Some of the largest school boards across Canada will begin the new school year without formal policies on the use of artificial intelligence in the classroom, despite concerns about how the technology will impact learning and academic integrity.
But while there seems to be wide consensus on the need for more guidance and vigilance when it comes to AI in schooling, one education expert says blanket policies are not likely to help anyway.
The Canadian Press asked 10 school boards in different parts of the country whether they would implement a formal policy for the 2023-24 school year that covers teacher and student use of AI, such as chatbots that can solve math problems or write essays.
Among the boards that responded to the survey, none had an official AI-specific policy in place. Some said they would apply their existing codes of conduct to the use of AI in the classroom, while others said theyB次元官网网址檙e in consultations on how to best tackle the fast-growing issue.
Toronto District School Board, the largest in the country, only said in a brief statement that its staff will be B次元官网网址渓ooking into it furtherB次元官网网址� to determine if any changes are required to the boardB次元官网网址檚 academic honesty rules.
Just west of Toronto, the Peel District School Board said it is B次元官网网址渒eenly aware of the ethical implications and potential risks associated with AI in educationB次元官网网址� and is taking a B次元官网网址減roactive approachB次元官网网址� to mitigate any risks.
B次元官网网址淭hrough ongoing discussions and collaboration with departmental staff and consultants, the school board is ensuring that our artificial intelligence implementation aligns with best practices, ethical considerations, and the unique needs of our diverse student population,B次元官网网址� the school board said in a statement. B次元官网网址淭his work will inform board policy on use of AI in classrooms and any mitigating action, if needed.B次元官网网址�
The Calgary Board of Education said it does not have a formal policy on AI but itB次元官网网址檚 working with schools to B次元官网网址渂uild a common understanding of AIB次元官网网址檚 legitimate uses and limitations in education,B次元官网网址� with a focus on ethics. The board said expectations of students are already outlined in its student code of conduct and teachers must B次元官网网址渃learly identifyB次元官网网址� when use of AI is not permitted in assignments.
B次元官网网址淎s educators, we support the use of assistive tools to enhance learning, not to replace it,B次元官网网址� the board said in a statement.
The Winnipeg School Division also said it does not have an official policy but its message to teachers is B次元官网网址渢hat there is a learning component to AI and they should ensure ethical and effective ways of using the tool in their classrooms.B次元官网网址�
Meanwhile, Saskatoon Public Schools division said more research on the benefits and impacts of AI use is needed B次元官网网址渂efore policy development can be explored.B次元官网网址�
Lauren Bialystok, a professor of social justice education at the University of TorontoB次元官网网址檚 Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, said itB次元官网网址檚 not surprising that school boards arenB次元官网网址檛 instituting formal policies on AI. SheB次元官网网址檚 also not convinced such policies would work.
B次元官网网址淲e need more refined and more sensitive ways of understanding what constitutes legitimate or illegitimate use of these tools,B次元官网网址� she said in an interview.
B次元官网网址淎nd a board-wide policy or even a school-wide policy B次元官网网址� in some cases even a department-wide policy B次元官网网址� will necessarily be too general, or too specific for someone.B次元官网网址�
Bialystok said itB次元官网网址檚 a fact that AI tools such as ChatGPT, the chatbot that exploded in popularity as soon as it was launched last fall, pose a threat to academic integrity B次元官网网址� especially in post-secondary education. But despite its pitfalls, AI also offers B次元官网网址渆ducation potentialB次元官网网址� and there are proven ways that students and teachers can use it to enhance learning, she noted.
B次元官网网址淪o something like, say, a ban is not only completely naive and impractical, but actually misses the multifaceted nature of these technologies.B次元官网网址�
One of the main rationales for an AI policy would be to detect and minimize cheating but coming up with a comprehensive set of rules for schools is B次元官网网址渧ery difficultB次元官网网址� for several reasons, she said.
For example, the risks and benefits vary by subject. B次元官网网址淲hat may be admissible for using AI in a science class may be less admissible in an English class, or vice versa.B次元官网网址�
She also noted that AI is constantly evolving so it would be very hard to keep up with it from a policy perspective.
Instructors from across the country have told The Canadian Press in recent months that they use the tool for course planning, administrative tasks and even incorporate it in some student assignments.
But Bialystok said that while plenty of tech-savvy teachers are happy to experiment with AI in the classroom, many also B次元官网网址渄onB次元官网网址檛 have the time or the wherewithalB次元官网网址� to figure out how to employ and monitor its use.
B次元官网网址淭heir profession, in a sense, has changed overnight and they didnB次元官网网址檛 have enough support or respite or professional development anyway to begin with,B次元官网网址� she said.
Sarah Eaton, an associate professor at the University of Calgary and an expert in AI education, has said that school boards and education ministries should consider professional development for teachers to better understand AI and how students may be using it.
Eaton said sheB次元官网网址檚 worried about teachers B次元官网网址渢urning a blind eye to the technologyB次元官网网址� in the classroom.
B次元官网网址淲e canB次元官网网址檛 control it and we canB次元官网网址檛 ban it but we can help students learn to use it, in a supervised way, in a thoughtful way and a meaningful way.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址� With files from William Eltherington
Sonja Puzic, The Canadian Press
