The U.S. Department of Education has released a toolkit for using artificial intelligence (AI) in the classroom.

Along with explaining the integration of AI in teaching and learning, the toolkit also connects ideas to federal law as well as potential school and district policies. 

The document defines AI as “a machine-based system that can, for a given set of human-defined objectives, make predictions, recommendations, or decisions influencing real or virtual environments.” In the eyes of the department, generative AI is “ the class of AI models that emulate the structure and characteristics of input data in order to generate derived synthetic content. This can include images, videos, audio, text, and other digital content.”

Content inside of the toolkit is divided into three sections: mitigating risk, building a strategy for AI integration, and implementing and continually evaluating its use.

“Consider the metaphor of a mountain trek to represent the journey of incorporating AI in education. Like preparing for a challenging climb, achieving AI success requires careful planning, teamwork, and risk management,” the document said. “The trek-themed graphics in the toolkit highlight this proactive approach, reminding educational leaders of the importance of safety, ethics and equity no matter where they are on their AI journeys.”

The first section of the toolkit emphasizes that educators should know how the existing federal policies apply to AI use in schools. It also outlines applications of civil rights, data privacy, security, accessibility, and digital equity related to AI.

For the middle section, the document details how districts have previously adopted educational technology and applied it to AI. Steps that the districts take toward implementation should be based on evidence, and the toolkit recommends that school leaders inform their communities every step of the way.

In the final section, the toolkit has suggestions for what educators should do once they have a strategy in place. It explains how school leaders should make sure teachers are AI literate whether they are using tools for instruction or their own productivity.

North Carolina’s Department of Public Instruction released their own body of suggestions for school districts earlier this year, the fourth state in the country to do so. Their guidebook says that AI literacy should be present in all grade levels and curriculum areas. It also said incorporating AI into the classroom should be done responsibly — using it as a tool to aid in learning.

Some of the individuals who were a part of drafting North Carolina’s guidance were also on the Southern Regional Education Board’s commission for determining how AI is to be used in the classroom. They prioritize critical, time sensitive actions that do not need legislation to move forward, according to SREB Policy Director Jeff Gagne. The commission is meant to meet monthly for two years. As of their October meeting, they plan to release their first set of recommendations in late 2024 or early 2025.