AI in the Classroom | Ms Ralda Deoki

The rapid take-up of artificial intelligence has made it seem hard to believe that it only emerged at the beginning of 2023. In March 2023, Australian Education Ministers established a National AI in Schools Taskforce to explore the ramifications of AI for Australian schools. Shortly after, in October 2023, this same body released the Australian Framework for Generative Artificial Intelligence in Schools. This framework seeks to guide the responsible and ethical use of generative AI tools in ways that benefit students, schools and society. At Terrace, we recognise that artificial intelligence is not going away and cannot be ignored. Therefore, using this framework as our guide, we must determine the most effective and appropriate use for AI in the classroom.

To achieve best practice, it is important to consider academic integrity for students, as well as teaching and learning or pedagogical considerations for teachers. As Terrace educators, we have a responsibility to ensure our students understand how to use AI ethically and effectively. Students must be taught not to rely on AI to generate complete responses to assessments but instead to use AI as a tool to evaluate and refine their ideas as part of a learning process. Ultimately, these strategies result in students creating their original pieces of work.

It is, therefore, imperative for students to engage with generative AI tools in an equitable, safe and secure environment under the guidance of their teacher. The use of AI as part of a classroom that promotes active construction of meaning is an approach that enables our students to understand that AI is a valuable assistive tool.

The following example comes from a Terrace classroom where the teacher has embraced AI as part of the learning process:

“In my Year 9 class, I’ve been using AI as a co-instructor by asking students questions on our topic. They read out the AI’s responses, which we then discussed as a class. This has boosted engagement, encouraged deeper thinking, and helped students critically evaluate the information presented, while demonstrating effective and ethical use of AI.”

Generative AI is a powerful tool for innovation and growth that has the potential to push the boundaries of human achievement. It represents the future that our students will engage in. For this reason, we are committed to exploring the use of AI in our Terrace classrooms.