Five “A.I. In Schools” Scenarios We Need To Discuss
Sam Altman, CEO of now for-profit OpenAI, recently laid out a case for the dawn of the “Intelligence Age”. In his remarks, he touched on some of the impacts artificial intelligence could and might have on learning, education, and schooling.
As both a Dad of five kids still in school (I’ve got kids from 15 down to 3, so I’m in it for the long haul), and as an educator working with K-12 and Higher Ed teachers/faculty all around the country—something made me a bit uneasy about jumping into this future.
It’s not the artificial intelligence per se. I’ve written about the ways I already see AI helping some educators save time, and create more meaningful learning experiences for our students. I’ve personally used A.I. in some amazing ways that I’ve written about on this blog.
It’s not the cheating and plagiarism fears we’ve been tackling the last few years. I’ve seen many great conversations, discussions, and actions taken to come to grips with ways our assessments need to adapt to this reality.
Here’s the issue: Are we talking about what’s next?
How A.I. is already seeping into our current devices, systems, programs, and much more? And, how this is going to impact our schools?
We’ll have some very important decisions to make in the next few years about A.I. and it’s role in our learning institutions.
My last article detailed the process for creating Learning Principles for your organization that lay the foundation for navigating these decisions (if you haven’t read it, check it out here and the video going over this process).
So, let’s get into it. With the help of Perplexity, these are five “A.I. in schools” scenarios that we need to discuss. Check them out below, and discuss with your staff, community, and organization.
Can’t wait to hear your thoughts on where we are headed in a world of artificial intelligence.
Scenario #1: AI Powered—Data-Driven Decision Making
A high school is considering implementing an AI-powered system that analyzes student performance data, attendance records, and behavioral incidents to predict at-risk students and suggest intervention strategies. The system would replace the current manual process of teachers and counselors identifying struggling students.
Debate points:
Efficiency of AI vs. human intuition in identifying at-risk students
Privacy concerns regarding AI access to sensitive student data
Potential for AI bias in predictions and recommendations
Impact on teacher-student relationships and personalized support
Scenario #2: AI-Assisted Curriculum —Personalizing Education at Scale
An elementary school district is exploring the use of an AI tool that can generate personalized learning plans and curriculum materials based on individual student progress and learning styles. This would significantly reduce the time teachers spend on lesson planning and differentiation.
Debate points:
Quality and creativity of AI-generated content vs. teacher-created materials
Adaptability of AI to diverse cultural contexts and special needs
Impact on teacher autonomy and professional development
Cost-effectiveness of AI implementation vs. traditional methods
Scenario #3: Automating Administration—Efficiency vs. Human Input
A middle school is considering implementing an AI system to handle most administrative tasks, including scheduling, budget management, and routine communication with parents. This would free up significant time for school leaders to focus on instructional leadership, strategic planning, and community engagement.
Debate points:
Efficiency gains vs. potential job displacement for administrative staff
Reliability and accuracy of AI in handling complex administrative tasks
Impact on personal relationships with parents and community members
Cybersecurity concerns with AI managing sensitive school information
Scenario #4: AI-Powered Teacher Evaluation
A school district is proposing to use an AI system to evaluate teacher performance based on various data points, including student test scores, classroom observations, and student feedback. This would replace the current system of principal observations and annual reviews.
Debate points:
Objectivity of AI evaluations vs. human judgment
Comprehensiveness of AI in capturing intangible aspects of teaching
Potential for AI to provide more frequent and actionable feedback
Impact on teacher morale and professional growth
Scenario #5: Virtual AI Assistants—Supporting Students 24/7
A high school is considering providing each student with a personalized AI virtual assistant that can answer questions, provide study tips, and offer emotional support. This AI would be available 24/7 and would aim to supplement the support provided by teachers and counselors.
Debate points:
Potential benefits for student learning and well-being
Concerns about students becoming overly reliant on AI support
Privacy and data security issues related to AI interactions with minors
Impact on students' social skills and human relationships
Final Thoughts
If you think these scenarios are “Far-off in the future”, I’ve got news for you: They are happening right now. These are areas schools are already using or discussing all around the world.
What should be kept and valued as human in our schooling experience? This is a question we must keep coming back to again and again.
