So, what is the true promise of AI? 

 

There’s no going back.

Students are using this, it’s up to us to teaching them the right way to use it.

We will only increase the equity gaps and digital divide if we keep our heads in the sand. 

How do I know I’m not assessing a computer’s answers?

My head is spinning from the next greatest and latest thing. We don’t have recess supervision and I’m supposed to do this?

Right now, and for the foreseeable future, the buzz is around Generative AI and the rapidly unfolding developments, promises and perils of the myriad tools. 

But even if the buzz were about a new push for universal bilingual education or getting 180 hours of outdoor time each year for elementary students, we shouldn’t get too hooked by the initiative until we get crystal clear on our outcomes. 

I’ve worked with leaders for two decades, half of which, I was immersed in the churning daily pace of school leadership at middle and high schools. The other half was working with hundreds of leaders on their goals. Many, overwhelmed by the deluge of demands and complaints coming to them daily, didn’t have a string of thoughts to hang together about the concrete outcomes they were working towards. It was either a formulaic SMART goal (By June, 85% of our 4th and 5th grade students will test at or above proficient as measured by the CAASP and Fontes and Pinell . . . “or a question without a real answer. And I get that because I too was pressed many times for the specific outcome we were working for and parts I could name clearly and parts were victim of the brain fog of too much task switching, sometimes on the most serious of matters, daily. 

We’re repeating this same mistake with AI by chasing the theme of the report or post that gains the most traction and not seeing how the trends and updates can amplify our work and achieve real results for students. 

Yes, we ALL need to become and continue to become knowledgeable about Gen AI, the architecture of it, what IS/IS NOT possible and perils and promises. 

Yes, we DO need to learn and support others to learn about new edtech tools that utilize gen AI and how to use them effectively and safely. 

Yes, this IS the time to teach Digital literacy and critical consciousness to identify harmful, inaccurate and prompt results that promote bias, stereotyping and racism. 

So, What do you do as a leader?

You get crystal clear on your desired outcome for students, without exception. Get it so clear it’s as if you are the featured author of the descriptive writing workshop coming to your town. Everyone around you has no mistake what that sounds like, looks like and feels like in the classrooms at your school/s. There is room for differentiating and adaptability, but no room for diluting or dimming the brilliance of your students individually or collectively by what people understand of your vision. 

And THEN you start considering which applications of AI will further that outcome. You’ll look for novel ways to use AI to meet that goal and to fundamentally redesign the learning paths and daily routines of your schools. Every choice we make as school and school systems leaders should be trained to how it will amplify our work ethically and with the highest quality, ensuring that each student in our system gets a robust, future-forward education and, MOST IMPORTANTLY, that students all grow and thrive as a result of their time in our schools.