Artificial Intelligence (AI) Values

Our shared district vision is to inspire our students to be lifelong learners as they create their futures. We believe that Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to impact how students will engage with educational tools and has great promise to help all students reach their potential and enhance teaching and learning in our schools. AI tools have many possible use cases within education. Below are some examples of how AI tools are currently used within our classrooms to support students.

Supporting Personalized Learning - AI tools can help teachers meet each students’ individual needs by offering enhanced learning activities and customizing educational programs to help provide content and resources that align with each student's learning style.
Lesson Planning - AI tools can assist staff in lesson planning by analyzing educational data to identify trends and gaps in learning outcomes. Additionally, AI can automate aligning curriculum with specific learning objectives.
Real-Time Feedback - AI tools can offer students personalized and real-time feedback and immediate assistance that is adaptive to diverse learning styles.
Supporting Multilingual Learners - AI can help maximize access to content for multilingual learners by generating mentor texts and creating accessible materials in multiple languages.
Providing Equitable Access to Education - AI tools can help staff meet Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and 504’s by supporting students with accessing educational content based on the student’s current level or need and assisting with communicating and demonstrating their comprehension.

We commit to using AI to help tailor education to streamline educator tasks, provide personalized learning experiences, and provide universal support for all students while maintaining high ethical standards.

We define AI as any computer, software, system, or algorithm that imitates intelligent human behavior and thought. Examples of AI include, but are not limited to, ChatGPT, MagicSchool, Gemini, Copilot, Curipod, Grammarly, and other AI tools such as AI assistants, tutoring services, research assistants, etc.

As developments within AI systems move quickly, we are committed to regularly reviewing our policies to maintain the core values listed below and adapt to current educational needs.

Key Terms

Artificial Intelligence (AI) - Any computer, software, system, or algorithms that imitate intelligent human behavior and thought.

Generative AI - A type of AI that can create new content and ideas, including conversations, stories, images, videos, and music.

Deep Learning Algorithms - A method in artificial intelligence (AI) that teaches computers to process data in a way that is inspired by the human brain. Deep learning models can recognize complex patterns in pictures, text, sounds, and other data to produce accurate insights and predictions.

Large Language Model (LLM) - A deep learning algorithm that can perform a variety of natural language processing (NLP) tasks. Large language models use transformer models and are trained using massive datasets — hence, large. This enables them to recognize, translate, predict, or generate text or other content.

AI Tools - A software application that uses artificial intelligence algorithms to perform specific tasks and solve problems

Resources

Human-Centered AI Guidance for K-12 Public Schools Version 3 - Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

Core Values, Vision and Mission - Mercer Island School District

Inclusive and Equitable Learning Settings

Creating inclusive and equitable learning settings is a core value for our schools. We acknowledge that AI tools and Large Language Models can generate outputs such as predictions or recommendations that can influence real-world environments as well as cognition. As part of our role in educating students we must ensure to maintain a lens focused on the following principles of ethics.

Fairness - Equity in distribution and equal access to AI tools approved by the school, as well as, understanding and recognizing when a response contains implicit or explicit bias.

Dignity - Navigating challenges in a way that honors the inherent worth of the individual

Nonmaleficence - Ensuring that AI output is not harmful to people or groups

Accountability - Social responsibility to report when there's harmful output of AI, whether primary output or secondary action

Transparency, Safety and Accountability

We understand the need for transparency and accountability regarding your student's privacy. The district is committed to ensuring our services align with federal and state privacy standards and pledges to carefully review all software and curriculum for purpose and function to preserve the human element of education. The resources listed below guide our district's privacy practices and provide parents with information regarding their rights.

All Mercer Island School District staff must diligently safeguard the privacy and security of our students as we incorporate AI into our classrooms. Staff and students should never input personal, sensitive, or confidential data into any AI system without prior parental or guardian authorization, including any data related to student education records.
Our instructional technology team vet online resources and digital tools to ensure compliance with federal and state privacy laws.
Students and families are provided with a copy of the student handbook, which includes the 2022 Electronic Resources and Internet Safety Policy and Procedure.
Families are presented with the Student Participation in Online Curriculum Projects and Publishing of Student Work annually as part of the RSVP process.
Families that would like to opt-out of having their children participate in online projects can complete, sign and return the 2022F5, 2022F6 or 2022F7 below within the first five (5) school days. Families must submit the exception request annually.

