National Education Association Advocates New Policy on Artificial Intelligence in Education - Educators Weigh In
The National Education Association (NEA) has taken a significant step forward in the realm of education technology, approving a policy statement on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in early July. The six-page document outlines key principles for the implementation of AI in classrooms across the United States.
Pat Yongpradit, Chief Academic Officer of Code.org and Lead of TeachAI, is delighted to see TeachAI's resources referenced in the policy statement's recommendations. Alana Winnick, an educator and author, also applauds the statement, noting its alignment with the U.S. Department of Education's Artificial Intelligence and The Future of Teaching and Learning Insights and Recommendations.
The policy statement focuses on five key principles for the use of AI in education. It emphasizes that students and educators must remain at the center, evidence-based AI technology must enhance the educational experience, ethical development and use of AI technology, strong data protection practices, equitable access to and use of AI tools, and ongoing education with and about AI: AI literacy and agency.
The principles encourage school leaders to ensure AI does not replace humans in education, that research drives decision-making, that the digital divide is not exacerbated, and that teachers have ongoing professional learning opportunities. Torrey Trust, a professor of Learning Technology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, finds the policy statement more aimed toward school leaders rather than classroom educators. However, Trust suggests that teachers should be empowered to do action research.
The policy statement does not provide direct guidance for teachers on when and how to use AI in education. Instead, it encourages educators to learn how to navigate an AI-driven world, extending beyond just learning how to use AI. This learning includes learning how to critically examine ethical issues, risks, and harms.
Additional aspects suggested for expansion in policies include prioritizing AI skill development across core subjects and workforce programs, linking education to changing labor market demands. The policy statement also details the need for developing clear, balanced AI policies that encourage innovation while protecting student safety, privacy, and academic integrity without stifling free speech.
The document also compares equitable AI access to equitable internet access and details guiding principles for effective AI use in education. It emphasizes the need for proactively involving stakeholders such as special educators and disability communities in AI implementation planning to ensure inclusivity and equitable access.
Despite limitations, those interviewed generally applaud the policy statement as a positive development for AI in education. Winnick, however, would have liked to see more student voice represented in the policy statement, especially when it stresses the importance of giving students a voice when AI policies are adopted.
The pace at which AI is developing makes the focus on research a nuanced situation. Trust, for instance, suggests that teachers should be empowered to do action research.
In summary, educators and policy advocates recommend expanding the NEA’s AI policy to focus on ethical, inclusive, and pedagogically sound AI use, with strong teacher involvement, legal compliance, stakeholder engagement, and support for diverse learners to maximize AI’s educational benefits responsibly. The policy statement serves as a significant step towards integrating AI in education, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach that prioritizes student and teacher well-being, ethical use, and equitable access.
- The policy statement from the National Education Association (NEA) emphasizes that students and educators must remain at the center of AI implementation in classrooms.
- Torrey Trust, a professor of Learning Technology, suggests that the policy statement is more aimed toward school leaders but also emphasizes the need for teachers to be empowered to do action research.
- Alana Winnick, an educator and author, would have liked to see more student voice represented in the policy statement, especially when it stresses the importance of giving students a voice when AI policies are adopted.
- The policy statement encourages educators to learn how to navigate an AI-driven world, extending beyond just learning how to use AI, including learning how to critically examine ethical issues, risks, and harms.
