navigating Competing Stories
Part IV: Demystifying Artificial Intelligence
12. Thoughts on Intelligence: Should we Be Worried about ‘Real Stupidity?’
13. Thinking vs. Processing: How Do Computers Work?
14. Neural Networks: More Powerful Processing
15. Machine Learning and Probability: Basic Ideas for Programming AI
16. Large Language Models: Generating Responses to Your Prompts
17. Garbage In, Garbage Out: Learning to Talk to a Computer
Part V: AI and the Work of Teaching and Learning
18. Becoming, Not Arriving: Committing to Playful Practice
19. Teaching and Learning: Two Different (but Related) Activities
20. Rosie the Robot: Ensuring Humans do the Right Work
21. Doing the Right Work: ‘Work Is Fun,’ and Other Wisdom from Grandpa Mulder
22. Ethical Implementation: Where the Christian Imagination Rubber Hits the Road
23. AI and Discipleship: Avoiding an Educational Technology Arms Race
24. Being Brave: Learning from Orville Wright
Part VI: AI Use Cases
25. AI Use Case: Leveled Reading
26. AI Use Case: Generating Review Questions and Scripts
27. AI Use Case: Rubric Development
28. AI Use Case: Creating Graphics
29. AI Use Case: Personalized Tutoring Systems
30. AI Use Case: Iterative Writing
Part VII: A Theology of Educational Technology
31. Toward a Theology of Educational Technology: Living Faith in a Technology-Rich World
32. Education as Formation: More than Information Transfer
33. The Role of Doubt: Cultivating a Humble Skepticism
34. The Arc of the Redemptive Story: From the Garden to the City
Part VIII: Launching into the Future
35. Christian Education and AI: Where Are We Headed?
Each chapter is short—you can read most of them in about five minutes. The chapters on AI use cases include some ideas for prompts to try out the strategies I’m suggesting. And I end each chapter of the book with a couple of questions for reflection or discussion. My hope is that this is the kind of book you’ll read and discuss with colleagues, because I believe God created us to learn in community.
What are are people already saying about the book?
I had some amazing early readers who left lovely reviews—I’m so grateful to these good folks for their kind words!
“Dave Mulder’s book is timely for today’s educational landscape. He illustrates the worries and wonders of artificial intelligence, giving Christian educators bite-sized (or should I say ‘byte-sized’) concepts and cases to ponder. Instead of fear and hype about AI, he offers practical and wise insights through the lens of faith.”
Rebecca Alburn, Assistant Professor of Education, Corban University
“Teach Like a Human by Dr. David Mulder is a timely, refreshing guide for Christian educators navigating AI with wisdom and heart. He asks the right questions and offers practical applications for teaching and learning, all framed through a biblical lens. The bite-sized chapters are great for discussion and action. This is a must read for the Christian educator!”
Dr. Jared Pyles, Instructional Designer, Cedarville University
“Dr. Dave takes the most pressing topic in education (and the world?) today and brings it down to Earth with a casual, practical, and human-centric approach. Whether you are just beginning to wonder about AI or are already comfortable using it, this book equips all educators with a healthy, nuanced, and Christian framework for understanding AI’s impact in the classroom and in everyday life.”
Joseph Jasper, Educational Technologist, Capistrano Valley Christian Schools
“For anyone wondering if AI will ruin or revolutionize education, this book is for you. Teach Like a Human is the roadmap for AI integration which every Christian educator needs—a reminder of our place within the Big Story and vision for why decisions about AI in the classroom matter. With the wisdom and energy of Neil Postman, Dr. Mulder has adeptly balanced candor with humor, worldview with practice, and warnings with hope.”
Dr. Jacob A. Hall, Assistant Dean for Assessment and Accreditation, SUNY Cortland
Where can I get a copy?
You can find it on Amazon, on Bookshop.org, and at Wipf & Stock’s website.
If you’re local in the upper midwest, and particularly if you’re going to be at the Heartland Christian Teacher’s Convention the first week of October, I should (Lord-willing) have copies on hand at the convention(!) if you’re interested.
And if you’re a school leader interested in ordering a bunch of copies for your staff, get in touch, and let me help you get a deal for a bulk order, okay? :-)
Thanks for your support and encouragement, friends!
I’m truly grateful to so many of you who have been asking about the book since you’ve heard it was coming out. I’m excited and hopeful that it will equip many Christian educators for the joys and challenges of AI in education. It’s a brave new world, but we can proceed with confidence, knowing that Christ is still sovereign over all things!
