JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – This won’t be the first year students will have access to artificial intelligence while doing school work, but more and more educators are starting to embrace AI’s usefulness in the classroom.
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released new guidelines for the upcoming school year, a first-of-its-kind, of artificial intelligence policies for the classroom. It highlights ways AI can be useful in the classroom and common concerns.
Under Missouri law, school districts are free to come up with their own policies and procedures when dealing with emerging issues like AI, but DESE’s suggestions for responsible use are:
- Always have a human checking AI for bias and accuracy
- Provide training for teachers on best practices
- Be transparent about AI’s abilities and limitations
- Use AI to encourage students to take on more challenging ideas and spark their curiosity
The top concern for teachers, parents and students, according to the report, is cheating and plagiarism.
In the St. Louis area, Rockwood School District is bringing AI into the classroom. Bob Deneau said the district is implementing school-safe AI programs with clear expectations for students and teachers on what’s appropriate and what’s not.
“It’s truly all about how we can use AI to amplify and improve the educational experience, and not just make it something that makes it easier for students,” Deneau said.
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