Schools weigh how to handle AI in the classroom

Technology is advancing so quickly anymore that it is tough to keep up especially when it comes to how our kids are using it. At Colman-Egan Public Schools, officials are discussing a proposed Artificial Intelligence policy to help guide how students can and cannot use AI in their schoolwork.
The policy is based on guidance from the Associated School Boards of South Dakota. It emphasizes clear guidelines for classroom use, professional training for teachers, data privacy protections, human oversight, community engagement, and flexibility for each district. School board members are set to discuss and vote on the policy after a second reading at their Oct. 13 meeting.
There are so many benefits that can come from using the technology that teachers really like all the areas it can help people with. The flip side is that there are a number of ways it can be used to circumvent the actual learning process, said Superintendent Scott Hemmer.
I feel it is a great tool, but there is a fear in the educational world that it will be used to provide a product that the student didnt produce and will be used in place of them learning critical thinking skills.
Flandreau Public Schools, meanwhile, has yet to take up the issue, though teachers there are already experimenting with how to balance the opportunities and risks.
High School English teacher Rebecca Toben not only allows AI in her classroom she encourages it. Throughout the school year, my students will use AI to help generate ideas, form thesis statements and outlines, and guide them through the pre-writing process. They also are encouraged to use AI for the proofreading and editing process. Writing assignments, however, are completed in-class without the use of AI. I have had success with this approach, and I have seen sufficient student growth, Toben said.
Ignoring the technology, she added, would put students at a disadvantage.
I feel AI is where the future of technology is going; There are already jobs that consist of companies integrating AI. We have been telling students to Google it for years. AI goes a step beyond by allowing students to have an on-going conversation The biggest hurdle is ensuring students are not relying on AI too heavily we need to teach them to use it for inspiration, not for academic dishonesty.
Family and Consumer Science teacher Jason Gerlach said that a priority for him is teaching students to think critically about what they get from AI.
I find we spend more time teaching students how to evaluate and validate the information they are getting from AI and the importance of not just taking the first thing that pops up in their searches.
In math, the approach is tougher.
Teacher Melissa Opsahl said AI use is considered cheating. Homework now counts less toward grades, and she worries students are losing basic skills.
We already have the calculator as technology they can use to do the work for them and we have adapted to that kids reach for it to do the simplest of calculations. But if you dont know how to use it correctly, it can give the wrong answer. Our math scores in the country have gone down every year and I do think technology use is part of the problem, she said.
Test scores are suffering, she added.
One thing I have told my students, if you can use AI to answer the questions instead of knowing things, why does anyone need to hire you? Your boss can do the exact same thing, so what would your purpose be? You cant just rely on AI to do everything.
Because AI isnt going away, most agree the key is making sure educators, students and parents understand how to work with it, rather than letting it replace their own learning. For more on the policy Colman-Egan is considering, visit the districts website under the Sept. 10 board meeting minutes.