Teachers at the Heart: We Are Leading AI Integration in Education!!!
DOE releases its first major report since May 2023; My new book is now live and available for purchase!!!
Exciting news! Our e-book just launched on Amazon (October 29, 2024). We'd love to hear your thoughts after you've had a chance to read it. Find it here!!!
In a timely validation of educators' critical role in AI adoption, the U.S. Department of Education has just released its comprehensive report, "Empowering Education Leaders: A Toolkit for Safe, Ethical, and Equitable AI Integration." What stands out in this groundbreaking document is its emphasis on teacher agency and classroom expertise in successfully navigating AI integration.
The report powerfully acknowledges what many of us have long recognized: meaningful AI adoption in schools depends fundamentally on teacher leadership. Drawing from extensive listening sessions with educators nationwide, the DOE toolkit highlights how teachers are already making crucial decisions about AI implementation, serving as "humans-in-the-loop" to ensure ethical use, and helping shape policies that protect student welfare.
The toolkit is organized around three critical areas, each addressing distinct aspects of AI integration:
"Mitigating Risk: Safeguarding Student Privacy, Security, and Non-Discrimination" focuses on essential protections, from data privacy to civil rights considerations. It provides guidance on evaluating AI tools through an equity lens and establishing proper safeguards for student information.
"Building a Strategy for AI Integration in the Instructional Core" emphasizes the need for coherent, teacher-informed approaches to AI adoption. This section stresses connecting AI initiatives to existing educational visions and pedagogical practices, rather than pursuing technology for its own sake.
"Maximizing Opportunity: Guiding the Effective Use and Evaluation of AI" outlines frameworks for implementing and scaling AI effectively while maintaining proper oversight. It includes guidance on building AI literacy among educators and developing responsible use policies.
Particularly noteworthy is the toolkit's strong emphasis on building AI literacy among educators - not just as consumers of AI tools, but as informed leaders who can guide responsible implementation. This aligns perfectly with what
and I explore in our new book, "AI in Education: A Roadmap for Teacher-led Transformation" (Available now on Amazon).Key Insights from Our Work:
Teachers, not tech companies or administrators, must drive AI integration
Practical frameworks for developing school-wide AI literacy
Innovative approaches to assessment in an AI world
Strategies for maintaining student voice and agency
Process-based methods for transforming writing instruction
What Sets This Roadmap Apart:
Written by educators, for educators
Balances philosophical understanding with practical application
Provides concrete implementation strategies
Addresses both opportunities and ethical challenges
Offers specific guidance for maintaining human agency
Summer Professional Development Opportunity: Consider making "AI in Education: A Roadmap for Teacher-led Transformation" part of your school's summer reading initiative. Mike and I are available to develop customized professional development programs to support your school's AI integration journey.
[Amazon Link]
For information about training programs and bulk orders, please reach out to nicolas@pragmaticaisolutions.net.
The DOE toolkit confirms what we've been saying: teachers are the key to successful AI integration in education. Let's ensure they have the resources and support they need to lead this transformation.
Coming up: Don't miss guest posts from
, , and . Plus, delivers a groundbreaking scholarly analysis of AI in grading practices. I'll also expand our coverage of DOE guidelines and delve deeper into AI's effects on student mental health and well-being. Stay tuned!Check out some of my favorite Substacks:
Mike Kentz’s AI EduPathways: Insights from one of our most insightful, creative, and eloquent AI educators in the business!!!
Terry Underwood’s Learning to Read, Reading to Learn: The most penetrating investigation of the intersections between compositional theory, literacy studies, and AI on the internet!!!
Suzi’s When Life Gives You AI: An cutting-edge exploration of the intersection among computer science, neuroscience, and philosophy
Alejandro Piad Morffis’s Mostly Harmless Ideas: Unmatched investigations into coding, machine learning, computational theory, and practical AI applications
Amrita Roy’s The Pragmatic Optimist: My favorite Substack that focuses on economics and market trends.
Michael Woudenberg’s Polymathic Being: Polymathic wisdom brought to you every Sunday morning with your first cup of coffee
Rob Nelson’s AI Log: Incredibly deep and insightful essay about AI’s impact on higher ed, society, and culture.
Michael Spencer’s AI Supremacy: The most comprehensive and current analysis of AI news and trends, featuring numerous intriguing guest posts
Daniel Bashir’s The Gradient Podcast: The top interviews with leading AI experts, researchers, developers, and linguists.
Daniel Nest’s Why Try AI?: The most amazing updates on AI tools and techniques
Riccardo Vocca’s The Intelligent Friend: An intriguing examination of the diverse ways AI is transforming our lives and the world around us.
Jason Gulya’s The AI Edventure: An important exploration of cutting edge innovations in AI-responsive curriculum and pedagogy.
What a power-packed post. Have just bought the Kindle version of the book (will get straight into it once I finish Mick Fleetwood's autobiography) and thank you also for that excellent summary of the DOE release. Thank you for the continued high-class work you continue to share with us all Nick.
How awesome, congrats on getting the book out! Must be quite a feeling!