Navigating artificial intelligence in school and at home

As students head back to school, artificial intelligence is forcing districts to rethink the rules of the classroom.

The question is no longer just whether students should use AI. Schools are also trying to determine when the technology can help students learn and when it starts doing the learning for them.

In Newton and Cambridge, school leaders are developing and revising policies around AI use, trying to balance academic integrity with the reality that students will increasingly encounter the technology in school, college and the workplace.

Newton Public Schools Superintendent Anna Nolin said districts are generally being pulled in two directions.

“Some districts are thinking, let's just ban everything and just, you know, get back to old school. And then the other side being, how can we help our teachers and harness the power of this tool to allow them to further personalize instruction for kids? And how do we teach kids to be ready for what is clearly an AI-involved world? And so we sit squarely between that tension here in Newton.”

Newton Public Schools already has an acceptable use policy, but Nolin said the district is revisiting it this year and plans to involve students in crafting the next version.