AI in the Classroom A Guide for Waterford Families

AIintheClassroom:AGuidefor WaterfordFamilies AIintheClassroom:AGuidefor WaterfordFamilies

WhatisAI?

ArtificialIntelligence(AI):AIisatechnologythathelpsmachinesactinsmartways,likemaking decisions,recognizingpatterns,orcompletingtasks Itworksbyusingdata,rules,andlearning methodstofigurethingsout Forexample,AIpowersfacialrecognitiononphones,virtual assistantslikeAlexaandSiri,andthealgorithmsbehindsocialmediafeeds

GenerativeAI(GenAI):GenAIisatypeofAIthatcreatesnewcontentliketext,images,andmusic bylearningfromexamples.It’sanewerkindofAIthatcanhelpmakecreativeandpersonalized materials,likeeducationaltoolsorartisticdesigns.

WhatisAI’sRoleintheWaterfordPublicSchoolClassroom?

AtWaterfordPublicSchools,we’reintroducingArtificialIntelligence(AI)inthoughtfulandage-appropriatewaystohelpsupportstudent learningandteaching.OurgoalistohelpstudentsandeducatorsunderstandhowtouseAIresponsibly,safely,andcreatively.We followaHumanInquiry ➡ AI ➡ HumanEmpowermentapproach.ThismeansAIisusedasatooltosupportthinkingandlearning not toreplaceit Studentsareencouragedtostartwiththeirownquestionsorideas,useAItoexploreorpractice,andthenapplywhat they’velearnedinmeaningful,human-centeredways

AIisnotheretoreplaceteachersorstudents’effort Instead,it'satoolthatcanassistwithlearning likehelpingstudentsbrainstorm ideas,checktheirwriting,orgetpersonalizedfeedback Itcanalsosupportteachersincreatingmoreengaginglessonsthatmeetthe needsofalllearners

We’recommittedtousingAIinwaysthatprotectstudentprivacy,promoteequity,andmaintainacademicintegrity Ourgoalistohelp studentsbecomethoughtfulandinformedusersofthispowerfultechnologybyguidingthemthroughsafe,responsible,andmeaningful waystouseAIintheirlearning

HowWeProtectStudentDataWhenUsingAI

AtWaterfordPublicSchools,studentprivacyisatoppriority especiallywhenusingtoolspoweredbyArtificial Intelligence(AI) Wetakecarefulstepstoensurethatnopersonallyidentifiableorconfidentialinformation aboutstudentsorstaffissharedwithAIsystems Thisincludesnames,contactdetails,demographic information,andclassrosters BoardPolicy5200

OnlyAItoolsthathavebeenreviewedandapprovedbythedistrict andthatfollowallConnecticutstudent dataprivacylaws areallowedinourschools ThesesafeguardshelpususeAItosupportlearningwithout puttingstudentdataatrisk OnceinformationisenteredintomostAIsystems,welosecontroloverhowit’s used,sostrictlimits(guardrails)areinplacetoprotectyourchild’sprivacyatalltimes

WhatFamiliesShouldKnowAbouttheRisksofAI

WhileAItoolscansupportlearning,theyalsocomewithimportantrisksthatwetakeseriouslyinWaterfordPublicSchools.Someofthebiggest concernsinclude:

Dataprivacy:StudentsaretaughtnottosharepersonalorsensitiveinformationwithAItools,sincewecan’tcontrolwherethatdatagoes onceit'sentered

Misinformation:AIcansometimesgenerateanswersthatsoundrightbutarecompletelyfalse what’scalled“AIhallucinations”Students areguidedtodouble-checkanythingAIprovides

Bias:BecauseAIlearnsfromlargesetsofdata,itcanreflectunfairsocietalbiases Wehelpstudentsrecognizeandquestionthesebiases whentheyappear.

Deepfakes:Thesearefakebutrealistic-lookingvideos,images,oraudiocreatedusingAI Creatingorsharingdeepfakes,especiallyfor bullyingorotherinappropriatebehavior,isnotallowedandwillresultindisciplinaryaction BoardPolicy5020and5240 We’reworkingtoensurestudentsunderstandboththebenefitsandrisksofAI,sotheycanuseitsafely,ethically,andresponsibly bothin schoolandbeyond

HowAIIsUsedinAssignments:

WPSMenuforStudentAIUse

InWaterfordPublicSchools,wehelpstudentsunderstandhow touseAIinage-appropriate,meaningfulways.Notevery assignmentwillinvolveAI,andwhenitisused,thereareclear expectations.

Toguidethis,teachersuseamenuthatexplainsthetypeofAI supportallowedforagiventask.Thishelpsstudentslearnwhen andhowtouseAIresponsibly,anditkeepsexpectationsclear.

Teachersletstudentsknowwhatmenuchoiceappliesbefore theybeginanassignment.ThegoalisforstudentstouseAIto enhancelearning nottotakeshortcuts.Thishelpsthemgrow ascriticalthinkers,problem-solvers,andresponsibledigital citizens.

HowFamiliesandCaregiversCanSupportResponsibleAIUse

Familiesplayanimportantroleinhelpingstudentsdevelophealthy,ethicalhabitswhenusingAI —bothatschoolandathome.Herearesomewaysyoucansupportyourchild’slearninginthis evolvingarea:

TalkaboutresponsibleAIuse:RemindyourchildthatAIisatooltosupport notreplace their owneffortandideas.Helpthemunderstandtheimportanceofacademichonestyanddoing theirownthinking.

AskquestionsabouthowAIisbeingusedinschool:Staycuriousandinvolved.Askyourchild howtheirteacherallows(ordoesn’tallow)AIinassignments,andwhatlevelofthe5-Step ScaffoldingScalethey’reusing.

Helpthemthinkcritically:EncourageyourchildtoquestioninformationtheygetfromAItools. RemindthemthatAIcansometimesbewrong,biased,ormisleading.

Modelthoughtfultechuse:Sharehowyouusetoolslikevoiceassistants,auto-correct,oreven AIinyourownwork andhowyoumakesureyou'restillthinkingforyourself.

Supportprivacyhabitsathome:TeachyourchildnevertosharepersonalinformationwithAI platformsorwebsites,andtouseonlyschool-approvedtoolswhendoinghomework Keepcommunicationopen:Letyourchildknowtheycantalktoyouifthey’reunsureabout howtouseAIinschoolorifthey’refeelingpressuredtouseitinthewrongway

Bystayingengagedandinformed,familiescanhelpstudentsbuildtheconfidenceandjudgment theyneedtouseAIwisely,safely,andethically.

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