AI in FCS

Beliefs That Shape Use of AI in FCS
AI as a Learning and Teaching Tool
We believe AI should be thoughtfully integrated to enhance education, support teachers, and improve student engagement while maintaining instructional integrity. AI cannot replace the role or value that educators provide. AI use should be properly cited/acknowledged.

Ethical and Responsible Use
AI must be implemented with clear policies and ethical guidelines, ensuring transparency, fairness, and the protection of student and staff data. AI-generated content should be critically assessed to recognize bias and/or inaccuracies.

Supporting Teachers and Staff
AI should serve as a tool to enhance productivity, streamline tasks, and empower teachers to focus on meaningful student learning. Professional development is essential to equip staff with the skills needed for effective and responsible AI integration.

Preparing Students for the Future
As AI continues to evolve, we commit to preparing students with the skills, creativity, and adaptability needed to thrive in an evolving technological landscape.

Collaboration and Community Engagement
Successful AI implementation requires teamwork among students, educators, staff, parents, and stakeholders. We are committed to transparency, encouraging open discussions and shared learning experiences to ensure AI benefits the entire educational community.

AI as a Tool for Innovation and Opportunity
AI has the potential to personalize learning, increase accessibility, and inspire innovation. We believe in leveraging AI to create opportunities for all students while ensuring responsible and effective use.

The following principles guide the appropriate and safe use of AI and address current and future educational goals, teacher and student agency, academic integrity, and security. It is important for students to develop an understanding of how AI tools are developed and why they create the results that they do. Students should be critical users of AI, evaluating if and how AI should be used in different settings. Students follow the FCS Acceptable Use Policy and should follow their teachers’ guidance on the use of AI tools and ask for clarity before using if they are unsure. 

Pillars of Practice

• Proper student use: Students will use AI to improve learning from vetted sources approved by FCS. Refer to teacher guidance on the appropriate use of AI tools in academic settings. Guidance may change based on assignments and learning goals.  
• Evaluating AI tools: Students should use AI tools with the guidance of trusted adults. Not all AI tools are approved or appropriate for all ages, so be sure to check with your teacher or parent first.
• AI output review: Always review and critically assess the responses from AI tools before submission or dissemination. Students should never rely solely on AI-generated content without review. 
• Academic integrity: Students should give credit to sources and tools when presenting work. All submitted student work should be their own, original work.
• Bias and Misinformation: Be aware that AI generated content may possess biases or inaccuracies. Always verify AI-produced results using trusted sources before considering them in academic work.

Encouraged AI Uses/Promoted AI Practices

• Aiding Creativity: Students can harness generative AI to spark creativity across diverse subjects, including writing, visual arts, and music composition.
• Collaboration: Generative AI tools can partner with students in group projects by providing ideas and summarizing ideas expressed during a small group discussion, supplying research support, and identifying relationships between various sources of information. 
• Communication: AI can offer students real-time translation, personalized language exercises, and interactive dialogue simulations. 
• Content Creation and Enhancement: AI can help generate personalized study materials, summaries, quizzes, provide visual aids, help students organize thoughts and content, and create review materials. 
• Thought Partner: Students may use AI to help clarify, summarize, or even analyze their own ideas in development. 
• Tutoring: AI technologies have the potential to democratize one-to-one tutoring and support, making personalized learning more accessible to a broader range of students. AI-powered virtual teaching assistants may provide continual interactive support, answer questions, help with homework, and supplement classroom instruction. 

Prohibited Use of AI Tools

As we work to realize the benefits of AI in education, we also recognize that risks must be addressed. 

• Bullying/harassment: Using AI tools to manipulate media to impersonate others for bullying, harassment, or any form of intimidation is strictly prohibited. All users are expected to utilize these tools solely for educational purposes, upholding values of respect, inclusivity, and academic integrity at all times.
• Overreliance: Dependence on AI tools should not replace human discretion and oversight. Important nuances and context can be overlooked and accepted. Teachers will clarify if, when, and how AI tools should be used in their classrooms, and teachers and students are expected to review outputs generated by AI before use.
• Plagiarism and cheating: Students and staff should not copy from any source, including generative AI, without prior approval and adequate documentation. Students should not submit AI-generated work as their original work. Staff and students will be taught how to properly cite or acknowledge the use of AI where applicable. Teachers will be clear about when and how AI tools may be used to complete assignments and restructure assignments to reduce opportunities for plagiarism by requiring personal context, original arguments, or original data collection. Existing procedures related to potential violations of our Academic Integrity Policy will continue to be applied. 
• Unequal access: If an assignment permits the use of AI tools, equitable access to all tools will be made available to all students.
• Sharing personal information: Students will not share personal or confidential information with AI tools. 
• Unethical activity: Students will not use AI resources for any illegal or unethical activity or use other people’s credentials to access AI tools. 

