{"id":16289,"date":"2023-11-14T12:18:39","date_gmt":"2023-11-14T17:18:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.teacherlists.com\/blog\/?p=16289"},"modified":"2024-11-13T13:52:57","modified_gmt":"2024-11-13T18:52:57","slug":"how-school-districts-are-navigating-ai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.teacherlists.com\/blog\/how-school-districts-are-navigating-ai\/","title":{"rendered":"How School Districts Are Navigating AI"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]There\u2019s no way around it\u2013artificial intelligence is here, and it\u2019s here to stay. As such, districts are looking for ways to navigate this new reality of schooling. While it\u2019s the instinct of many leaders to fight it, there are many who are trying to find ways to work <\/span>with <\/span><\/i>AI instead.\u202fWhether you\u2019re on the fence, still 100% anti-AI, or open to learning more, there\u2019s an urgent need for a solution to the AI problem in your district. Here are a few things to consider as you make your plan.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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How Districts Are Responding to AI\u202f<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

When ChatGPT launched in November of 2022, many school districts across the United States put an absolute ban on the software and invested in AI detection programs to enforce it. In 2023, districts like New York City Public Schools decided to\u00a0<\/span>go back and lift those bans<\/span><\/a>. Some are even training their staff in ChatGPT to use it for their own classrooms and curriculum, eventually planning to teach their students about AI literacy.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, in 2024, there’s a plethora of educational AI tools that teachers are using, from adaptive learning platforms to chatbots for student support<\/a>. As many as 60% of teachers are already using AI in their classroom, with educational AI games leading the trend. Still, the main concern for students remains that they’ll rely too much on generative AI and submit plagiarized work.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, school districts are struggling to create clear AI policies. Education Week reports that 79% of teachers say their districts have not made their stance clear<\/a>, leaving the topic of AI up to individual teachers. This causes a massive discrepancy: one teacher can outright ban AI in their classroom, while another in the same school can create comprehensive curriculum around the ethics and functions of AI.<\/p>\n

Additionally, as AI evolves, so do AI detectors. While AI detectors are still not 100% accurate, they’re becoming increasingly good at detecting plagiarism<\/a>. However, it’s important to note that AI detectors have a wide margin of error. For example, Turnitin appears to have such a margin of 15%, meaning if an essay turned in by a student is 50%\u00a0 AI generated, the real number could be anywhere between 35 and 60%<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Bringing AI to Schools: Tips for School Leaders – A Guide<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Richard Culatta, CEO of International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) recently wrote and published a <\/span>guide on AI<\/span><\/a> in collaboration with AASA, The School Superintendents Association. The guide details what AI is and is <\/span>not, <\/span><\/i>which will serve as a comforting reminder to educators that AI isn\u2019t replacing them\u2013it\u2019s not even capable of doing so.\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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The guide also outlines a strategy for success when it comes to integrating AI into schools, such as exploring different AI programs, training staff on AI trends, and establishing standards when using these programs. ISTE suggests the following standards:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n