Vetting AI Resources

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to significantly enhance teaching and learning. However, integrating AI tools requires careful consideration to ensure their use is ethical, equitable, effective, and secure. Here is a practical guide to help educators effectively vet AI resources.

1. Human-Centered Approach

• Prioritize AI tools that keep educators and students at the center, emphasizing the enhancement rather than the replacement of human interactions.
• Look for tools that support educators in personalized instruction, formative assessment, lesson planning, and administrative efficiency without diminishing human judgment or responsibility.

2. Evidence-Based Effectiveness

• Select AI tools that are supported by independent research demonstrating their educational value. Avoid adopting technology purely on promotional claims or unverified outcomes.
• Evaluate the AI tool’s track record in similar educational settings and its proven effectiveness in enhancing student engagement, personalization, and learning outcomes.

3. Ethical and Transparent Practices

• Ensure AI tools have transparent practices around data collection, storage, and usage. Prioritize products that adhere to established guidelines, like the OECD Recommendation on Artificial Intelligence.
• Be mindful of algorithmic biases that could negatively impact marginalized groups. Demand clear information from vendors on how biases are identified and mitigated.

4. Accessibility and Equity

• Choose AI tools that offer equitable access, catering to diverse learning needs, abilities, and backgrounds, including students with disabilities and emergent multilingual learners.
• Scrutinize the accessibility features of tools to avoid “techno-ableism”—assuming technology alone can address all learning barriers.

5. Professional Development and Support

• Confirm that comprehensive training and ongoing professional support for educators accompany AI tools.
• Opt for resources that enhance educator AI literacy and digital citizenship, empowering educators to confidently implement and manage AI tools.

6. Privacy, Security, and Accountability

• Prioritize AI tools that comply strictly with student privacy laws (e.g., FERPA in the United States) and have robust security measures to protect sensitive data.
• Clarify accountability mechanisms to ensure ethical AI deployment and responsiveness to any arising concerns or errors.

Thoughtful integration of AI can significantly enhance the educational experience. By adhering to these guidelines—prioritizing human-centered, evidence-based, ethical, equitable, supportive, and secure tools—educators can effectively harness AI's transformative potential for their classrooms.

References

• NEA AI Task Force Report (2024), https://www.nea.org/resource-library/artificial-intelligence-education.
• U.S. Department of Education, Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Teaching and Learning (2023), https://www.ed.gov/sites/ed/files/documents/ai-report/ai-report.pdf.
• OECD, The Potential Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Equity and Inclusion in Education (2024), https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/the-potential-impact-of-artificial-intelligence-on-equity-and-inclusion-in-education_15df715b-en.html.