State and Local Policy for AI Use in Education
State and Local Policy for AI Use in Education
I chose this topic because educational leaders in my professional circle are, for lack of a better word, scrambling to define policies for the use of AI in education (specifically K-12 education). Through our readings or my own research, I could not find a definitive policy on AI use in education to which I write this post specifically- even in our linked resources for this module. If any of my peers reading this have insight on an active policy for AI use in the K-12 educational landscape, I would be very appreciative of you sharing such a document with me. I did, however, find outlines for best practices around writing Education AI policy and will speak to the implications of doing that.
Strengths of Educational AI Policy
Ethical and governance framework: Nearly the first concern from educational leaders is the concern for responsible use of AI and mitigating cheating. The emphasis on principles such as fairness, transparency, and accountability should be considered when developing and using AI in education to ensure that AI is used as an extension of learning and not in lieu of it. This can include a more in-depth account of the institution’s stance on what is cheating, plagiarism, etc, as it applies to AI use.
Data Privacy and Security: While not always at the forefront of educators' and students' minds, privacy and security is the most crucial pillar of education AI policy. Safeguards written into the policy will ensure that student data is protected and used in compliance with relevant regulations.
Access and Equity: AI promotes equity and personalized learning opportunities in education as it provides a landscape of resources that may not otherwise be available. However, to ensure equitable access to AI resources, policy must be written to avoid disparities in access to AI tools.
Continued Professional Development: AI technology and it pedagogical applications, given its generative nature, will continue to diversify and expand in capabilities. Policy on a commitment to and plan for Continued Professional Development will ensure that increased capabilities for extending learning are communicated and utilized.
Alignment to Educational Goals
Weaknesses of Education AI Policy
Lack of Evidence-Based Approaches: Given the very new scope of use of generative AI in educational settings, evidence-backed policy initiatives are simply not applicable yet.
Lack of Clear Expectations for Human Involvement: Given the title of the Policy “AI”, policy writers can often be misled to believe that AI policy is inherently devoid of human guidelines. The opposite must be true. At what point are teachers and leaders expected to be “in the loop”(Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Teaching and Learning - Office of Educational Technology, 2023) as the final evaluator of AI output?
Static Initiatives: Policy written as the end all be all of specific educational AI guidance will become obsolete quickly. Policy must be written in a broad way so as to speak to the conceptual nature of the directive without nullifying the directive as technology progresses or changes. Or, there must be a commitment made to the continual reevaluation of such policies. Policies should be written broadly to address the conceptual nature of the directive without rendering it obsolete as technology progresses or changes. Or, there must be a commitment to continually reevaluating such policies.
My Opinion on Implementing Educational AI Policy
Without a doubt, education AI policy needs to be drafted and implemented. However, what does not need to happen is a fear-based eradication of AI tools that may provide cheating opportunities, which I have seen instances of so far. In every conversation around educational AI policies, I am always asking for references to the nature of writing similar policies when the internet became widely available to students. What were the fears then that ended up being moot? What approach to policy writing for a widely misunderstood technology was most successful? How did stakeholders write in effective clauses around adaptability to new understanding or progressed technology? I think there is a very recent case-study yet to be explored on implementing what feels like a radical new technology into the educational landscape.
References
Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Teaching and Learning - Office of Educational Technology. (2023, May 24). Office of Educational Technology. https://tech.ed.gov/ai-future-of-teaching-and-learning/
Ethical AI for Teaching and Learning | Center for Teaching Innovation. (n.d.). https://teaching.cornell.edu/generative-artificial-intelligence/ethical-ai-teaching-and-learning
