Equitable access to AI in classrooms is a problem: the solution is professional learning

Key points:

Generative ai is transforming the nature of work in many fields. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.imf.org/en/Blogs/Articles/2024/01/14/ai-will-transform-the-global-economy-lets-make-sure-it-benefits-humanity” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>An analysis states More than 60 percent of jobs in advanced economies will be supported by ai in the next five years. However, this rapid growth in technology is also creating a new digital divide that could widen existing equity gaps between students from different socioeconomic backgrounds.

ai has the power to revolutionize education. It can help teachers save a tremendous amount of time on administrative tasks such as researching and developing lesson plans, creating rubrics for assignments, and communicating with parents; time that students can be reoriented. ai can also help teachers personalize teaching for each child, accelerating learning and improving outcomes. In fact, <a target="_blank" href="https://thedisagreement.substack.com/p/episode-19-ai-tutoring-and-k-12-education” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>those who benefit the most of ai tools that personalize instruction are students who didn't necessarily need that much help to begin with. Many high-achieving students use ai to understand their work at a deeper level, consulting these tools for timely personalized feedback, which can improve understanding and learning outcomes.

While the educational benefits of ai, such as helping students develop future-ready skills, are clear, it is equally important to ensure that students learn to use ai safely and responsibly. As ai becomes an integral tool for generating ideas and content in various businesses, students must understand how to use ai to improve their productivity and set themselves up for success in an ai-driven world.

However, students can only experience these benefits if their schools have developed forward-thinking ai policies and their teachers are trained in using ai to support instruction. Despite increasing investment in ai, many schools, especially those in under-resourced areas, lack consistent access to ai tools and training for their effective use.

Research suggests that teachers' use of ai in their classrooms is still limited. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.the74million.org/article/one-third-of-teachers-have-already-tried-ai-survey-finds/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Only one in three Teachers say they have used artificial intelligence tools at least once in the past year. Seventy-nine percent say their school system <a target="_blank" href="https://www.teachai.org/media/ai-in-education-and-the-workforce?page=%2Fpolicy&contentGrid=widget_N6MSzGM-9D” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>lacks clear policies on the use of aiand one in five say their district prohibits the use of ai for students and staff. Only 29 percent of teachers say they have <a target="_blank" href="https://www.edweek.org/technology/schools-are-taking-too-long-to-craft-ai-policy-why-thats-a-problem/2024/02″ target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>received ai-related professional developmentand teachers in high-poverty settings are less likely to participate in ai training than their peers.

Although equitable access to ai in classrooms is a problem, professional learning offers a solution. Given the growing importance of ai in workforce preparation, educators must be equipped with the skills and experience necessary to help students successfully navigate these tools.

Here are three recommendations for school systems to promote equitable access to ai.

Build the capacity of K-12 leaders to create and implement effective ai policies.

Integrating ai into instruction in a thoughtful and productive way starts with school and district leadership. Leaders should develop well-reasoned policies around the use of ai in their schools, recognizing that student privacy and data must be protected, and should foster a safe and supportive environment that allows for exploration and experimentation within barriers. properly established security measures.

Despite ai's potential to improve teaching and learning, many districts today face setbacks due to restrictive rules that prohibit or greatly limit the use of ai for students over concerns about privacy and cheating. School and district leaders need clear guidance to help create and implement effective ai policies. However, as of March 2024, only seven states (California, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia) have published guidelines to support leaders in developing such policies.

Offer teachers professional development in ai.

Teachers need guidance on using ai as a tool to support instruction. They also need support to integrate ai into lessons and teach students how to use technology ethically and responsibly. This means helping both teachers and students recognize and combat bias in algorithms, ensuring that ai is used in ways that promote equity, inclusion and transparency. This is true for all teachers, but especially for those of older generations.

According to a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.forbes.com/advisor/education/it-and-tech/artificial-intelligence-in-school” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Forbes Advisor SurveyAn overwhelming 94 percent of teachers agree that students need to learn about the ethical use of ai, and 61 percent say comprehensive education is needed. However, more than a third of teachers surveyed said they have not integrated ai into their own classrooms. The survey found that younger teachers were more likely to adopt ai tools, with respondents under 26 reporting the highest usage rates. Building teachers' capacity to use ai with their students is essential to ensuring that all students have the opportunity to learn ai skills.

Seek help from partner organizations.

ai tools and technologies are evolving rapidly and it can be difficult for educators and administrators to keep up. In fact, district leaders cite their lack of familiarity with these technologies as a barrier to establishing an effective strategy and would like more help from partner organizations.

According to a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.imaginelearning.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IL-Admin-Perspective-ai-Survey-Report.pdf” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Imagine Learning Studio54 percent of K-12 administrators say educational technology organizations could reduce their concerns about ai and support its adoption in schools by providing more training and best practices in the use of ai. Organizations such as the National Mathematics and Science Initiative (NMSI), a nonprofit organization that promotes STEM education through comprehensive training for K-12 teachers and leaders, can help educational leaders meet this need for professional learning around ai and its use in education.

The rapid adoption of ai in well-resourced classrooms is deepening the digital divide, leaving students in rural and high-poverty schools at a disadvantage. All students deserve equal opportunities to benefit from the ai ​​revolution. Closing this gap and ensuring equity for all students will require high-quality professional development that trains both K-12 teachers and leaders to leverage ai effectively in teaching and learning.