K-12 school superintendents grapple with integrating AI in classrooms

As AI becomes increasingly vital for future careers, K-12 school superintendents in the US are grappling with the challenges of integrating AI into education since the future job market will heavily involve AI, and colleges are already introducing majors in the field.

At the recent annual conference of the AASA, the School Superintendents Association focused on addressing the need for clear guidelines for teaching, using, and setting rules around AI in schools. While some states like California, Oregon, and Ohio have introduced AI toolkits for schools, most still need to, leaving educators needing guidance on navigating the potential of AI in education. Despite the transformative potential of AI in areas like syllabus creation and personalised lesson plans, concerns arise about plagiarism, academic dishonesty, ethical considerations, biases, and deepfakes.

School superintendents’ urgency to provide guidance and ground rules for a technology they may need help understanding is at the heart of the issue. Various education consortia and companies are rushing to introduce AI tools for educators, but many fear they are playing catch-up. Superintendents recognise the need for collaboration and sharing best practices, leading to initiatives like EmpowerED Superintendents. The challenge is to balance embracing AI’s potential and ensuring teachers and students are equipped to navigate and understand this rapidly evolving technology.

Why does it matter?

There are concerns about students needing to catch up to teachers in AI proficiency as educators grapple with tools like ChatGPT and its implications. The lack of policies to address issues like explicit AI deepfakes created by students further underscores the need for comprehensive guidelines. While some tools aim to assist educators in designing challenging assignments that resist AI manipulation, the evolving nature of AI requires continuous learning and adaptation within the education sector. Despite being on the frontline, teachers also turn to AI tools for tasks like grading papers, highlighting the evolving role of technology in education. As schools work to integrate AI, it is clear that education will be a continuous work in progress, with collaborative efforts essential for successful implementation.

The increased use of chatbots by pupils and students for educational purposes has led to challenges in many educational institutions, raising questions about the adequacy of the education system. The use of AI, however, faces technical challenges as AI-generated text is not easily detectable, like plagiarised content. Beyond the technical aspect, the concern lies in whether the educational system encourages ethical behaviour. Students may use AI to protest against conventional study-to-test approaches, focusing heavily on formalities and numbers. However, fostering innovative pedagogy and incorporating real-life settings can engage students positively, but implementing such changes in formalised education systems remains a challenge.