New Jersey unveils resources for using AI in schools as state looks to pioneer innovations

This story was Originally posted by ChalkbeatSubscribe to their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters.

As part of Gov. Phil Murphy’s call for an “ai pipeline” in New Jersey, the state education department last week unveiled a set of resources aimed at helping educators understand, implement and manage ai in schools, state education officials said.

The resources range from articles on teaching and learning about artificial intelligence to a webinar explaining the history of the technology and how it is used in education. The materials do not outline strict rules on how to use ai in education, but they are New Jersey's first guide for school districts to “responsibly and effectively” integrate ai-powered technology into the classroom and incorporate tools to make administrative tasks easier in schools, according to a news release from the state Department of Education.

But as the technology gains popularity, education experts continue to say that security and privacy concerns should remain a top priority as ai expands in schools. Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, says states should consider implementing protections for ai in classrooms that take educators and parents into account.

“We know that school districts can’t just say that privacy is important,” Weingarten said. “There needs to be a technical translator, information sessions for parents and classroom guidance.”

The state's new ai resources come as Newark Public Schools takes steps to incorporate more ai into classrooms and monitoring systems.

Last month, the school board approved a $12 million project to install more than 7,000 artificial intelligence-powered cameras across the district this summer. District leaders said the high-tech surveillance system is meant to make schools safer, but security experts warned that such capabilities could result in an invasion of privacy or could potentially misidentify items or students.

The district is also considering expanding Khanmigo, an artificial intelligence program designed for the classroom and intended to tutor students and assist teachers. So far, there is little research on whether tools like Khanmigo are effective, but experts have also said school districts should consider their students’ learning goals.

New Jersey’s resources don’t set parameters for student privacy, but the Department of Education created a webpage on artificial intelligence that offers an overview of ai and its systems, terms and concepts, and guidance tailored to school leaders and teachers. The page will be updated regularly to keep up with “rapid” changes in ai, the state said.

The state also launched a webinar that introduces the fundamentals of ai technology and explains how technology can support and enhance teaching and learning and provide personalized feedback to students based on the type of technology. ai systems that use machine learning, such as facial recognition software or spam filters, employ algorithms to make data-driven decisions, while systems like chatbots use deep learning to identify complex patterns and relationships in data, the webinar explained.

The state webinar also urges school districts to think about how new technology can support student learning and suggests that districts should review policies as ai evolves and is integrated into learning. It also encourages school leaders to think about guidelines for acceptable and unacceptable uses of ai and to consider how best to implement the new tools.

AFT President Weingarten says “there is tremendous potential for ai in schools,” but school districts and their technology departments should review programs and materials before allowing students to access them. She also cautioned that with any new technology, student safety and privacy must be protected.

On Tuesday, the AFT released its own set of ai safeguards, which focus on educators and offer resources to teachers as they grapple with the new integration of ai in schools. The report lists six core values ​​that focus on maximizing security and privacy, empowering educators to make decisions about ai, and promoting justice and equity in technology, among other values.

Through its Innovation Fund, the AFT is also providing more than $200,000 to 11 school districts across the country to find solutions to incorporate, understand, and regulate ai with educator engagement. The United Federation of Teachers in New York City, the Cranston Teachers Alliance in Rhode Island, the Pinellas Classroom Teachers Association in Florida, and other union chapters will work with their school districts to create ai summits to understand and establish guidelines, provide hands-on training for educators, and host workshops, panels, and community events.

“I’m not saying there’s no way to do it, but who is responsible for data privacy, who is responsible for protecting students?” Weingarten said.

The state department’s innovation office plans to meet with educators to get feedback, learn how ai is being used in classrooms and uncover existing needs to inform new guidance, resources and professional development, according to the state’s news release. The department is also part of the Teach ai initiative, a consortium of state education departments and international organizations working to create guidelines for ai policies and resources.

chalk rhythm It is a nonprofit news site covering educational change in public schools.

Related:
Stay up to date on everything related to ai in education
Why ai in the classroom needs its own 'wrist test' 70 years after Brown
To learn more about ai in education, visit eSN's digital learning hub