We’re stepping into new territory with generative AI tools becoming commonplace in schools. It's an exciting time, but it also raises some tough questions. How do we use AI in a way that helps and doesn't hinder? How do we make sure it's fair and useful for everyone?
The answers might be closer than we think. Our schools have a group of experts who use technology daily: the students. They know what works, what doesn't, and what they need to succeed.
I apply design thinking principles to school leadership challenges in my research and development work. That's why mindsets like co-design, radical collaboration, and deep understanding of users' needs are extremely valuable when integrating new technologies like generative AI.
These human-centered approaches ensure we bring key stakeholders - especially students - into the process as partners. By truly listening to those impacted, we can develop AI guidelines that work for real people in the complex realities of school.
Why not apply these mindsets to AI integration in the classroom? Why not involve students in co-designing the guidelines for this new tool meant to enhance their learning? They are uniquely positioned to help us understand how AI can help or hinder them.
Imagine students and teachers working together to shape how AI is used, ensuring it's not just something imposed from above but built from the ground up. It's a chance to turn students from learners into leaders.
It starts with a simple idea: recognizing that our students have a voice.
A Practical Path: Engaging Students to Create Community-Driven AI Guidelines
So, how can you make this happen? How can you turn students from passive recipients into active partners?
Let's give them the tools to gather insights from their peers. Let's make them researchers, interviewers, and collaborators.
Imagine students leading interviews, uncovering honest perspectives on AI use in their schools. They're not just collecting data; they're building understanding. These insights become the building blocks of policies and guidelines that make sense and that work in the real world.
And the best part? The steps are simple. You need to allocate a little time (an investment of which will have a high return). The entire process - from student selection to drafting guidelines - can typically be completed in 4-5 weeks. To minimize disruption, activities can be integrated into classes, advisory periods, and club times.
Here are some steps any school can take to put students at the forefront:
- Select a diverse group of 6-8 student interviewers representing different ages, backgrounds, and perspectives. Ensure the inclusion of both AI enthusiasts and skeptics.
- Train students in 1-2 sessions. Cover basics like open-ended questions, active listening, taking meaningful notes, and summarizing key insights. Provide a simple note-taking template like the one below. Role-play interviews.
- Have each student conduct one practice interview first. Then, reconvene to discuss their experiences, challenges, and lessons learned from the initial interviews. This allows the students to gain first-hand experience interviewing peers, reflect on what went well and could be improved, and learn from each other. The group discussion can cover questions like:
- How did the overall conversation feel?
- What questions yielded the most insights?
- What would you do differently next time?
- What did you find most difficult or surprising?
- Getting feedback from the initial practice round will build the student's skills and confidence for conducting more interviews. It turns the interviews into a valuable learning process rather than just a data collection exercise.
- Schedule 1-1 interviews and small group discussions during flex time, study hall, or after school. 30-45 mins each. Arrange space and materials. Get parent/guardian permissions.
- Review interview notes together. Identify themes and create a summary. What was most surprising or concerning? What suggestions emerged?
- Organize a student working session to draft guidelines, incorporating interview findings. Provide sample AI principles documents to help generate ideas.
By taking these steps, we're not just integrating AI; we're doing it thoughtfully, practically, and with a sense of community. We recognize that students have a voice that matters, valuable insights, and an essential role.
Training Students: Simplicity Leads the Way
Let's face it: The idea of training students to conduct interviews might sound daunting. Images of thick research manuals and complicated methodologies might come to mind. But here's the truth: It doesn't have to be that way. A little can indeed go a long way.
Think of ethnography, the study of cultures and communities. At its core, it's about understanding people's experiences. And that's exactly what we want to do here, on a small, accessible scale.
Here's how we can train students in simple but effective ways:
- Start with Open Conversations: Teach students to ask open-ended questions like, "How do you feel about using AI in class?" or "What challenges have you faced with AI tools?" These questions encourage honest sharing without leading to predefined answers.
- Listen and Observe: Encourage students to listen and observe actively. It's not about analyzing every word but understanding the emotions and experiences behind them.
- Use a Simple Note-taking System: Show students how to jot down key phrases, emotions, or thoughts. They don't need to transcribe entire conversations. Simple notes can capture the essence. This article's end is a template that focuses on capturing high-level insights rather than transcribing a whole discussion. It’s simple and structured to gather useful qualitative data for developing the AI guidelines.
It includes sections for:
- Interview questions asked
- Key insights and takeaways
- Noteworthy verbatim quotes
- Observer's thoughts and reactions
- Follow up questions
Reflect and Share: Create a time and place to convene the student team and reflect on what they've heard. What common themes emerge? What surprises them? This group reflection can uncover insights without complex analysis.
Reflect by Embracing the Art of Storytelling: Encourage students to tell the stories they've heard in their own words. Stories are powerful tools for conveying experiences and can be more relatable than dry data.
This collaborative process demonstrates how schools can gain valuable insights into student perspectives on AI without overburdening staff and resources. By training a small core team of students, conducting focused interviews, and working together on guidelines, you take feasible steps that lead to meaningful outcomes.
Most importantly, you affirm students' voices and agency in shaping technology use in their education. When students are partners, we all gain a little more wisdom on how to nurture learning.
Let the insights from your students guide you as you integrate AI responsibly. Their input is key to principles that reflect your community's needs and values.
In doing this, you invite students to engage in conversations, listen, share, understand, and have a sense of agency in setting direction in the school. We recognize that even small efforts, grounded in empathy and curiosity, can yield valuable insights.
And the best part? This approach helps shape better AI guidelines and fosters essential skills like empathy, communication, and critical thinking.
Here's to our students, their voices, and a future where we learn from each other. Here's to a path forward that's not just about technology but about people, understanding, and shared growth.
AI Interview Notes Template
Interviewee name:
Date:
Interview questions I asked:
Key insights from the interview:
What did the interviewee say about the benefits of using AI in school?
What concerns did they raise about AI?
What suggestions did they have for AI guidelines?
What surprised me or stood out?
Cool or interesting quotes:
My observations:
Follow-up questions I’d love to ask: