Principles for Ethical AI in Education

In today’s modern society, Artificial Intelligence (AI) remains the world’s most revolutionary technology with the highest capacity to shape future civilizations. It demonstrates remarkable abilities–generating ideas, analyzing data, and constructing elaborate arguments. As ethical thinkers and educators, we must consider how best to integrate it into our schools, ensuring that it serves as a tool that enhances education and prepares students to thrive in an AI-driven world.  

This framework for empowering students through ethical and effective AI use consists of 5 key principles: 

• Transparency 

• Empowerment 

• Fairness 

• Accountability 

• Privacy & Safety 

  
  

Using these principles, schools can build a common set of values that create trust within the community. Having a unified and clear set of standards for AI will foster an environment where AI is used to enhance learning experiences, promotes fairness & equity, and empower students to navigate the modern world responsibly. 

Transparency 

Schools should set guidelines to communicate proper and improper AI use in classes. This includes an overarching set of community values and the specific policies pertaining to a class. Teachers can choose to adopt their own policies, ranging from restrictive to permissive, to accommodate the style and nature of the class.  

Likewise, students should reciprocate by disclosing when AI is used in their work. This can be done by citing AI tools used in the creation of the work or asking a teacher when the situation may be appropriate for use.  

Additionally, schools should be directly transparent when using AI in other areas that impact students. This means disclosing usage of AI for the purpose of student assessment, admissions processes, financial aid modeling, security programs, A health monitoring, etc.  

Empowerment 

With the arrival of AI technology, schools should strive to give students the skills needed to think critically and originally, while also teaching them how to work alongside AI in the future. Schools should identify situations where AI can enhance students' productivity and studying. They need to also prepare students for future career success by developing AI skills that will help them reach their full potential. Nevertheless, is also important for students to achieve a level of intellectual independence; not simply passively absorbing information but questioning arguments and constructing their own understandings. The optimal solution lies between the extremes, and this section details how this might be achieved within a school.  

The following are goals for students to consider to get the most benefit out of AI. 

1. Use AI as a Learning Partner, not a Shortcut 

2. Consider the purpose of using AI 

3. Understand Before Submit 

4. Think Critically About AI Responses 

5. Grow with Technology 

Appropriate Situations for AI Use 

• Study Tool and Concept Clarification 

• “What’s the difference between potential and kinetic energy?” 

• “Quiz me on Vergil’s Aeneid” 

• “What are strategies for creating a strong thesis?” 

• Organizing and Planning 

• “Create a study schedule for this weekend” 

• Research 

• “Find sources providing information about the Russian Revolution” 

Uses By Grade 

• Elementary School (K-2) 

• Independent thinking should be prioritized at this age range, therefore AI incorporation in the classroom should be minimal.  

• Intermediate School (3-5) 

• Students should be introduced to AI. Discussion topics can include: “What is AI?”, “How is AI used?”, and “What is fair and unfair about AI?”. Students in these grades should learn the basics of how it works and how it might be used ethically. The focus should still be on original thinking. 

• Middle School (6-8) 

• Students can start practice using AI in the classroom with the help of a teacher.  

• High School (9-12) 

• Students can take their AI knowledge to a greater depth by learning neural networks, machine learning, training data, and algorithms. They can discuss the implications and ethical frameworks of AI in humanities classes. Students can use it outside of school as a study assistant.  

Fairness 

Fairness for all students remains a critical concept that must be prioritized when integrating AI into the classroom. AI in schools should not lead to bias, discrimination, or unfair treatment. Schools should supply students with an equal level of access to AI tools as well as the training to manage them effectively. Policy should remain consistent and fair across the school. Schools can maintain grade accuracy and fairness through in class testing and writing. Ensuring authenticity of student grades can be accomplished through the following: 

• English students can demonstrate their understanding through writing assignments completed in class. Teachers can use Pencil/Paper writing or Google Docs and the Chrome Draftback extension to verify authenticity of work submitted. 

• Math students and teachers can use in class quizzes and tests to verify understanding of course content. It is beneficial for homework to be done based on a completion grade rather than an accuracy grade to emphasize learning. 

Accountability 

Schools should hold students accountable for their AI use and misuse to maintain a fair academic environment. Clear academic integrity standards help students to engage with technology responsibly and establish community values. These standards should be updated regularly to reflect the latest changes in technology and education and be in the student handbook for easy access and clarity. Appropriate consequences should be determined to uphold fairness and school standards. 

Privacy & Safety 

Privacy and safety are of critical importance when it comes to ensuring a positive educational experience for students. Transparency in data collection and management is a core principle of ethical AI. When using AI systems in the educational environment, schools should collect student data only when necessary and for a direct educational purpose. Students and families should be aware of all data being collected by AI systems and have control over how it is managed. Additionally, families should know if data is handled by 3^rd parties that may monetize or misuse data.  

Continuous Improvement 

Schools should make continuous improvement of AI policy a priority to maintain relevance and accuracy as technology progresses. Good practices of continuous improvement include forming an AI Oversight Team of teachers and administrators that will consider how to best handle AI in the classrooms. Another practice is creating a yearly survey for teachers and faculty to find out how students and faculty interact with AI. Finally, schools can conduct a yearly review of all AI policies to ensure relevancy.