Guiding Principles for Educators and Staff

AI is a powerful tool to augment - not replace - our professional expertise. Every AI-driven resource or support should involve a “human in the loop” (Greyling, 2024), ensuring educators and staff maintain and continue to develop agency over instructional decisions and maintain accountability for student learning. FCS believes thoughtfully incorporating AI means teachers are better able to streamline work-related tasks in support of high-quality instruction. 

Pillars of Practice

• Demonstrate consistency and clarity when it comes to the use of AI
• Model responsible use of AI for educational purposes only and prioritize safety and respect for all
• Review output of AI data for bias, misinformation, and sources
• Use FCS-approved AI tools 
• Continue to grow your professional expertise as AI continues to be a growing presence in the work of teaching and learning

Promoted AI Practices

• Strategic, Grade-Appropriate AI: Use AI tools with consistency to ensure clarity and grade-level appropriateness
• AI for Enhance Instruction: Use AI in service of generating ideas and examples, lesson planning, communication, question prompts, assessment design, and rubric templates
• Clear AI Routines: Establish and communicate clear routines and expectations for AI use in your classroom.
• Transparent AI Use: Be transparent with students about when and why AI is being used.
• Reflective AI Integration: Regularly reflect on, plan for, and adjust the need for AI use based on student learning goals, engagement, and effectiveness.

Prohibited AI Practices

• Vetted AI Tools and App Usage: All AI tools must be vetted through Trusted Apps. As teachers and staff discover new AI tools, please submit them for approval. 
• Protect Student Data in AI: In compliance with FERPA, confidential student information should never be shared in AI platforms.
• AI Outputs: AI-generated content should be thoroughly vetted for bias before use. If there is any question or doubt, staff should have school administration review AI-generated content before using with students or parents.
• Educator Guidance: AI-generated content should not be used to replace professional judgment in grading, feedback, or instructional decision-making. Apply your expertise as an educator to ensure students receive thoughtful feedback.

Guiding Principles for Families 

Artificial intelligence is changing how many jobs work, making it crucial for your child to learn how to use it responsibly, effectively, and ethically for their future studies and careers. As parents, you are key in guiding their technology use, including AI. We encourage you to talk with your student and even explore AI alongside them as they develop the skills to use it thoughtfully throughout their education. 

 Pillars of Practice

• AI: A Powerful Partner in Education: Just as AI is becoming a helpful tool in many workplaces, our school is thoughtfully using AI to enhance your child's learning experience and support our dedicated teachers.

• Enhancing Teaching and Learning: We believe AI can help teachers personalize lessons, create engaging activities, and even streamline some tasks, allowing them to focus more on individual student needs.

• Creative Boost: Your child may have opportunities to use AI tools to explore their creativity in writing, art, music, and other subjects, opening up new avenues for expression and innovation.

• Encouraging Collaboration: AI can be a valuable partner in group projects, helping students brainstorm ideas, summarize information, and work together more effectively.

• Learning Support: AI has the potential to offer more individualized learning experiences, providing extra support where needed and helping your child grasp concepts in new ways.AI tools can assist students in organizing their thoughts, creating study materials, and reviewing information, helping them become more effective learners.

• Fostering Critical Thinking: We are teaching students to be thoughtful users of AI, encouraging them to evaluate the information they receive and understand how AI tools work.

Our Commitment to Responsible and Safe AI Use

• Human Guidance First: AI will always be a tool to support, not replace, our teachers' expertise and their connection with your child. Teachers and students will always be at the heart of the learning process.

• Carefully Vetted Tools: We are committed to using AI tools that are approved by the school system, ensuring they are appropriate and safe for our students.

• Focus on Ethical Use: We are teaching students about the importance of using AI ethically, with a focus on academic integrity and respect for others.

• Protecting Your Child's Privacy: We have guidelines in place to make sure students’ personal information remains safe and secure. Staff receive yearly training to ensure proper precautions are understood and practiced.

• Addressing Bias and Accuracy: We are educating both staff and students to critically evaluate AI-generated content for potential biases or inaccuracies.

How You Can Partner With Us

• Reinforce Responsible Use: Discuss the importance of using AI ethically and for learning purposes, aligning with the school's guidelines. Similar to any technology use, set clear expectations on if, when, and how you want students to use AI at home.

• Monitor and Model: Talk to them about how they are using AI in school, what they are learning, and their thoughts on this technology. Supervise your students’ use of AI tools, especially if they are younger. Not all AI tools are appropriate for all ages. 

• Encourage Critical Thinking: Help your child think about the information AI provides and compare it with other reliable sources. AI can be used as a learning support, but students must still collaborate, create, and think critically. 

• Stay Informed: AI is a technology that is rapidly evolving. Explore and try AI tools to better understand opportunities and risks they present. We will keep you updated on how AI is being integrated into the curriculum and any new developments.