Parents want more transparency and choice about how AI is used in their children’s schools, while teachers want guidance on how to ensure students use the technology appropriately, new research confirms. Here’s why.
K12 families must be informed and allowed to provide input into how AI is used in their child’s education, according to a new survey from the Center for Democracy and Technology. Also, most parents would choose to opt their child out of several potential uses of AI and its algorithms:
- Using an algorithm to determine appropriate disciplinary measures for students at their child’s school (57%)
- Using an algorithm to make decisions about student enrollment (54%)
- Use of a child’s biometric information to confirm their identity (53%)
Here are some other key takeaways that reflect students’, parents’ and teachers’ perceptions of technology use in schools:
AI use has surged
Some 70% of students used ChatGPT and other generative AI tools in 2024, a 12% increase from 2023. Additionally, more teachers are embracing the technology than in 2023.
Two-thirds of teachers say they’re using AI and nearly half of them (46%) are using it at school for things like:
- Developing or informing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students (25%)
- Grading students’ written assignments or tests (21%)
- Lesson planning, writing emails or creating assignments (16%)
When using gen AI for IEPs, teachers use it to:
- Identify trends in student progress and help determine patterns for goal setting (23%)
- To summarize the content of an IEP (19%)
- For choosing specific accommodations as part of the IEP creation process (16%)
- To write only the narrative portion of an IEP (12%)
- To write an IEP in full (8%)
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Guidance lacks
Despite this surge in AI use among students and teachers, the survey suggests directions from schools and districts are lacking. For instance, just one in four teachers say they’ve received guidance about the school’s discipline policy for student AI use in ways that aren’t permitted.
However, 68% of teachers indicate their school has a policy about whether gen AI is permitted or banned. More specifically:
- 36% of teachers say gen AI is generally permitted in their schools
- 32% of teachers say gen AI is generally banned in their schools
Those who received guidance also shared some details about their training. Let’s dive into that:
Among the 68% of teachers who indicate their school has a policy of whether gen AI is banned or permitted:
- 33% received guidance on responding if a student is suspected of using gen AI in prohibited ways.
- 30% learned to direct student use of generative AI by comparing previous work with the assignment in question.
- 29% were trained to use online tools to detect student use of gen AI on assignments.
- 23% now know how to apply their school’s discipline policy to penalize students for using gen AI in ways that are not permitted.
Take a closer look at the survey’s findings here.
