AI school bans - justified or overreaction?

25 replies

It feels like an overreaction. And to not give any lessons on AI literacy until they are 14 is a mistake. By then they will have been using it for years with no support or guidance

The use of AI in society will only increase over time. It’s inevitable. All that these bans will accomplish is to put these kids further behind. What we should be doing is teaching kids (and teachers) how to use AI responsibly.

The bans are an over reaction. However, they represent legitimate concerns the public has about the chaotic increase in AI use and the published reports of AI agents escaping their guardrails and going rogue. Those of us in the AI in education space who are advocates of teaching young people to use AI tools responsibly and ethically need to be sensitive to the concerns of those who are...

My thoughts are noted in my recent LinkedIn post - BEYOND THE SCREEN-TIME PAUSE. https://lnkd.in/p/gqau-wNHI'm anxious to hear what others think.

I would agree with the thought that banning AI is an overreaction. At the younger years, there isn't a major need to have students use AI in deep ways, but teaching the digital literacy (& AI literacy) essentials is very important. Even if young students are learning how to think critically about AI generated content, they will be better prepared for using it correctly, appropriately, and...

These bans feel reactive. Change only sticks when psychological safety comes first, and Kotter's change principles tells us skipping those early stages gets you fast, visible action instead of real change. Without national guidance, "benefit mindset" gets defined district by district, and a complex shift turns into a soundbite in the US.What gets lost is community. Giving teachers access while...

I've just been writing something about this, so I've been thinking about it quite a bit.Broadly, I think bans can be justified in certain situations, particularly when a school needs students to do the thinking themselves. If I don't want a student using AI for a piece of work, though, I think they should know why.Where I struggle is when the ban becomes the whole answer. It only controls what...

A total ban is an overreaction and a kneejerk reaction to try and protect the children. A softer approach to banning AI use within certain subjects, and then allowing modelling of and shared teaching approach use of how to use and navigate effectively would be better. There's no point saying children need to develop their critical minds first before using AI. AI is here to stay, children don't...

Hi everyone,AI in schools is not the problem; the problem is the lack of preparation within schools to use it to support learning and teaching. I like the Anthropic approach to watermark all AI generated content. In my opinion, the key is teach staff and students to use it to enhance pedagogy and learning, as well as have and share a clear AI policy so everyone is clear and no-one abuses AI to...

New York’s decision to pause student-facing generative AI for students from 2-K through Grade 8 will undoubtedly divide opinion. My own response is more nuanced than either “ban it” or “embrace it.” I do support the decision to slow down.The strongest part of the policy is its recognition that access to AI is not automatically educational progress. Younger learners need time to build...