Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Technology topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Student board member urges student-specific AI handbook, assessment scale and family outreach
Summary
Student board member Bowen briefed the board on student achievements and on research into AI use by students, recommending a district handbook clarifying permissible AI use, teacher professional development, an AI assessment scale applied per assignment, family education sessions and attention to equity and safety.
Bowen, the student board member, used the superintendent update on Nov. 5 to highlight student academic work and to press the board for clearer guidance on student use of artificial intelligence.
Bowen said 30 science-research seniors submitted Regeneron Science Talent Search applications and noted the workload and rigor of those projects. "This was application was long and, an excruciating process," Bowen said, adding that submissions included projects of more than 100 pages.
Bowen then summarized research into student anxiety around AI conducted by science-research senior Eric Zingri and described four themes identified with staff: (1) draw a clear "line in the sand" between AI as a tool and uses that disrupt critical thinking; (2) allow individual educators discretion beyond general guidelines and employ an AI assessment scale on an assignment-by-assignment basis; (3) involve families through sessions or orientations once guidelines are finalized; and (4) ensure district AI tools are equitable and safe for students.
Bowen noted existing work by staff to address the issue and recommended a more robust student-facing handbook in addition to last years board policy. "The work the board did last year was great, and I think adding a policy to include specifics for the students could be also helpful," Bowen said.
Board staff referenced classroom uses of AI already in place: an AI-enabled website created by teacher Oswald Willis that lets students interact with historically based personas related to the Emmett Till trial as a learning tool. Administrators and board members agreed further work would follow; Bowen said he would meet with district staff to develop next steps and report back to the board.
The presentation was part of the superintendent's update and did not result in a separate recorded vote; board members asked staff to continue developing guidance and training for teachers, students and families.
