Lisa Pawlak
AI
in the K–6
Classroom With the rise of generative
artificial intelligence (AI) models like ChatGPT, many parents (and educators) have questions about its use in the classroom. How is AI changing education? Will it replace teachers? Are students cheating more with this new technology? Is AI something to fear? “At the elementary school level, AI isn’t being used a lot in the classroom,” says Alicia Gallegos Butters, Director of Educational Technology with the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE). Instead, AI is mostly being used by K–6 educators behind the scenes. Since AI technology is continuously evolving and offering new opportunities, educational plans
16 • SanDiegofamily.com • February 2024
Anyone who wishes to better understand AI is encouraged to interact with it. If you require access, a partnership between SDCOE and Computers 2 Kids offers refurbished desktops ($100) and laptops ($150) to qualifying families at monthly events. Learn more at www.c2sdk.org or check SDCOE’s calendar for upcoming dates and locations: www.sdcoe.net/calendars/event.
are in place for teachers and students to learn how to use AI responsibly and productively. While nobody can predict the future, most experts agree that AI is here to stay. Below, we discuss some positive ways that AI has already impacted the K–6 landscape, along with potential pitfalls that students, teachers and parents should look out for when using this new technology. AI helps teachers personalize lessons. According to the California Department of Education (CDE), AIpowered tools can enhance productivity and empower educators to provide more personalized and effective
learning experiences. By embracing AI, educators can optimize workflow, save time and elevate education quality. Although AI has yet to be fully embraced in the classroom, there are many available tools to differentiate education for students. For example, Gallegos Butters explains how AI can be used to change the Lexile level for a passage of reading without changing the subject matter. This allows for effective classroom-wide discussion, while supporting varying levels of individual reading comprehension. Not only does AI allow teachers to tailor lessons, it also enables them to provide targeted interventions when appropriate. Some AI tools, such as
