Generative AI Guidelines
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What is Generative AI?
Generative AI (GenAI) generates new content, including text, images, code, and music, based on user prompts and existing training data. It is an effective tool for increasing efficiency, fostering creativity, and enhancing learning. It can also be used irresponsibly to share personally identifiable information, create fake news and deep fake videos, and initiate cyberattacks.
What is GenAI's purpose in the classroom?
GenAI should enhance learning while being used alongside current, research-based, effective teaching and learning strategies. It can be used to facilitate, accelerate, and personalize learning, but should never complete work for the student. GenAI may be used to tailor supports and instructional resources to meet the educational needs of diverse learners and has the power to improve learning if used safely, ethically, and knowledgeably.
How do you protect data when using GenAI?
Ethical and safety considerations are critically important when using GenAI tools to ensure that staff and student data privacy and security are constantly maintained. Information entered into GenAI tools becomes part of the knowledge base and machine learning of the AI system. Personally identifiable information (PII), confidential, or sensitive information should never be entered into any GenAI tool, resource, or large language model. This includes student or staff contact information, demographics, rosters, or PII. This applies to all Wilkes County Schools’ students, staff, and anyone assigned network credentials.
When can students use GenAI?
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction recommends that students in grades K-5 learn about AI without using AI tools. This will be achieved using Learning.com and other resources. Students in grades 6-13 should consult with their teacher before using GenAI on assignments (see rubric below). For the 2024-2025 academic year, Wilkes County Schools has adopted SchoolAI as our managed AI platform for educators and students in grades 6-13. All users should cite their use of GenAI within assignments, lessons, and other work products.
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Student AI Integration: 0 to Infinity
Student AI Usage Continuum for Empowered Learning
To prepare ALL students for the AI-rich future that awaits them, it is imperative that they ALL learn ABOUT AI and have opportunities to learn WITH AI in increasingly interactive and complex ways.
Level 0 (or the red zone) is AI Free or AI Resistant. At this level, student work must be completed entirely without any AI assistance. Students must rely entirely on their own knowledge, understanding, and skills. Any AI use is a violation of student academic integrity. An academic honesty pledge that AI was not used may be required.
Level 1 (or the yellow zone) is AI Assisted. AI is used for tasks as specified, such as brainstorming, planning, feedback, etc. No AI content is allowed in the final submission. Usage beyond specified tasks is a violation of academic integrity, and a detailed disclosure statement should be submitted with the final product. Be prepared to share documented evidence of all AI chats (links, screenshots, etc.).
Level 2 (or the green zone) is AI Enhanced. AI is used interactively throughout to enhance knowledge, efficiency, and creativity. Students must provide human oversight and evaluation of all AI-generated content. Interactivity with AI and critical engagement with AI-generated content are required. Students are responsible for the accuracy and fairness of all AI-generated content. A detailed disclosure statement should be submitted with the final product. Be prepared to share documented evidence of all AI chats (links, screenshots, etc.).
Level Infinity (or the blue zone) is AI Empowered. The full integration of AI allows for the creation of things that were previously impossible, empowering students as critical thinkers, creatives, and problem solvers. Students must provide human oversight and evaluation of all AI-generated content. Students are responsible for the accuracy, fairness, and originality of all AI-generated content. All AI tools used and how they were used should be cited in a detailed disclosure statement.
Image shared under Creative Commons License BY (attribution) NC (non-commercial) SA (share alike). To remix this for your use case, you may make an editable copy using this template link. Please maintain CC licensing and all attributions in all duplications, references, or remixing. This version was adapted by Vera Cubero on 4/28/24 for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) from the work of Dr. Leon Furze, Dr. Mike Perkins, Dr. Jasper Roe FHEA, and Dr. Jason McVaugh.
Is GenAI always accurate?
No, GenAI is not always true or accurate and cannot actually think. The tools have a limited knowledge base, which only contains information through the date of their latest training data set. GenAI tools compute, predict, and make assumptions, and they are programmed using information from the internet, which includes biased, misleading, false, and/or misinformation. GenAI tools may output false information based on assumptions it makes from the information it contains. These errors, or inaccuracies, are sometimes referred to as hallucinations. For this reason, it is crucial to verify information from reliable sources.
How can GenAI be used appropriately?
Students may use GenAI tools with teacher and parental permission to gather information for an assignment, generate ideas for a project, receive help with studying for a test, review assignments for spelling and grammar checks, provide feedback on an assignment to make improvements, and seek assistance with a task that supports their learning needs. Information from GenAI should always be fact-checked using the EVERY model to verify its accuracy.
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How to Use AI Responsibly EVERY Time
E is for Evaluate. Evaluate the initial output to see if it meets the intended purpose and your needs.
V is for Verify. Verify facts, figures, quotes, and data using reliable sources to ensure there are no hallucinations or bias.
E is for Engage. Engage in every conversation with the GenAI chatbot, providing critical feedback and oversight to improve the AI's output.
R is for Revise. Revise the results to reflect your unique needs, style, and/or tone. AI output is a great starting point, but shouldn't be a final product.
Y is for You. You are responsible for everything you create with AI. Always be transparent about how you've used these tools.
What should I NOT do when using GenAI?
GenAI should not be used in any way without first gaining permission from the teacher. If a login is required, students under the age of 18 should not create a login without parental permission. Students should never use GenAI to complete an entire assignment without full disclosure to the teacher. GenAI should never be used without proper citations. Students should never assume information from GenAI is accurate or unbiased. Information from GenAI tools should never be submitted without carefully reviewing it for hallucinations, inaccuracies, and biases. Any use of another person’s image, audio, or video without their explicit consent is strictly prohibited. This includes creating, sharing, or altering media in a harmful, impersonating, or misrepresenting way.