Foundations for AI and the Future of Teaching and Learning from the US Department of Educational Technology
Author: Samantha Goldman; info@ciddl.org
The US Department of Educational Technology released its much-awaited report on how AI will impact teaching and learning. The report recognizes that many educators are already using AI-powered tools in their classrooms (like Grammarly and Canva) and that educators and students have been experimenting with AI-powered chatbots (like ChatGPT). The report sets out to provide a starting point to explore how AI can be leveraged to support teachers and students. The authors also recognize that AI is a complex topic and that they cannot answer all questions or resolve all issues within the report.
With that said, the authors provide four key foundations necessary to ensure that the vision for education remains grounded in what is best for students, educators, and the system. The four foundations, which will be described below are: center people, advance equity, ensure safety, ethics, and effectiveness, and promote transparency.
Center People
AI has the potential to, and in some ways already has, change education and what it means to be an educator and student. The first key element in the report is to keep the human at the center. Protect their privacy and use “AI with humans in the loops”. Basically, do not let the AI take away teacher agency. This is derived from the “Human Alternatives, Considerations, and Fallback” section of the Blueprint for the AI Bill of Rights.
Advance Equity
As AI policy continues to develop, equity must be at the heart of the discussion. It is common knowledge and unacceptable that bias and discrimination exist within AI including the inappropriate use of data and algorithmic bias. These show up as using skewed historical data to impact enrollment and early intervention decisions and inaccurately flag students for cheating due to accommodation use. It is the responsibility of stakeholders within the education systems to ensure that the systems being used promote equity.
Ensure Safety, Ethics, and Effectiveness
Privacy and student data are always hot topics. What information are websites, programs, and, now, AI using and what are they doing with that data? More importantly, does the data used by AI comply with FERPA and other privacy laws? And, when thinking about adopting AI into school systems, are stakeholders considering the requirements for the use of evidence-based practices, as required by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act?
Promote Transparency
The idea that AI is taking over some of the responsibilities of teachers provides educators an opportunity for more face-time with students and less time doing administrative tasks. However, educators cannot simply hand over these tasks without having an understanding of what the AI is doing and how it works because they have to be able to identify and problem-solve the limitations, problems, and risks of using AI.
The AI Conversation is Heating Up in Our Community
The use of AI in education is not going away. In this mini-series focused on the US Department of Education’s AI and the Future of Teaching and Learning report, we will be summarizing key elements while discussing implications for higher education. Interested in becoming part of the conversation and collaborating with teachers and personnel preparation individuals? Head over to our community and join the conversation.