TV Screen in FAMU Developmental Research School showcasing Graduation rate. (Trinity Olivier / FAMUAN)
On Sept. 16, the Florida State Board of Education adopted new rules regarding the use of artificial intelligence to ensure the proper use of educational technology.
According to the new restrictions district and charter schools in Florida as well as colleges must adopt transparent policies governing AI.
In June, the Leon County School Board unanimously passed policies embracing the use of AI in the classroom.
The policies highlight that district employees can use AI for administrative and instructional tasks.
Daryl Jones, Vice Chair of the Leon County School Board representing District 3 says that AI can be a great asset for learning if used properly.
“It is intended to be just what it says it is, a tool but not the means of instruction nor is it the means for testing,” said Jones.
Along with the policy and the new restrictions, both educators and parents wonder what this means for Leon County.
Zelle Barnes, Elementary Assistant Principal at FAMU DRS, says the restrictions won’t change much for them as their educators prefer to craft their own lesson plans rather than use AI.
“We do not want them to think for us; we want to be able to think for ourselves cause we know what’s best for our students,” said Barnes.
These new restrictions rely heavily on parent engagement. Parents must now be notified when a tool is approved, and then they are given the choice to opt in or opt out of the use of that tool for their child.
Dr. Flor Hernandez, Assistant Professor of Music Therapy at Florida State University and Parent of a Lincoln High School senior, says that she is open to her child being exposed to A. I. in the classroom.
“As a parent, I would opt in…I need him to be exposed to these things so he can make decisions in the future,” said Hernandez. “As an educator, I also think we need to expose our students a little more into that … if I don’t talk about it in the classroom, my students will not know how to handle the new demands of AI in the healthcare system.”
Hernandez believes these new restrictions will open up the door for a conversation that may scare a lot of people.
“It has a potential to be dangerous, but if we don’t have a conversation then we are allowing that to dictate our future instead of us dictating how this is gonna go,” said Hernandez.