NYC public schools have banned student-facing generative AI through 8th grade.
As an ed-tech and learning science guy… oof.
AI bans are not the answer. Hopefully this one is short-lived.
First, inequity: kids with their own devices will be able to use AI on their own, while kids who depend on school-issued devices won’t have access. Even if we agree with banning AI, this is clearly problematic.
Second, a major purpose of school is to prepare kids for life BEYOND school. AI will be there when they graduate, in a much more advanced form. Abdicating the responsibility to train kids on how to use it (which includes dealing with consequences of bad uses) is just a terrible idea.
There are very good reasons to limit AI use, especially in younger children. Kids must learn to think on their own, not learn to rely on Gen AI. But they should also learn how and when to use AI. That will come through gradual exposure in a curated environment with solid learning goals in mind, and with expert guidance (meaning: teachers who know how to use it well).
We can’t just let them go figure it out by themselves.
They will do that under this ban. Many already are.
To give more nuance, the “ban” is a 1-year moratorium at present, so hopefully NYC will use the year to really figure out how to manage and teach educational use of AI. The city has convened a Technology in Schools Coalition to assess it — but assessing a moratorium is not the same as training teachers to use AI well.
I just hope the solution is neither a longer ban nor the age-old “buy some shiny tools” pitfall we’ve seen in edtech. We need a learning science-centered “educate the administration and teachers on how to use AI well” approach that partners with and directs the choices of those shiny new tools.
Here’s hoping. Meanwhile I’ll just keep using AI well and helping others do the same.
Got thoughts on the ban? Love to hear them.