District Administrator's Guide to AI Technology

District Administrator's Guide to AI Technology

In the ever-evolving world of education, the integration of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly important. Here's a roundup of key resources that can assist educational leaders in effectively implementing AI into schools.

The New South Wales (NSW) Department of Education, in Australia, offers a dedicated AI tool, NSWEduChat, accompanied by a blueprint for professional development. This comprehensive training equips teachers with the skills to harness generative AI capabilities, allowing them to focus more on evidence-based teaching and adapt confidently to technological changes. The NSW approach is a prime example of a successful systemic strategy, leveraging collaborative teacher training to integrate AI effectively [4].

The Darlington School District in South Carolina presents a practical planning model through a multi-year rollout. This process began with informal initial explorations by tech coaches, followed by ongoing teacher engagement, and robust stakeholder involvement, including the school board and families. The District's emphasis on values such as data protection, staff workload reduction, and innovation led to a successful AI integration model, which has been shared at major conferences [2].

For professional development, resources like webinars from AI education experts, such as Kristen DiCerbo from Khan Academy, provide critical discussions on the realistic applications, challenges, and misconceptions about generative AI in education. These discussions cover design strategies to prevent misuse and methods of evaluating AI's impact on learning [3].

At the systemic level, guidance from international organizations and collaboration forums, such as the World Bank and EdTech Hub’s AI Observatory, offer insights into emerging AI integration strategies worldwide. These resources emphasize adaptive, localized content creation and curation to improve access and equity in education systems globally [1].

Beyond these resources, there are numerous other tools and resources available. For instance, the AI Starter Kit for Teachers provides a wealth of education-related AI apps, platforms, and tools. Colleague.ai is a generative chatbot developed specifically for educators, while Goblin Tools focuses on the needs of neurodiverse users [5].

Navigating AI Biases in The Classroom is a crucial resource for educational leaders aiming to effectively integrate generative AI into their schools. The AI for Education platform offers a curated listing of state-level AI guidance for K-12 schools, and Google and Adobe provide Generative AI for Educators courses [6].

AI Governance Group offers a short list of recommendations to consider in implementing AI, along with a range of other AI resources. Educational leaders should also consider the booklist in a Tech & Learning article with an AI reading list, and Oyelabs provides a summary of various roles AI can be harnessed to improve education, citing use cases [7].

DigitalDefynd shares a list of 25 case studies of AI tools being integrated into schools, and the Future of Privacy Forum and the National Education Association's Task Force Report on AI in Education provide guidelines and frameworks for the ethical use of AI in education [8].

The Michigan Virtual School provides a planning guide for schools to use in implementing AI tools, and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has developed generative AI guidelines. Choice360's curated list of AI ethics resources is one of the most comprehensive lists beyond educational considerations [9].

For those willing to pay $44, TCEA's artificial intelligence educator course might be of value. ISTE's AI in education resources are a good place to start when looking for partnering for PD opportunities, and Axon Park offers a curated list of AI case studies in education [10].

Lastly, Leon Furze offers an overview article providing nine considerations for ethics and AI, and the November 2024 issue of AASA's School Administrator magazine features articles on AI in schools, including a summary of the age-appropriate application of AI in Gwinnett County (GA) Public Schools [11].

In conclusion, these resources—state tools and policies, district case studies, professional learning models, and global expert insights—constitute a comprehensive set of supports for educational leaders seeking to responsibly and effectively use generative AI in their schools.

1. The New South Wales (NSW) Department of Education in Australia equips teachers with skills to harness generative AI capabilities through their AI tool, NSWEduChat, and a professional development blueprint.
2. The Darlington School District in South Carolina successfully integrates AI by emphasizing values like data protection, staff workload reduction, and innovation through a multi-year rollout process.
3. Kristen DiCerbo from Khan Academy offers critical discussions on realistic applications, challenges, and misconceptions about generative AI in education through webinars for professional development.
4. Global insights into AI integration strategies can be gleaned from resources like the World Bank and EdTech Hub’s AI Observatory, focusing on adaptive, localized content creation and curation.
5. The AI Starter Kit for Teachers offers a wealth of education-related AI apps, platforms, and tools, while Colleague.ai and Goblin Tools cater to specific needs like generative chatbots and neurodiverse users, respectively.
6. Navigating AI Biases in The Classroom is crucial for educational leaders aiming to effectively integrate generative AI, with resources like AI for Education, Google and Adobe's Generative AI for Educators courses, and AI Governance Group offering guidance and ethical implementation frameworks.

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