“AI is here, and slowing it down is not an option.”
That's what Washington State Superintendent Chris Reykdal wrote in the foreword to the state's artificial intelligence guidelines for K-12 schools..
This is a sentiment shared by other educators. In open-ended responses to an EdWeek Research Center survey conducted last spring: And last fallEducators pointed out that AI is here and schools need to get involved and understand how to use it.
But an EdWeek Research Center survey conducted last fall found that while more teachers are experimenting with the technology, a majority say they have not used any AI tools at all.. One of the most common reasons for such resistance, according to 33% of teachers, is that their districts have not established policies on how to use technology appropriately.
“Our district needs a policy that creates guidelines for ethical use,” a Connecticut high school English teacher said in the open-response section. “This way, we can teach students how to use AI as a learning tool rather than as a means of cheating.”
“Schools are very hungry for guidance on how to create policies around the use of AI,” said Glenn Kleiman, a member of the Innovation Project Advisory Board of the TeachAI Initiative and the School Networking Consortium. But according to Kleiman's conversations with superintendents, “they generally feel like they're at step 0.1 in figuring out the problem.”
Local leaders don’t necessarily have to reinvent the wheel. Current policies guiding education technology adoption will also apply to AI-based tools, said Min Sun, an associate professor in the University of Washington's College of Education and a member of the state's AI advisory group. But “this wave of educational technology developments has some uniqueities, and may require additional guidance, especially for AI technologies,” she said.
Educational organizations and associations such as TeachAICoSN and Metropolitan School Council—Leading the way with guides to help district leaders navigate AI implementation. In at least five states, including California, over the past few months.oregonnorth carolinaWashingtonand West Virginia—Also announced AI guidelines for schools.
While each district must consider its unique circumstances when deciding how to implement AI, there are some common strategies that all districts should consider. Below are eight strategies extracted from applicable state and organizational guidance.
1. Align your use of AI with your district’s mission, vision, and goals.
Before deciding to implement AI, district leaders should think about their district’s mission and vision and identify where technology can help achieve those goals. You can help your students learn by personalizing content, supporting their creativity, and preparing them for future careers. AI can provide teacher support through content development, differentiation, assessment analytics, and professional development. And it can make school management and operations more efficient.
But with every benefit comes risk. For example, the use of AI can lead to plagiarism, misinformation, harassment, unequal access, diminished teacher and student agency, and data privacy violations. Experts say these risks shouldn't deter school districts from using AI. But knowing the risks makes it easier to mitigate them.
2. Developing students’ AI ability
AI Literacy According to TeachAI It refers to the knowledge, skills, and attitudes related to how AI works, including its principles, concepts, and applications, as well as how to use the technology in practice. This should include a solid understanding of the limitations and ethical considerations of use. Infusing AI literacy throughout the curriculum will ensure that most students are equipped to use AI technologies productively and responsibly. This level of AI literacy is especially important because students are often testing out and using these new technological tools well before their teachers.
3. Provide appropriate professional development
Students aren’t the only ones who need knowledge about AI. Teachers and other district staff also need to know how AI works. How to use it responsibly. Along with learning about the capabilities and limitations of AI, teachers need concrete, actionable examples of how to use AI in the classroom. Additionally, districts can create professional development plans that integrate AI literacy as a component of broader literacy and equity instruction, so teachers don’t feel like this is just another time-consuming task added to their already overflowing plates.
4. Providing Permitted and Prohibited Uses of AI
Districts may need to update some of their policies, such as those related to acceptable use and academic integrity, to account for safe and appropriate use of AI tools. District leaders should make it clear through guidance who is responsible for setting boundaries for responsible use in classes and assignments. We need to make it clear to educators and students when and how they can use AI in their work, and the consequences of not using the tools responsibly..
5. Data privacy for students and educators
AI tools are trained on extensive data. In K-12 education, this data may contain sensitive information about students, so districts must ensure that data is collected and used carefully and responsibly. School districts should consider obtaining parental consent for students to use AI tools in school.. But even with consent, experts advise against using identifiable data in public AI models.
Experts also recommend that schools list the AI tools they use, their purpose, and what information they need. Establish clear policies on who can use AI tools and for what purposes. Maintain up-to-date information on the technical details and security implications of the tools you are using.
6. Research AI tools thoroughly
Properly vetting all AI tools is important to protect sensitive information held by school districts. Before allowing staff and students to use it. As with other educational technology tools, school districts need to make sure they know what data AI tools collect, what the companies do with that data, and what security measures they take to protect users' privacy. School districts also need to find out how AI tools are created and what data sources are used to train the models.
7. Assess the impact of AI tools
School districts should monitor and evaluate their use of AI tools to establish how they can continue to meet the needs of the district and comply with changes in the law. Districts should also solicit feedback on AI guidance from teachers, other school staff, students, and parents and update guidance as needed.
8. Communicate with the community
Communication with the wider school community is critical to successfully integrating AI into the school environment. School districts should work with parents to provide a clear understanding of how AI tools will be used and the potential benefits they provide for students. This can also be an opportunity for districts to hear parents' concerns about AI use, which can contribute to the continued development of district policies.