New AI policy focused on maintaining autonomy

Collaboration the first of its kind in Alberta

Preserving teacher autonomy and protecting student data are two of the cornerstones of a new artificial intelligence (AI) policy created by Northern Gateway Public Schools. It’s the first school board AI policy to be created in collaboration with the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA).

The two-page policy suggests that AI tools may be used to assist teachers in areas like lesson planning, assessment and instructional design, while teachers “retain the responsibility to ensure responsive instruction and have the authority over if and how AI is deployed in their classroom or instructional space.”

The policy also states that teachers will be offered training in AI and outlines parameters for its ethical use.

“It gives the foundation for teachers to really make a decision on how AI will be used and integrated within their classrooms while also ensuring that students’ data is protected,” said Katrina Zack, president of the ATA’s Northern Gateway Local No. 43.

Northern Gateway superintendent Kevin Bird said his favourite part of the policy is its emphasis on the importance of the relationship between a teacher and student, and how artificial intelligence should be used to facilitate rather than replace that relationship.

“It’s the teacher who makes that decision about where artificial intelligence falls into that relationship,” he said.

Because AI is changing much more rapidly than any previously encountered new technology, it was important that this policy include language that ensures it will be reviewed and updated regularly to reflect changes in legal and regulatory frameworks, said Philip McRae, the ATA’s associate coordinator of research and AI expert who was involved in creating the policy.

Previous technological changes have typically followed something called Moore’s Law, which is a doubling of power and capacity every 18 months, McRae said. In contrast, AI systems are increasing in power and capacity 10-fold each year.

“The speed of change that this intelligence explosion brings is unprecedented,” McRae said. “Given this, the need for regular review, monitoring and updating becomes essential.”

Productive collaboration

The policy came about when, back in September, a teacher asked Zack whether the division had an AI policy. Zack found nothing in the division’s administrative procedures, so she turned to McRae, who happened to be working on a boilerplate policy that school divisions could adopt and adapt to their own purposes.

After Zack and McRae collaborated on a draft version of the policy for Northern Gateway, Zack approached Bird, who also happened to be working on a policy along with other division officials. For Bird, the ATA policy filled a gap in the work the division had underway.

“We were missing that thing that was going to tie it all together to our purpose,” Bird said. 

The collaboration yielded a document that also received input and endorsement by the Northern Gateway board in November. The policy has since been shared via various internal meetings and processes.

“It’s an excellent example of how important it is to be out of our silos and not in echo chambers, and to be able to listen to each other and just have these conversations regularly around teaching and learning,” Bird said.

For Zack, it was the first time in her 10 years as local president that she’s collaborated with the board. She said approaching the division was a bit outside her comfort zone, but the positive experience and result has been worth it. 

“I’m definitely feeling that this was a very positive step forward in the partnership between our local and the division in terms of working for what is best for students and working for what is best for teachers,” she said. ❚