Alaska has joined more than half of the country in issuing artificial intelligence guidance for education, according to Alaska Public Media/KSKA.
The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development’s (DEED) new guidelines on using AI in school districts do more than just advise school districts on AI policy, according to DEED Computer Science Content Specialist Anthony White.
The guidelines recommend moving beyond bans and suggest developing ways to responsibly use generative AI, which includes software like ChatGPT. A disclaimer in the document states it was written with help from generative AI to “model responsible and ethical engagement with AI technologies.”
Board member Kim Bergey said she is concerned about risks to data security. “I think we need to take a really in-depth look at the personally identifiable information aspect of AI, and not just from the aspect of students, but also from that of parents and for staff that work within districts,” she says.
The new guidelines recommend teaching AI users not to share personal information in order to protect data security.
Alaska’s Strategic Framework for Artificial Intelligence for K-12 has this vision statement:
“To empower every Alaskan student and educator to ethically and effectively engage with
Artificial Intelligence, fostering critical thinking, creativity, and responsible digital citizenship, thereby providing all learners with the opportunity and comprehensive support to thrive in an evolving, AI-driven world.”
Among the guiding principles:
- AI must augment human capabilities, critical thinking, and creativity, never replacing human judgment or decision-making in educational contexts. All AI use should begin with human inquiry and culminate in human reflection and insight.
- Districts should move beyond outright bans and instead develop a balanced approach that allows for responsible implementation of generative AI tools.
- Educators must have the autonomy to make professional decisions regarding AI use in their classrooms. Districts should support educators in updating syllabi and classroom policies.
- AI tools and education should be accessible to all students, actively mitigating broadband disparities and device availability challenges across Alaska’s diverse regions.
- The functionalities, limitations, and potential biases of AI tools must be clearly communicated to all stakeholders. Explicit disclosure is suggested when AI is used in educational materials or assessments.
- Policies should clarify how to appropriately attribute Al-generated content and require students to disclose when and how Al was utilized in their work. This includes requiring students to cite Al-generated content appropriately.
- Clear lines of responsibility for AI tool selection and outcomes are vital. Robust human oversight is mandatory for any decisions that directly impact students, such as grading or disciplinary actions.
- Districts should form a dedicated team to evaluate AI tools and their effectiveness in supporting teaching and learning. A key evaluation criterion must be the level of human oversight the tool requires and allows, ensuring that educators remain in control of impactful decisions.
- Rigorous protection of student data and digital well-being is non-negotiable. This includes protocols against unauthorized sharing of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and compliance with local, state, and federal laws.
- Promote responsible and ethical engagement with AI, fostering an understanding of intellectual property rights, preventing misuse, and building critical evaluation skills for all AI-generated content.
Alaska Public Media/KSKA
