New Instructure Research Shows the Current State of AI in Education: Formal Training and Support for Educators

Rhea-AI Summary

Instructure (NYSE: INST) released new U.S. research on July 21, 2026, based on a survey of 1,125 K‑12 educators, higher education educators, students and K‑12 parents, showing that AI use in education is widespread while formal training and support for educators lag behind.

According to Instructure, 90% of higher‑education students, 73% of parents (reporting on their children), 68% of K‑12 educators and 61% of higher‑education educators use AI at least occasionally, yet 45% of K‑12 and 41% of higher‑education educators report no formal AI training and average educator confidence is near the midpoint of a five‑point scale. Respondents are simultaneously optimistic and concerned: they see benefits such as accessibility and time savings, but many worry about AI’s accuracy, overreliance, critical‑thinking loss and academic integrity. The findings are being used to inform Instructure’s AI strategy in Canvas and IgniteAI and will underpin ongoing research into effective and responsible AI adoption in education.

Market Context

Current short positioning was categorized as moderate, adding a defined volatility-risk context to t...

Analysis

Current short positioning was categorized as moderate, adding a defined volatility-risk context to this AI education research. The platform also records one prior AI-tagged event, while the article’s training and accuracy findings identify risks to monitor.

Key Figures

Survey Sample: 1,125 respondents Student AI Use: 90% Educator AI Use: 68% K-12; 61% higher education +5 more

8 metrics

Survey Sample 1,125 respondents Educators, higher education students, and K-12 parents and guardians

Student AI Use 90% Higher education students using AI in class at least occasionally

Educator AI Use 68% K-12; 61% higher education Educators using AI in class at least occasionally

Parent-Reported AI Use 73% Parents and guardians saying their child uses AI at least occasionally

No Formal AI Training 45% K-12; 41% higher education Educators reporting no formal AI training

Comprehensive AI Training 8% K-12; 11% higher education Educators reporting comprehensive AI training

Educator Confidence 2.53 K-12; 2.60 higher education out of 5 Average confidence scores for using AI

Concern About AI Accuracy 69% parents; 65% higher education students; 65% higher education educators; 60% K-12 educators Concern that AI can sound confident when it is wrong

Previous AI Reports

1 past event · Latest: Oct 22 (Neutral)

Same Type Pattern 1 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	24h Move	Catalyst
Oct 22	AI adoption survey	Neutral	-0.0%	Survey examined AI adoption, implementation challenges, and comprehensive learner record usage.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Pattern Detected

The tag-specific record contains one AI research event with a -0.04% 24-hour reaction, providing limited evidence of a near-flat response.

Key Terms

generative ai, academic integrity, ai literacy

3 terms

generative ai technical

"70% of parents say research evidence on generative AI's impact"

Generative AI is a type of computer technology that can create new content, like text, images, or music, on its own. It’s important because it can produce realistic and useful material quickly, which could change how we create art, write stories, or even develop new products. Think of it as a smart robot that can invent and produce things almost like a human.

academic integrity technical

"concerns about overreliance on AI, loss of critical thinking and deep learning, and academic integrity"

Academic integrity is the commitment to honest, transparent, and ethical conduct in research, reporting, and teaching—avoiding fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, or misleading presentation of results. For investors, it matters because trust in scientific findings, trial outcomes, or scholarly claims affects an organization’s credibility, regulatory risk and long-term value—like relying on a trusted recipe or referee whose honesty determines whether the result can be believed.

ai literacy technical

"want clearer guidance, stronger AI literacy and firm boundaries"

AI literacy is the ability to understand how artificial intelligence systems work, including their capabilities, limitations, and impact. For investors, it means being able to evaluate how AI-driven tools and technologies influence markets, business strategies, and decision-making processes. Being AI literate helps individuals make better-informed choices in a world increasingly shaped by intelligent machines.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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Survey of 1,125 educators, higher education students and K-12 parents reveals 90% of students use AI, but less than half of educators have had any formal AI training

SALT LAKE CITY, July 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Instructure, the leading learning ecosystem and maker of Canvas LMS, today released new research revealing that artificial intelligence is already widely used across education, while many educators report little or no formal training to use it. Unveiled during InstructureCon 2026, the survey of 1,125 educators, higher education students and K-12 parents and guardians found widespread AI use alongside limited educator preparation and shared concerns about accuracy, critical thinking and academic integrity. This research marks the first phase of a broader Instructure effort to examine how AI is shaping teaching and learning across the United States.

Driven by Instructure's Learning Strategy team, this ongoing research aims to better understand the evolving needs of educators and learners, ensuring that Instructure's products and learning experiences reflect those needs.

"AI use is already part of how students learn and educators work. The challenge now is making sure people have the training, judgment and clear expectations to use it well," said Melissa Loble, chief learning officer at Instructure. "That requires practical support for educators and thoughtful boundaries that keep critical thinking, human judgment and meaningful learning at the center."

Across audiences, respondents see potential in AI but want clearer guidance, stronger AI literacy and firm boundaries around decisions that require human judgment.

Key statistics

• 90% of higher education students use AI in class at least occasionally
• 73% of parents and guardians say their child uses AI at least occasionally
• 68% of K-12 educators and 61% of higher education educators use AI in class at least occasionally
• 45% of K-12 educators and 41% of higher education educators report receiving no formal AI training
• 70% of parents say research evidence on generative AI's impact on teaching and learning is very or extremely important

AI use is widespread, but support is lagging
Higher education students are the most active users, with 90% saying they use AI in class at least occasionally. Educators are using AI too, though less frequently: 68% of K-12 educators and 61% of higher education educators report at least occasional use. Parents and guardians are also seeing AI in schools, with 73% saying their child uses it at least occasionally.

