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Setting the AI Stage
Published over 1 year ago • 4 min read
Setting the AI Stage 🤖
The beginning of a new school year is the perfect opportunity to set and communicate your expectations. With the growing significance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the educational landscape, it's paramount that we foster an environment of clarity and trust regarding its use. While the prospect of creating an AI-specific policy might seem necessary, it's not imperative. What's crucial is to solidify a position and revisit your existing policies to ensure they align with your beliefs.
Your stance on AI will undeniably vary—district to district, school to school, teacher to teacher, and even assignment to assignment. Where do you position yourself in this evolving conversation? In my district, we've taken a proactive approach by endorsing AI tools that alleviate the administrative burden on our educators - helping them with unit/lesson planning, differentiation, classroom activities, grading, and more. It’s essential that your teachers and students feel supported and understand where you stand, so if you haven’t communicated that yet, I encourage you to do so.
A hot topic within AI in education is cheating; this has caused educators and leaders to dismiss conversations around student AI use and begin discussions around AI policies and restrictions. I personally do not think you need a policy specifically for AI, but I do recommend revisiting your existing policies (Acceptable Use Policy, classroom policies, etc). I’ve been asked what AI specific language to add to these existing policies, and in my opinion – we don’t need to do that; we don’t do that for the internet, or any other tools for that matter.
This summer we refreshed our existing AUP, taking advice from ISTE’s CEO Richard Culatta and reframing the policy to be positive. Take a look at your own policies: count the number of Don’ts. Count the number of Do’s. Interesting, right?! The big ideas in our refreshed AUP are that we expect students to be respectful and kind, responsible and careful, safe and secure. Instead of a laundry list of restrictions to warn students what not to do, we rewrote our AUP to focus on the many positive ways we want them to safely and ethically leverage technology for learning and growth.
We emphasized the principles of academic integrity, which was our way of addressing AI use: submitting work that truly reflects one's understanding and adheres to the assignment guidelines from the teacher; remember, AI use will vary from assignment to assignment. Here is the specific language that we added: “Academic Integrity: Always submit work that’s your own. Give credit to sources and practice ethical research by citing references properly. Adhere to assignment guidelines, copyright laws, and intellectual property rights when using, sharing, or creating digital content…”
Homework:
What’s your position? Communicate that with your teachers and students.
AI specific language in existing policies: If you do decide to add AI-specific language to your existing policy, here is an example of a district AI policy. I like this example because they offers two options: 1- no AI, and 2- some AI.
For those who might've missed out on Season 1 of The Generative Age Podcast, powered by NYSCATE, it’s available for a binge-listen! As I gear up for the exciting launch of Season 2 next week, here’s a quick recap of our previous episodes and a glimpse into what’s coming:
Past Episodes:
Deep Fakes and AI Risk-Taking - Featuring Carl Hooker
AI in the Classroom - Featuring Donnie Piercey
AI + Project-Based Learning - Featuring AJ Juliani
Streamlining Your Teacher Life Using AI - Featuring Mary Howard
AI and Professional Learning - Featuring Chappaqua Central School District
AI + Art, Design, and Music - Featuring Tim Needles
Generative AI: A world of possibilities: Featuring Dr. Cameron Fadjo
I have some big news! My new book The Generative Age: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Education is now available on Amazon! If you've already bought a copy, thank you! If you're interested in a bulk discount (five books or more), email me directly by replying to this email.
“The Generative Age serves as a compass for educators and leaders seeking to unlock the transformative power of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in teaching and learning. This book explores both the opportunities and implications of AI in education as well as the ethical considerations for its effective integration. In this timely book, Winnick seeks to reboot education, preparing leaders and educators to thrive in the AI-driven world of tomorrow. Enriched with thought-provoking interactives, inspiring case studies, and practical strategies, insights, and best practices, readers will finish the book feeling inspired, knowledgeable, and prepared to initiate change within their educational systems.”
Praise:
“In a time when everyone has questions about Artificial Intelligence and its impact on our educational institutions, this book has the answers. Whether you work with students, or are leading a staff through this AI moment, you'll find a clear path to follow and case studies to reference in The Artificial Intelligence Guidebook for Education!” - AJ Juliani
“As we enter the generative age when it comes to Artificial Intelligence in schools, leaders will need high quality guidance and inspiration to integrate AI with fidelity. Alana's book provides not only that guidance but real world applications of AI that will empower teachers and leaders as we enter this next phase of learning with technology. A must read!” - Carl Hooker
“This book is a comprehensive look at Generative Artificial Intelligence. Alana offers an engaging way to explore and comprehend what AI is and how we can harness its power. This book will help us all better understand, and use artificial intelligence to support our students”. - Laurie Guyon
Upcoming Conferences 🎤
CSforNY Summit: Date: Thursday, September 28th - Friday, September 29th Location: Virtual
Call for Presenters: Have you been working on an innovative project or teaching strategy? Do you have knowledge or insights that can benefit our community? I encourage you to submit a presentation. The Request for Proposals (RFPs) for both the Hudson Valley conference and EmpowerEd are open until September 25th. This is a fantastic way to showcase your expertise and contribute to our collective growth.
Hi everyone, We’re just one day away from the NYSCATE Conference, and I couldn’t be more excited! This incredible event brings together educators, innovators, thought leaders, and even students—yes, I’m thrilled to share that I’m bringing along a student I mentor! If you’re attending, I’d love for you to join me at some of the amazing events I’m part of this year, from formal sessions to social gatherings. Check out the details below for all the information. Social Media TemplateIf you’re...
October is filled with important celebrations like Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Digital Citizenship Week, and Media Literacy Week - each offering opportunities to teach students how to navigate the digital world responsibly. With Halloween around the corner, it's a perfect time to remind your students that the internet can be full of tricks, but with the right guidance, they’ll find the digital treats! This year, my district is excited to connect these lessons to our new HAWKS pledge, which...
I hope you’re recharged and excited as we gear up for the new school year! As we dive in, I wanted to share a personal story from a recent family vacation that reminded me of the profound influence we hold in our classrooms. Just before heading out, I had a small but memorable encounter at home: I spotted a bug on my wall that immediately made my skin crawl. Fast forward to my family vacation: We were enjoying a beautiful day at the beach when a little ladybug landed on my dress. My...
