Learning is the fuel that drives me every day. I am excited to share the learning with others to help them accomplish something or inspire them to learn more. I’ve been deeply immersed in learning about AI lately, and there is no doubt that its impact on knowledge work is profound. Not because it will replace our jobs but because it will augment them—helping us leverage our strengths while addressing our weaknesses. AI becomes a valuable thinking and learning partner that complements and enhances our work when used correctly.
I’m in love with Dr. Lang-Raad’s (2025) HAIL framework. The HAIL model provides a flexible approach to using AI tools. This continuum provides a framework for integrating AI tools effectively in the very human work we are doing. I utilize the model as a thought framework to anchor my use of AI tools. Here’s how I visualize the model:
The beauty of the framework lies in its practical application. I applied the HAIL model to guide my process and content creation as I wrote this post. Let me walk you through how I did it:
Humanize
Dr. Lang-Raad (2025) defines the humanize component as “emphasizing the non-negotiable value of the human touch.” The entire point of this blog is to share my learning insights. I am anchored by my mission statement: “Learn. Because you deserve it.” Using my voice as I share my learning is non-negotiable when utilizing AI tools.
My Process
For example, here is my initial opening paragraph. When I develop an idea for a post, the first step is to sit down and start writing. If I think too long, I get hung up on perfection. So, I free-form wrote this at 3:30 a.m.!
If you are a knowledge worker, the impact of AI is profound. Not because it will replace our jobs but because it will augment them. AI will help us leverage our strengths and improve our weaknesses. When used correctly, AI is a valuable thinking and learning partner. It can complement our work.
I asked Claude to “Give me feedback on this blog post structure. Then, provide feedback on the tone, which should be friendly and engaging. Finally, provide feedback on the readability level.” Claude provided these suggestions to enhance engagement:
- Consider opening with a more attention-grabbing hook or personal anecdote.
- Add more “you” statements to directly involve the reader.
- Incorporate a brief relatable example or story in one of the HAIL sections.
- The conclusion could be strengthened with a call-to-action beyond “keep following.”
The Results
I reworked the opening paragraph and had Claude provide feedback on the final version. Claude replied, “Strong opening paragraph that establishes your personal connection to learning.” It’s my work, and it improved quickly and efficiently with feedback from the AI tool!
Although AI offers significant opportunities to enhance learning, it should complement, not replace, the irreplaceable human qualities that define effective teaching. Empathy, creativity, and the ability to inspire remain uniquely human traits.
-Nathan Lang-Raad
Augment
With Augment, the model helps us understand where we can use tools to amplify our strengths. I’ve spent thirty years as an educator. However, I’m just starting to learn how to blog. These are very different skill sets. I utilize Claude.ai to give feedback on my post structure and create the 50-word excerpt. Claude helps me determine where to add headings and formatting that read better in a blog post. By the way, the more I use Claude, the better I am at setting the formatting myself.
Integrate
Integrate is where we seamlessly blend the AI tools. I’ve used Grammarly for several years. I am the queen of passive voice. Grammarly quickly points out where I’ve written in passive voice and suggests changes to grammatical errors and sentence structure that may be unclear. Could I do it myself? Yes, but Grammarly saves me a lot of time!
Leverage
Leverage is where we “fully utilize AI’s capabilities to customize learning, predict needs, and transform students from passive learners into active participants” (Lang-Raad, 2025, p. 7). In the case of this blog post, my greatest desire is that the reader is engaged enough in the information to want to learn more. Guess what, ole’ Andrea writes like a Ph.D.! This is great for academia, not for blogs. I utilized Claude to suggest ways to tone down the academia and tune up the engaging tone and word choice.
Feedback Loop
In my first feedback loop with Claude, the areas for improvement were:
- The reference to “Dr. Lang-Raad’s (2025)” feels academic; consider a more casual introduction.
- Some terminology might need more explanation (e.g., what does “knowledge worker” encompass?).
- The “Leverage” section contains the sentence “Leverage is where we ‘fully utilize AI’s capabilities…'” which is quite long and complex.
My Choices
I made a few choices based on this feedback:
- I did not change the reference. I have an academic heart and believe citing other’s work correctly is important.
- I reworked the entire first paragraph.
- I reworked the Leverage section.
Claude gave me good feedback, and I made human choices about the feedback!
Key Takeaways
As I learn more and more about AI tools and work with the HAIL framework, here are my key insights:
- AI tools are partners, not replacements. The greatest value comes from viewing AI as augmenting human capabilities rather than substituting for them.
- The HAIL framework provides a practical structure for integrating AI tools into your workflow while preserving your unique human perspective and strengths.
- The HAIL framework is a continuum that flows. It’s a flexible tool, not a step-by-step checklist.
- Different AI tools serve different purposes. Understanding when to use tools like Claude for structure or tone adjustment and Grammarly for editing helps maximize their effectiveness.
- Continuous learning improves both your skills and your AI usage. The more you work with AI tools, the better you can leverage them.
AI has become my spark for getting me writing! I would never write if I had to structure the blog post manually, draft all the little back-end structures like the 50-word excerpts, and find people to give me feedback. I know this because I’ve wanted to blog for years, but finding time has been challenging! AI tools have made writing efficient and keep my thought process moving. The HAIL method keeps my writing human. How could you use the HAIL framework?
Humanize.
Learn more:
Lang-Raad, N. (2025). The AI assist: Strategies for integrating AI into the very human act of teaching. ASCD.