Training and Education

Our community values the role that professional development plays in ensuring our teachers can meet the needs of all of our students. It is essential for the district to provide training and coaching on AI usage within our classrooms, including understanding its fundamentals, ethical implications, and practical applications.

Our students are provided with access to AI tools alongside appropriate guidance, teaching, and support to help ensure responsible and effective use. Responsible student use of AI tools includes the ability to critically evaluate AI-generated content, recognize trustworthy sources, and discern when it is appropriate to use AI tools. In addition, training includes discussions on privacy issues related to AI tools, including understanding confidentiality needs and best practices for safe use.

Encouraging Personalization and Creativity

While we acknowledge the benefits of AI in education, we are committed to ensuring that we maintain a human-centered focus on instructional practices. We value the intellectual engagement and creativity inherent in teaching and learning. AI tools in education are not a replacement for human-led instruction. Our classrooms strive to ground our instruction in a philosophy that begins with human inquiry and culminates with human empowerment.

We view AI as a tool that can intensify the human element in education. AI can reduce time spent on routine tasks, allowing teachers to invest more time in direct support of students. The potential for providing real-time, personalized student feedback and providing teachers with valuable benchmark data to teachers to improve instructional effectiveness is encouraging. AI-assisted tools and resources should be thoughtfully reviewed to support all students, including those with disabilities and multilingual learners.

We encourage our teachers to use professional discretion and determine when to incorporate AI tools into their pedagogy.

Resources are available to assist teachers.

Sample Classroom Policy

In our class, we may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools such as MagicSchool. Some of our activities and projects will even require these tools. Understanding when and how to use AI is a new and essential skill, and I will provide lessons and help using these tools.

In order to use these tools properly, you must understand a few things about using AI, particularly generative tools like MagicSchool:

Only use AI tools for assignments when I have given permission. Some assignments might not allow you to use AI tools at all and some assignments might allow you to use AI tools for a portion of the assignment. I will tell you when it is okay and not okay to use AI tools. If you have any questions about when you can use AI tools, please ask.
- 5 Step Scaffolding Scale for AI Use in Classrooms
Effort matters. The more time you take to think through and carefully write your prompts, the better results you will receive back. It will require practice and patience to get better results and you might have to refine your prompts in the process.
Don't blindly trust the AI's responses. You are responsible for confirming the accuracy of the information you use in your work.
Always acknowledge when you've used AI in your work. Using AI tools to generate answers, stories, essays, or other publications and complete assignments without proper citation is unequivocally considered plagiarism. Talk to me about why and how you are using AI tools. For information on how to properly cite AI tools you can refer to the MIHS Citation guide.
Lastly, use AI thoughtfully. It can be a great tool, but it's not always the right tool for the job. Consider whether it's the best choice for the task at hand.

Using AI tools can be a great way to help you learn and I look forward to supporting how you use these tools in my class!

Academic Integrity

The district encourages education and open conversations about plagiarism and AI, including staff training on detecting AI-generated content and student awareness of the risks and repercussions of plagiarism.

Teachers possess the autonomy and discretion to determine when assessments can utilize AI-assisted tools and may adapt educational approaches to incorporate AI responsibly. This includes teaching students how to properly cite AI sources and adapting assessment methods to minimize opportunities for plagiarism.

It is important to note that using AI tools to generate answers, stories, essays, or other publications and complete assignments without proper citation is unequivocally considered plagiarism.

We are also mindful of the limitations of AI detection tools, which possess varying levels of accuracy and reliability. Therefore, they should not be solely relied upon to make critical decisions or form evaluations about student performance or behavior.

For information regarding citing sources, including AI Tools please refer to the MIHS Citation Guide.

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