Credit: (NJ Spotlight News)As part of New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy's call to create an “Artificial Intelligence Moonshot” in New Jersey, the state Department of Education recently released a set of resources aimed at helping educators understand, implement and manage artificial intelligence in schools, state education officials announced.
The resources range from articles about teaching and learning artificial intelligence to webinars that explain the history of the technology and how it can be used in education. The materials do not outline strict regulations on how AI can be used in education, according to a press release from the state Department of Education. But they are New Jersey's first set of guidelines for school districts to “responsibly and effectively” integrate AI-powered technology into classrooms and incorporate tools that make administrative tasks easier at schools, according to a press release from the New Jersey Department of Education.
But as the technology grows in popularity, education experts continue to point out that safety and privacy concerns should remain a top priority as AI becomes more prevalent in schools. Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, said states should consider safeguarding AI in the classroom with educators and parents in mind.
“We know that school districts can't just say it's a privacy issue,” Weingarten said. “We need technology translators, information sessions for parents, and classroom instruction.”
AI in New Jersey Schools
The state's new artificial intelligence resources come as Newark Public Schools takes steps to incorporate more AI into its classrooms and monitoring systems.
Surveillance and AI on the rise in Newark
Last month, the school board approved a $12 million project to install more than 7,000 AI cameras across the district this summer. District leaders said the high-tech surveillance systems are meant to improve school safety, but security experts warned the features could be invasive and could misidentify items or students.
The district is also considering expanding Khanmigo, an AI program designed for the classroom to guide students and assist teachers. So far, there's been little research on whether tools like Khanmigo are effective, but experts say districts should also consider student learning goals.
While New Jersey's resources do not impose restrictions on student privacy, the Department of Education has created an artificial intelligence webpage that provides an overview of AI and its systems, terminology, concepts, and guidance for school leaders and teachers. The state says the page will be updated regularly to keep up with “rapid” changes in AI.
The state also released a webinar introducing the basics of AI technology and explaining how the technology can support and enhance teaching and learning and provide personalized feedback to students depending on the type of technology. AI systems that use machine learning, such as facial recognition software or email spam filters, use algorithms to make decisions based on data, while systems such as chatbots use deep learning to identify complex patterns and relationships in data, the webinar explained.
The state's webinar urges school districts to think about how new technologies can support student learning and suggests that districts should reevaluate their policies as AI evolves and is integrated into learning. It also encourages school leaders to consider guidelines on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI and discuss how to most effectively implement new tools.
“AI has great potential for use in schools,” AFT President Weingarten said, but he cautioned that school districts and their technology departments should vet programs and materials before allowing them to be used by students, and that student safety and privacy must be protected with any new technology.
Teachers' union keeps watch
The AFT released its own AI Guardrails last week, focusing on educators and providing resources for teachers as they grapple with the new integration of AI into schools. The report lists six core values that focus on maximizing safety and privacy, putting AI decisions in the hands of educators, and promoting fairness and equity in technology.
Through its Innovation Fund, AFT is providing more than $200,000 to 11 school districts across the country to engage educators in finding solutions to embrace, understand and regulate AI. Local chapters of the American Federation of Teachers in New York City, the Cranston Teachers Union in Rhode Island, the Pinellas Classroom Teachers Association in Florida and other unions will work with school districts to host AI summits to understand and establish guidelines, provide hands-on training for educators, and host workshops, panels and community events.
“I'm not saying there's no way to make that happen, but who is responsible for data privacy? Who is responsible for protecting students?” Weingarten said.
According to a state press release, the department's Office of Innovation will meet with educators to get feedback, learn how AI is being used in the classroom, and discover existing needs to inform new guidance, resources, and professional development. The department is also participating in the Teach AI initiative, a consortium of state education departments and international organizations working to develop guidelines for AI policy and resources.
