Future of Education, Brought to You by AI

EXECUTIVE PERSPECTIVE

“One aspect of artificial intelligence many educators find valuable is the potential for AI-driven predictive analytics to improve student outcomes and district operations. This is the No. 1 AI innovation school leaders need to know,” according to ChatGPT.

“By leveraging large sets of student data, AI can identify early warning signs of academic struggles, behavioral issues or social-emotional challenges before they become more significant problems,” ChatGPT added. “These insights into a user’s prompt enable educators to intervene earlier with targeted support, personalized learning and customized resources for individual students.”

Whether this is part of your planning or already being used in your district, one thing is clear: If we are to prepare our students for tomorrow’s careers, we need to ride this rapidly accelerating wave with open minds, open arms and clear eyes.

Past Lessons

Embracing transformative technology doesn’t mean throwing traditional approaches out the window. AI’s widespread adoption in schools requires the same caution and strategic planning applied to previous technological advances.

We can recall past edtech rollouts when the challenge and opportunity before us was testing 1:1 devices for students before implementing them systemwide. The project underscored the value of a measured, feedback-driven approach to adopting new technologies — a lesson highly applicable to AI integration today.

We discovered the importance of starting small and piloting. This staged rollout — that included fully supporting faculty and staff with peer coaches, university courses and time for professional sharing — is one model for districts to navigate the potential pitfalls of widely adopting new technology while maintaining student privacy, academic integrity and cognitive development.

Forward-thinking school districts use AI to increase equity, enhance school board policy and reimagine curriculum and leadership. Their progress leaves me feeling energized and optimistic.

No two students learn in exactly the same way, and traditional methods of instruction often struggle to meet diverse needs. AI’s ability to analyze a student’s progress in real-time, tailor content and personalize pacing and problem-solving strategies may transform learning.

This support could serve as a powerful equalizer, providing access 24/7 to high-quality, personalized education resources regardless of socioeconomic status or location. AI tools such as virtual tutors and chatbots can augment the student experience, while grading, managing student data and tracking attendance can be automated, freeing educators up to engage more with students.

Integration Tasks

The path to AI adoption is not without hurdles. I’ve spoken with many educators who wish we had been granted a seat at the table earlier, rather than being forced to play catch-up as challenges unfold. Funding significant upfront costs to overhaul infrastructure to accommodate AI adoption will be difficult, especially for districts on tight budgets. Furthermore, ensuring every student, regardless of zip code, can access AI-powered learning tools will require a concerted effort at the federal, state and local levels to provide equitable resources.

Data security requires a robust framework and safeguards for how student data are collected, stored and used. We must balance the need for innovation with the ethical responsibility to protect student privacy.

To that end, AASA’s advocacy team is working to ensure access, privacy and security are front of mind for legislators. E-rate funding, the Kids Online Safety Act, the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act and the Kids Off Social Media Act are under their watchful eyes.

AASA’s Super Summit

District leaders have the chance to harness AI additionally as a catalyst for broader educational transformation. For this purpose, I hope to see many of you and your team members at our AASA AI Super Summit in Tampa, Fla., on January 30-31.

This groundbreaking summit will feature leading industry innovators and experts from business, technology and education who are working at the forefront of AI. Hands-on learning experiences will accelerate AI literacy and leadership.

As we look ahead, it is up to us as visionary educational leaders to embrace the opportunities AI presents while addressing its challenges head-on. By doing so, we can create a more dynamic, equitable and effective educational landscape for generations to come.

Be well, my colleagues and friends.

David Schuler is AASA executive director. Twitter: @AASA_ED