AI has become an increasingly hot topic both in society and throughout education. On Feb. 1, Rockwood School District implemented a new AI policy that unblocked AI resources like ChatGPT for all high school students in Rockwood.
According to the Chief Information Officer of Rockwood, Robert Deneau, as AI becomes more prevalent in our society, Rockwood’s focus is to “prepare students so that they’re using it effectively.”
Deneau believes that AI can be used constructively in two main ways.
“One is what I would call a brainstorming tool and the other thing that I feel like there’s great power in is it almost is like a virtual tutor,” Deneau said.
By using ChatGPT in this way, students are able to generate ideas for essays and use AI to better understand concepts in classes such as math.
“By typing into ChatGPT ‘Explain this concept to me as if I’m a ninth grader who’s struggling with this, please explain it in an easier way’, there are different prompting techniques you can do to really have it be almost like a tutor,” Deneau said.
In this way, ChatGPT can become useful to students who are struggling with a certain topic. This effectively acts as a free tutor for students.
Knowing that many students were already using AI resources on personal devices also led to the district’s new AI policy.
“We do have students who, the only device they have access to is their Chromebook and we looked at it from an equity lens as well to ensure that all students have equal access to these beneficial aspects of these AI resources,” Deneau said.
Language Arts Department Chair Gary Baumstark has experienced challenges within the department with AI usage.
“This [AI policy] is already having an effect on the ELA department. Students have been using AI to help with or sometimes totally create work for ELA,” Baumstark said. “Also, it [AI usage] creates a feeling of mistrust between the teacher and students. Since there is not a great way to detect AI, teachers often have to wonder if a student actually created the work, or if it was generated by AI. Many teachers have commented that they don’t like this feeling of mistrust.”
AI presents many opportunities for the user, but it’s important to understand how to properly use AI.
“With any tech platform, especially with AI, there are certain things that you really just don’t want to enter,” Deneau said. “So we gave an entire list in our district Canvas course, but you know, anything that has that makes you personally identifiable, we would tell you do not put in there.”
AI users can enjoy many benefits of AI, like having a private tutor, without the privacy risks when using it correctly. Rockwood’s new policy provides more equitable use as well as guidance on safe usage.
