Surrey Schools is inviting families to learn more about artificial intelligence \u2013 and how to use it safely.<\/p>\n
As artificial intelligence becomes an increasingly common part of students\u2019 lives, the school district has decided to host a free virtual event on June 11 to address some concerns and questions parents may have.<\/p>\n
The event is titled Junk, Toxic & Healthy AI: Helping Families Understand the Difference. It will feature Surrey Schools superintendent Mark Pearmain along with Dr. Shimi Kang, a Vancouver psychiatrist, author, and clinical associate professor at UBC.<\/p>\n
This discussion will focus on how AI is shaping youth development, student learning and mental health, while providing parents with practical tools to help guide conversations at home.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe wanted to create an opportunity for parents to be able to learn about AI and learn how to have conversations with their kids in a safe environment,\u201d Pearmain told Peace Arch News.<\/p>\n
The event comes as AI tools continue to become more widely available to students both inside and outside the classroom.<\/p>\n
\u201cArtificial intelligence is here, and we can\u2019t put the genie back in the bottle, even if that\u2019s what someone wishes,\u201d Pearmain said.<\/p>\n
According to Pearmain, Surrey Schools recognizes that many students are already using AI and believes schools have a responsibility to help them develop the skills needed to use it responsibly.<\/p>\n
Pearmain noted that Surrey Schools currently has six approved educational platforms that use AI. Before being used in classrooms, Pearmain said, each platform undergoes a privacy impact assessment to evaluate student safety and data protection.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we talk to parents, this is going to be about providing them opportunities to learn how to develop their skills, to learn about bias when it comes to AI, learn about hallucinations, to learn about what it can and can\u2019t do in an environment that\u2019s safe, measured and supervised,\u201d explained Pearmain.<\/p>\n
The district hopes families will take those lessons beyond the classroom and apply them at home as technology continues to grow and evolve.<\/p>\n
Pearmain also explained that Surrey Schools is committed to maintain a balance between technology education and outdoor hands-on learning.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really important for our parents to understand that we\u2019re going to teach kids their future-ready skills for AI, and we also want them to understand and enjoy being out in nature, participating in the arts, play on sports teams and be a part of drama productions,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
To help frame this conversation, Surrey Schools invited Kang to speak to attendees using comparisons many families already understand: food.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe metaphor of a diet is really designed to help all of us, myself included, deal with something that is constantly changing,\u201d Kang shared with Peace Arch News.<\/p>\n
In her talk she will compare healthy technology use to a balanced diet, explaining that some forms of technology can support learning, creativity and well-being, while others may offer little value or even cause harm if overused.<\/p>\n
Kang describes \u201cjunk tech\u201d as the digital equivalent of junk food, which is content or technology that is being consumed mindlessly and offers little benefit. Kang says that similar to junk food, small amounts may not be harmful but excessive use can have negative effects.<\/p>\n
She also will point to \u201ctoxic tech\u201d as the type families should avoid whenever possible.<\/p>\n
Kang believes parents play a critical role in helping children navigate technology but says schools are equally important. \u201cI would say schools are primary, if not the most important, for kids to learn about AI.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kang will also argue the point that AI should neither be featured nor celebrated.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe there is no choice for schools not to teach and help guide a balanced approach to AI,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Kang shares that she feels that technology and AI is \u201cthe fire of our time,\u201d drawing a comparison to one of humanity\u2019s earliest innovations.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was a moment in human history when our ancestors harnessed the power of fire,\u201d she said. \u201cThose that did it well went further and farther than ever before, and those that didn\u2019t got it burnt down the village.\u201d<\/p>\n
She notes that technology and AI are the most powerful and important tools people have in their hands.<\/p>\n
For both Pearmain and Kang, the goal of the June 11 event is not to provide all the answers, but to help families better understand a rapidly changing technology and feel more confident discussing it with their children.<\/p>\n
The free virtual event runs from 6:30 p.m to 8 p.m. and is open to families, students, educators and community members across B.C. Participants will also have the opportunity to submit questions during the discussion.<\/p>\n