Mindfully Implementing AI in Education: Ethical and Practical Concerns

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In this Gathering, dive into how schools can effectively incorporate AI into their curriculum mindfully and ethically. Our guests offer insights into the practical considerations for teachers and policymakers and AI's potential educational risks and benefits.

The host, Greg Nadeau, interviews the guest speakers, who include:

1. Tara Carrozza: Director, Digital Learning Initiative (DLI), Division of Curriculum and Instruction, Teaching and Learning New York City Public Schools
2. Lori Mazor: Educator and AI researcher
3. Beth Havinga: Managing Director of EdSAFE AI Alliance
4. Ted Nadeau: Technologist

You can listen as a podcast or watch it on YouTube:

Highlights from the Gathering

The panel began by discussing AI's benefits and potential risks in education.

The guests agreed that AI could be a powerful tool to support personalized learning, enhance student engagement, and streamline administrative tasks. However, they also acknowledged that ethical concerns, such as bias and privacy, must be addressed.

The conversation then shifted to involving teachers in developing AI policies and best practices. Tara Carrozza emphasized the need to empower teachers with the tools and knowledge necessary to effectively incorporate AI into their curriculum. Lori Mazor added that teachers should be trained to understand the limitations of AI and how to use it as a tool rather than a replacement for human teaching.

The guests also discussed the need for regulations and standards in the AI education space. Beth Havinga highlighted the work of the EdSAFE AI Alliance, which aims to establish benchmarks for AI tools and create trust between educators, parents, and policymakers. Ted Nadeau emphasized the importance of quality checking in developing AI tools, using examples from the logic modeling world to illustrate the process.

The conversation concluded with a call to action for educators to prioritize teaching fundamental principles of AI, such as why it exists and how it will continue to evolve. The guests also emphasized the need for a collaborative effort across the entire education ecosystem to establish policies prioritizing student safety and privacy while allowing for innovation.

Big Takeaways

Incorporating AI into education is essential and needs to happen. However, it is crucial to consider the ethical and practical concerns that come with it.

As the use of AI in education continues to grow, it is important for educators, policymakers, and technologists to work together to establish best practices and regulations that prioritize student safety, privacy, and the development of essential skills.