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Ballotpedia's Hall Pass: Interviews
Stay up to date on school board politics!
Hall Pass is a newsletter designed to keep you plugged into the conversations driving school board politics and education policy. Each edition brings you a roundup of the sharpest commentary and research from across the political spectrum on education and the latest on school board elections and recall efforts.
Hall Pass also occasionally features interviews with experts in education. This page acts as a repository for our interviews, which can sometimes be too long to run in an unabbreviated form in an email.
August 7, 2024: Interview with Missouri School Boards’ Association Director of Digital Initiatives Mark Henderson on AI and education
Excerpts from this interview ran in the August 7, 2024, edition of Hall Pass. It is presented here in its entirety.
In late 2022, OpenAI, a research organization based in California, released ChatGPT into the world.[1] Since then, generative AI tools, and the debates about how to use them, have seeped into nearly every area of life—including, of course, education and schools. These tools, most often presented as online chat programs, can answer questions, compose essays, analyze data, code software, generate images, and more.
Teachers and district leaders have wrestled with how to respond. Many districts, including some of the largest in the country, at first moved to block student access to AI tools, citing concerns over cheating.[2]Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag
To help us understand the challenges around AI in K-12 education, I talked with Mark Henderson, the Director of Digital Initiatives at the Missouri School Boards’ Association (MSBA). The MSBA recently released the AI for K-12 Education Toolkit, a resource for helping school boards, administrators, teachers, and parents understand AI in schools. The Toolkit includes chapters explaining how AI tools work, what AI policies and procedures can look like, and how districts can navigate concerns about ethics and equity.
We’ve covered debates over AI in classrooms in previous editions of Hall Pass. Click here and here to read those arguments. Additionally, Ballotpedia recently released its free AI Deepfake Legislation Tracker, allowing you to follow the latest developments in all 50 states.
Samuel Wonacott: Let’s begin with the AI Toolkit for K-12 Education. Tell us about the Toolkit, what went into putting it together, and why you felt such a resource was necessary to release at this time.
Mark Henderson: The toolkit is a comprehensive guide to what schools need to know and consider about AI. This includes sections on understanding AI, policy & procedures, safety, ethics, and more. We saw a need for a go-to place to collect and provide this information. While there’s been a lot of work done at the college level on AI, we’re not seeing much activity in the K-12 world. We feel this topic is vital for schools to address NOW, so we decided to take the lead. We’ve done a lot of research and training on AI in the past year, and that information is encompassed in our toolkit.
SW: What are the biggest challenges you see districts facing when it comes to developing AI policies?
MH: Knowing where to start is a huge obstacle. Most superintendents and school board members I talk to know that AI is a big deal, but they don’t know where to begin. They aren’t well versed on the subject and they’re dealing with other important issues like teacher shortages and low student attendance. We’re hoping this toolkit can help them get started on their AI journey.
SW: There has been a lot of talk about AI and cheating. What's your take on how schools can maintain academic integrity in the age of AI?
MH: Cheating isn’t a new issue. The only difference is that students now have AI tools at their fingertips. Schools need to educate their students on when it’s okay and not okay to use AI tools to assist with their schoolwork. These rules need to be defined in policies and communicated. Just like calculators in math class, there is a right time and a wrong time to use AI.
SW: How can schools help ensure equitable access to AI technologies, especially for students from low-income families?
MH': The digital divide was already a major concern, and now with the AI boom it’s only gotten larger. In Missouri, we have rural schools in areas that still can’t access high speed internet. Ensuring equitable access is going to take a major commitment by tech companies and the government. One thing we’re trying to do is form a supportive network around our state to ensure districts of all sizes and locations have access to the latest knowledge on the topic of AI in education. It doesn’t fix everything, but it’s a start.
SW: A national debate has broken out over the effect cell phones may be having on student academic performance and mental wellbeing. Do you see any connection between the AI discussion and the ongoing debate about cell phones in schools?
MH: In my opinion, they are two different issues. I’d compare the AI discussion to what schools dealt with 25 years ago when they had to determine the internet’s role in schools. Unlike the internet and cell phone debates, we don’t have years to decide what to do about AI in schools. It’s already here and nearly impossible to ban. For example, the New York City school district attempted to ban ChatGPT when it launched, only to reverse course a year later because it was too big of a force. Schools have to learn to live in the AI world, like it or not.
SW: Do you have any examples of districts that are thinking outside the box with their AI policies?
MH: The Lindbergh, MO School District has really hit the ground running with AI. They’ve adopted MSBA’s Missouri School Boards’ Association AI policy and launched their own AI chatbot for staff and student use. This gives their students hands-on experience with AI while protecting their data and keeping them safe. Shoutout to their AI Coordinator, Colin Davitt, for his incredible work!
SW: You mentioned the Missouri School Boards' Association's AI policy. Could you tell us a little about that?
MH: Our policy (which can be found in the AI Toolkit) focuses on a "cautious embrace" of AI. We hope districts will use proper safety and data protections to ensure their students and staff can use AI tools responsibly. Our policy has districts appoint an AI Coordinator who is responsible for monitoring and regulating the district's AI usage. The policy also has districts create an AI Use Plan that can be easily adapted as technologies change. While policy takes time to update, a use plan can be updated immediately to address district needs.
SW: Are there any particular AI tools or applications that you're especially excited about for enhancing student learning?
MH: Perplexity is a game changer in terms of doing research. It focuses on providing accurate and current information on any topic a user asks. I think it has the potential to redefine the research process for students. Of course, they need to be taught how to use it properly.
Magic School has become a popular site for teachers because it’s simple to use and customized to their needs. Their collection of AI tools can save teachers a lot of time on planning and administrative duties, which gives them more time to spend with their students.
SW: What advice would you give to school leaders who are just starting to think about implementing AI in their districts?
MH: Start by educating yourself and your stakeholders on AI, the opportunities it provides the education world, and the concerns that come along with it. Also look at your current policies and see how they may be impacted by AI – think plagiarism, bullying, technology use, etc. Even if you don’t want to rush into a full-blown AI policy, you can adjust current policies to address immediate concerns.
SW: Thanks for talking with us, Mark! What are some go-to resources you'd recommend to school board members, administrators, teachers, and others interested in learning more about developing or thinking about AI policies in their districts?
MH: Education Weekly is a great source to stay informed how AI is impacting schools and the big questions surround the issue. The AI Tool Report is a daily newsletter that explains what's happening in the AI world in an easy to understand manner. And I have to give a final plug to our AI Toolkit. In addition, we're hosting an AI in Education Symposium on Oct. 17 in Kansas City. Anyone in the education world is welcome to attend!
See also
- School board elections, 2024
- School board recalls, 2024
- Conflicts in school board elections, 2021-2023
Footnotes
