In celebration of National AI Literacy Day in March, the Colorado Department of Education and Colorado Education Initiative hosted a virtual summit that brought educators, students, and industry leaders together to explore how artificial intelligence is changing teaching, learning, and leadership in Colorado schools.

The event opened with a session on the state’s roadmap for AI in K-12 education and continued with panels showcasing real-world examples of schools using AI to personalize learning while addressing important issues of equity and ethics.

The roadmap, released in August 2024, was the result of a seven-month process that engaged over 100 educators, students, industry experts, and policymakers.

Prominent representatives from Jeffco Public Schools demonstrated how the state’s second-largest district is tackling the opportunities and challenges presented by the integration of AI into everyday educational practices. Andrew Gitner, Jeffco’s Ed Tech Specialist, and Tam Nguyen, a student from Columbine High School, provided their unique insights on AI’s impacts on teaching and learning.

Bringing AI into the Classroom

Gitner, a former English teacher, focused his session on helping educators effectively implement AI tools in the classroom. He utilized a blend of humor and pragmatism to showcase how teachers can use generative AI to enhance their workflows without relinquishing control over their teaching methods.

‘I kind of teach teachers how to talk to robots,’ Gitner humorously stated. During his teaching tenure, Gitner found grading essays often encroached on his personal time, stating, ‘AI tools can speed that up, letting teachers spend more time where it really matters, in instruction and relationship-building.’

He emphasized the necessity for educators to maintain control over the use of AI: ‘The computer should never make a management decision because it can’t be held accountable. That’s still the teacher’s job.’

Gitner expressed enthusiasm about how AI can potentially free up time for more student-centered teaching and better understanding of individual student needs. He noted, ‘We’re just scratching the surface. Eventually, AI could help us tailor learning in ways we haven’t even imagined yet.’

Additionally, he highlighted AI’s potential in promoting equity for students with learning differences. ‘These tools can remove barriers,’ Gitner mentioned, stressing, ‘equitable access is key. We can’t afford to let a student’s opportunity be determined by which teacher they happen to have.’

A Student’s Perspective on AI Bias

Nguyen presented his research on the accuracy of AI detectors, which educators use to identify potential AI-generated student work. He discovered worrying trends, stating, ‘Simpler writing was more likely to be flagged as AI. That’s a problem for students learning English or those who have different writing styles.’

His findings prompted important discussions about how schools define academic integrity in the context of AI, emphasizing, ‘These detectors should never be the only tool. Teachers need to look at the full process of student work, not just the final product.’

Nguyen passionately insisted that students must be included in these conversations, stating, ‘It’s important that we’re included in these conversations. We’re the ones being affected by the decisions educators and tech companies are making.’

Alongside his AI initiatives, Nguyen is keen on computer science and plans to study at the Colorado School of Mines, where he hopes to focus on ethical AI development that serves all users equitably.

Gitner echoed similar sentiments about student apprehension towards AI when it is introduced primarily as a surveillance tool. ‘Some students are afraid they’ll stop thinking for themselves,’ he said, reinforcing the need to model responsible use of AI: ‘If the first thing a student hears about AI is that it’s going to catch them cheating, of course, they’re going to be afraid of it. But if we lead with curiosity and show them how it can help them learn, that changes the conversation.’