AI as start 2025 School Year
As I wrap up my first week of AI professional development and opening keynotes across Washington State (currently writing this on the ferry back from San Juan Island School District) I find myself reflecting on the journey. By the end of this 1,500-mile, week-long road trip (only to head out and do it all again next week), I’m reflecting on the richness of the conversations, the encouraging emails I’ve received, and just how honored I am to be doing this work.
My reflection:
- As much as I'm talking about and doing trainings on AI, it's the keynote about generational understanding and perspectives that continues to be the highlight. Learning about each other, learning about our students reminds us that at the end of the day education is about people, about understanding and moving forward together as a community while respecting generational differences and understanding our strengths together as a team.
- In each AI training this week I had at least one educator in tears thinking about that one student that this technology is going to impact in a positive way this year. And a couple who are frustrated that they didn't use this last year and now feel they didn't do right by their students. AI isn't about saving time or creating something quickly, it's about the impact this is and will have on real kiddos and that excites me.
- At the end of every AI training I did this week the district decided to open up AI to students 13 and older and in some cases even younger. Or unblock certain AIs that were blocked by the request of the educators.
- I am also hearing more and more stories of students being accused of using AI when they say they didn't, when there is no evidence other then an AI detector involved. We need to continue to spread the word that AI detector tools are not a reliable and should not be used. In my own investigation into many of these accusations I am finding that the students didn't use AI however....they did use Grammarly which is an approve extension in their school and most schools/students believe to be OK to use. However, Grammarly is now AI driven and when students use it, the same way they have been using it for years, it now is being flagged as AI in detection tools. I have seen two example of this and just want to caution anyone using AI detection tools to be very carefully that you are not accusing students of using a tool that is and has been approved by the district and considered "common" by many. Is anyone else seeing this trend?
- and in the end it is just an honor beyond my dreams to get to drive district to district sometimes 5+ hours in a day to do this work. To get to hear stories, to dig in with educators, to break down fears, to wipe tears, give hugs, and know that each and every educator out there is doing their very best to make sure all students succeed. Know I see you, I honor you, and I am proud to be in this profession with you.
