Getting Started With AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) can help tailor educational content to meet the needs and preferences of each student, says “AI and Accessibility in Education,” by 2024 Charles Blaschke scholarship fellow Fernanda Pérez Perez and the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN). But like any new resource, AI has its limitations.

Text-to-speech software, speech recognition systems, and AI-​integrated augmentative and alternative communication tools are already enhancing the learning experience for students with diverse needs. They can also be used to create individualized learning materials and alleviate staff stress by automating administrative tasks such as grading and attendance tracking.

But AI tools carry concerns about student data privacy, algorithmic biases that can undermine educational equity, and other hazards. Diverse educators must tap diverse datasets in training AI to ensure true representation or risk exacerbating existing biases and inequities.

If you want to get started on implementing AI in your school safely, CoSN suggests that educational leaders follow these steps:

1. Lay the groundwork. Before diving into implementation, educate yourself and your team about what generative AI (GenAI) is and how it can be used responsibly in education. Organize PD sessions for leaders and key staff members, focusing on the basics of GenAI, its capabilities, and the importance of diverse training data in averting potential biases. GenAI is powerful but not perfect; understanding its limitations is key to successful implementation.

Once your team has a solid foundation, define your school’s objectives for AI implementation. Do you want to reduce teacher burnout, personalize learning experiences, or streamline IEP development—or all of the above? Start small and scale up.

2. Prioritize privacy and security. Protecting student data should be your top priority when implementing AI tools. Brush up on regulations such as FERPA and SOPPA regarding data privacy in education, establish guidelines on data inputs, and work with your IT team to ensure robust security measures are in place.

3. Evaluate and implement. Create a checklist of must-have features and deal-breakers. Ask vendors about their efforts to address algorithmic biases that might affect students—especially those with disabilities. Involve teachers and staff from diverse backgrounds in the evaluation and testing process to catch potential issues, enhance buy-in, and gather feedback.

4. Prioritize accessibility and develop guidelines. Ensure that AI implementation benefits all students using UDL principles. Then, create clear AI usage guidelines, defining appropriate and inappropriate uses in the classroom and developing protocols to address potential AI-generated misinformation or biases.

5. Conduct ongoing evaluation. Since AI is evolving at such a rapid pace, establish a system to review and update the tools you’ve put in place regularly, as well as staff skills. Establish key performance indicators; gather feedback from teachers, students, and parents; and analyze data. Don’t be shy about discontinuing tools that don’t meet expectations. Remember, the goal is to enhance learning outcomes, not just to implement technology for its own sake.

6. Foster a culture of responsible AI use. Integrate discussions regarding AI ethics into professional learning and promote transparency about the ways in which AI is used in the classroom. Empower students to be informed consumers of AI technology.

AI implementation is one part of a broader effort to address bias and foster inclusion in school communities; consider how it aligns with other equity initiatives in your district. By taking a holistic approach, you can harness the power of AI to create more personalized, efficient, and accessible learning experiences for all students.

To read and download CoSN’s 2024 Blaschke Report, visit bit.ly/3NqBqq6.

Krysia Gabenski is editorial director of NAESP.