I can remember when cellphones were introduced. I was in my first position at NJSBA working as a county coordinator in the northern part of the state. I did not want a cellphone. I didn’t think I needed one despite the fact that much of my work involved talking with people on the telephone. I didn’t like the idea that people could call me 24-7. I thought that there were times that you should be unreachable. (Something that I still believe.) Despite these hesitations, NJSBA assigned us cellphones. I really thought it was crazy. To say I was not an early adopter would be an understatement.
Fast forward to the present and I have two cellphones, one for work and one for home. I can’t imagine doing my job without my work cellphone. I use it for everything and even synced my watch to it. I may be overly reliant on the phone because the second it makes a sound I pick it up. Pavlov’s dogs have nothing on me when it comes to my cellphone.
It is amazing how we all react when new technology comes along. Whether it is calculators, email, or even the internet, some always resist the change while others embrace it. But in the end we all adopt it; these changes transform our lives.
Frankly, the pace of technological change seems to be accelerating. It seemed when I was younger, the world moved more slowly and we all had more time to adapt to change. In recent years, innovation happens more quickly and before we know it, things we all took for granted—like newspapers, music CDs, and classes on penmanship—are all relics of a world that no longer exists. I mean, I remember a world before the internet. “Siri does this make me a dinosaur?”
I believe we are now going through another dramatic technological shift with the inception of generative AI (artificial intelligence). How education leaders react to these changes is critically important because how we react will affect the next generation.
While those of us in education are in different places regarding our comfort level and confidence in AI, there is one thing of which I am certain. It is here to stay, and we can no more stop its inevitable advance than we can hold back the tides. To try to do so would be a disservice to our students. So as school board members, how should we make decisions for our districts about AI ?
Be Realistic AI is a new technological tool and as with any new tool there are detractors and those who are all in. You will find that even if you were skeptical at first, there are features of AI that can really help students, teachers, and administrators. And if you are enthusiastic about it, be realistic about the negatives of AI, such as hallucinations (AI’s ability to make up facts) or the potential for plagiarism. Keep an open mind to the positives and the negatives.
Educate Yourself Even if you are not a fan of AI right now, learn as much as you can about the topic. You really can’t judge a technology that you don’t understand. Over the next year there will be plenty of opportunities to learn about AI. There is a good chance that you are using some form of AI already.
Find Out How it is Currently Being Used in our Schools Chances are you will need to decide on district policies and procedures regarding AI. Find out how it is being used in education now. I found it eye-opening to talk to educators who use AI. (See this interview with Peter Hughes, superintendent of the Cresskill district, on YouTube on AI) When you understand how it can and is being used, then you can make educated decisions on policies and procedures.
Think Professional Development Your district staff will also vary in their knowledge of and reactions to AI. Some are fearful of it and others are probably using it every day. Boards need to support professional development for teachers and administrators on the topic.
Know Your Role in the Process When your superintendent approaches the board with a discussion on AI policy and procedures, know what questions to ask. If you have educated yourself and know what other districts are doing this will be easier and make for a better conversation.
Whether we are excited by the development of AI or frightened by it, it has arrived and we have to deal with it. Yet as we move forward with AI technology in our schools, we have to remind ourselves about our core mission: to prepare the students for the future. The future is here whether we like it or not.
What are your thoughts on AI?