SHEFFIELD, Ala. (WHNT) — Sheffield City Schools recently updated their policy on artificial intelligence use in the classroom to be unrestricted.
Artificial Intelligence, or “AI” will officially become a tool for students at Sheffield High School after school board members agreed to unrestricted AI use.
Steven Green, Technology Director with Sheffield City Schools, explains how this new policy will work.
“They’re able to use basically any AI platform with some restrictions on the district network on district devices now. The teacher has the final say so in every classroom of how thats implemented on the classroom level, and the teacher can say we’re not using this project, or you can use you need to use this AI platform, specifically things like that,” Green said.
Green also said, part of the policy includes students must comply with specific privacy and data guidelines centered around age restrictions and usage, and must acknowledge the use of AI related to their school work only.
News 19 asked Green why they have decided to let students use AI in the classroom, instead of relying on their own thinking.
“We’re training them and installing skills in them today for jobs that don’t even exist tomorrow and I feel like AI is going to be a big part of that,” Green said.
But with AI in a school setting, there is a clear opportunity for cheating. Green said there are specific rules when it comes to getting answers.
“We put in our policy in our policy manual that the use of AI is subject to the student code of conduct and plagiarism, you know, just like anything else traditionally.” He said. “There’s no difference than you know from using AI to cheat or an Encyclopedia cheat sheet to cheat, they will still be subject to those rules.”
Green also tells me, it’s up to the teacher to determine if any work or assignment looks to have any AI involvement that seem to not be the student’s own work. Green said AI will mostly be used for projects, and essay outline help. Green says it is very important to teach students how to use AI correctly.
“The other reason behind all this, we feel like it’s important to teach the students the right way to use AI instead of just let them out on their own cause they’re gonna figure out their own if they’re not giving directions so we’re giving them that good direction that solid foundation to build off for using AI,” Green said.
Green says this is the future, and he wants Sheffield students to be ready and prepared for when the time comes.
Other schools in the area that are looking at a similar policy are Florence City Schools and Muscle Shoals City Schools.
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