At the same time, educator preparation has not kept pace. Among educators who responded, 45% of K-12 educators and 41% of higher education educators reported receiving no formal AI training, while only 8% of K-12 educators and 11% of higher education educators reported receiving comprehensive training. Educator confidence was also limited, with average scores of 2.53 out of 5 among K-12 educators and 2.60 among higher education educators on a five-point scale. The support educators requested was practical: hands-on training and tutorials, clear institutional guidance and policies, and ongoing professional development.

AI optimism coexists with concerns about accuracy and learning
Trust in AI varies by audience, with students reporting the highest levels, educators showing more caution and parents falling between the two groups. All surveyed audiences expressed concern that AI can sound confident even when it is wrong, including 69% of parents, 65% of higher education students, 65% of higher education educators and 60% of K-12 educators. Across groups, concerns about overreliance on AI, loss of critical thinking and deep learning, and academic integrity and plagiarism also ranked highly.

Even with concerns, most respondents identified at least one reason for optimism about AI in education, including 94% of higher education students and 88% of parents. Most educators also identified at least one reason for optimism, although the reasons that drove it varied by setting. Parents were most likely to cite improved accessibility for students with diverse learning needs, while educators were most likely to cite time savings.

Across all surveyed audiences, teaching AI ethics and responsible use along with building AI literacy were the top two expectations for schools. Restricting or preventing student AI use ranked lower, although views varied by audience. The research also found a shared boundary around AI's role. Across audiences, AI was more accepted for support tasks such as explaining concepts, brainstorming and finding resources, and least accepted for grading or academic decisions.

"What stood out to me is how much agreement there is across these groups," said Mary Styers, Ph.D., director of evidence and learning strategy at Instructure. "Students, educators and parents see real value in AI, but they also want clear limits and better support. They are not asking schools to ignore AI or embrace it without question. They want to understand where it can strengthen learning and where human judgment still matters."

Putting research into practice
The findings reinforce Instructure's approach to AI in Canvas by embedding education-specific capabilities into the teaching and learning workflows people already use. Instructure's research helps shape product development and guides the company's work with customers to build solutions that meet their needs. Through IgniteAI, Canvas helps educators create content, provide feedback and support learners while giving institutions greater visibility and control over how AI is used. This approach keeps AI focused on strengthening learning, supporting educators and preserving human judgment where it matters most.

More AI research to come
This research is part of a broader Instructure initiative to understand how AI is changing teaching, learning and assessment. In the months ahead, the company will examine what effective AI adoption looks like in practice, how institutions can build educator confidence and which approaches help learners develop the judgment and skills they need to use AI responsibly. Additional findings are available at instructure.com/research/ai-2.0.

About Instructure

Instructure is shaping the future of learning by delivering a future-ready ecosystem that helps learners thrive in tomorrow's landscape. Our vision is to drive a future in which educational technology seamlessly amplifies human potential, empowering people to excel in a perpetually changing world. Instructure is setting potential in motion by connecting educators, institutions and learners across K–12, higher education and the workforce — enhancing experiences at every age, every stage and every pivotal transition. Discover more at Instructure.com.

CONTACT
Brian Watkins
Corporate Communications
Instructure
(801) 658-7525

 

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SOURCE Instructure

FAQ

What did Instructure's July 2026 AI in education survey reveal about student AI use for INST?

According to Instructure, 90% of higher education students use AI in class at least occasionally, indicating mainstream adoption. The survey also reports that 73% of parents say their child uses AI, underscoring AI’s broad penetration into everyday learning experiences across age groups.

How much formal AI training have educators received according to Instructure's 2026 research on INST?

According to Instructure, 45% of K‑12 educators and 41% of higher education educators reported receiving no formal AI training. Only small shares reported comprehensive training, and average confidence scores near 2.5 out of 5 highlight a significant support and professional development gap for educators.

What are the main concerns about AI in education in Instructure's 2026 INST survey?

According to Instructure, major concerns include AI sounding confident when wrong and risks to critical thinking, deep learning and academic integrity. Between 60% and 69% of respondents across groups worry about AI’s misleading confidence, alongside fears of overreliance and plagiarism in educational settings.

How do Instructure's Canvas and IgniteAI products relate to the 2026 INST AI findings?

According to Instructure, the research reinforces its approach of embedding AI into existing Canvas workflows through IgniteAI. These tools aim to help educators create content, provide feedback and support learners, while institutions retain visibility and control over AI use to preserve human judgment in key decisions.

What expectations do survey respondents have for schools using AI, according to Instructure (INST)?

According to Instructure, respondents prioritize teaching AI ethics, responsible use and building AI literacy as top expectations for schools. Restricting or banning student AI use ranked lower overall, and participants showed greatest acceptance when AI supports tasks like explaining concepts or brainstorming rather than grading.

Is Instructure planning further AI in education research after the July 2026 INST survey?

According to Instructure, this survey is the first phase of a broader initiative to study AI’s impact on teaching, learning and assessment. Upcoming research will examine effective AI adoption, ways to build educator confidence and strategies to help learners use AI responsibly with strong judgment skills.