Districts and educators across the country are squaring up with a tricky problem: how can educational artificial intelligence (AI) be incorporated into the classroom in a way that benefits students and teachers?

Nate Ruder, an Instructional Coach for grades 6 through 12, has led the District’s AI task force for the past two years. The task force was charged with developing an educational AI framework that would guide and outline the use of AI in classrooms. The framework, now in its final draft, includes guidelines for staff familiarity with AI tools so that they can effectively and ethically incorporate those tools into classroom expectations. 

“The most frequent concern I hear from teachers, parents, and students is that technology could undermine creativity and critical thinking. It raises a vital question: How do we protect human connection in an automated age?” said Ruder. “Our district is focused on using our AI Framework as a guide—not to replace the classroom experience, but to keep students and teachers at the very heart of learning.”

At an AI work group meeting this winter, teachers from all disciplines at the secondary level met to discuss and problem-solve some of the questions around the implementation of AI in classrooms. The work group had time to practice writing their own structured AI in a “sandbox” page of a program called MagicSchool. Some teachers have already begun to incorporate educational AI into their teaching through pilot programs. 

“We are partnering with our students to hear their honest hopes and concerns. While one student shared, 'I’d rather have a real teacher,' another found that AI 'helped me finally understand a complex concept,'” said Ruder. “It is encouraging to see our students thinking critically about AI while also finding new ways to support their own learning.”