Our Approach to AI: Safe, Ethical, and Innovative Learning
Our Approach to AI: Safe, Ethical, and Innovative Learning
At the Ottawa Catholic School Board, we believe technology should serve humanity. That’s why our approach to AI is grounded in ethics, transparency, and equity. We use AI to enhance learning, empower educators, and create opportunities for innovation, while safeguarding privacy and promoting justice. Every step we take reflects our Catholic values and our dedication to the dignity of all.
Empowering Teachers With Google AI
At the Ottawa Catholic School Board, innovation meets education through Google Gemini.
This powerful AI tool is helping teachers save time, create tailored lesson plans, and focus on what truly matters, supporting every student’s unique learning journey.
With safety as its top priority, Gemini provides a secure environment that enhances the classroom experience for all learners.
Building Trust In AI: OCSB’s Guiding Framework
Building Trust In AI: OCSB’s Guiding Framework
The OCSB’s AI Guiding Principles are the foundation for all our work using Artificial Intelligence. They provide direction to staff and students on how artificial intelligence will be used within our schools and the school board.
Access the OCSB AI Guiding Principles
Prioritize Humane & Ethical Use
A key priority in the OCSB is the humane and ethical use of AI (and all technology). AI has to be used for good – not for cheating, deepfakes, or scams. We want our students to make ethical decisions that align with our Catholic Social teachings and focus on the dignity of all.
Focus on Education & Learning
We are incorporating AI in our classrooms because we strongly believe that it will help students learn, help our educators teach, and empower students to do some learning on their own. AI gives us an opportunity to innovate student learning and improve our learning environment.
Champion Equity & Justice
We know that generative AI can have inherent biases and the potential for hallucinations and incorrect information. We need to educate our students to be aware of this when assessing AI output to ensure it respects and reflects the identities and cultures in our community.
Be Transparent
As a Board, we will indicate and teach our students to indicate when AI has been used to assist in creating a body of work. When the use of AI is approved in student work, students will be expected to be clear and honest about AI’s role in the work and properly cite its use.
Safeguard Privacy, Security & Data Protection
Any AI tools that we provide for students or staff on our portals will have undergone a privacy impact assessment. We have also created a framework for staff to evaluate additional AI tools not on our portal to ensure they adequately protect student and staff privacy and data.
Why Incorporate AI in the Classroom?
Incorporating age-appropriate artificial intelligence (AI) in the classroom offers benefits for both students and educators.
Why Incorporate AI in the Classroom?
Incorporating age-appropriate artificial intelligence (AI) in the classroom offers benefits for both students and educators.
- Lesson Planning and Learning Activities: AI can quickly create lesson plans and interactive activities tailored to student interests and learning differences. Tools like Brisk allow educators to adjust lesson content, such as changing reading levels or creating multiple versions of an activity so that they are tailored to a student’s interests and abilities.
- Assessment and Evaluation: AI can provide feedback based on teacher-created rubrics, saving time and providing timely feedback. Tools like Quizziz can create quizzes, gamify learning, and help students review before formal evaluations.
- Language Translation: AI facilitates language translation, aiding English language learners by making learning accessible in their native language. This promotes inclusivity, enabling students to engage more fully in class.
Data Analysis: AI can analyze data from documents and provide insights, acting as a virtual data analyst for educators and administrators. - Studying and Tutoring Support: AI tools offer personalized tutoring, study materials, flashcards, and quizzes, catering to different learning styles and preferences.
- Creativity: AI can generate images, poems, and songs and provide summaries of complex documents or videos, enhancing creative learning experiences.
- Reading Support and Text Differentiation: AI can adjust reading levels, simplify vocabulary, and modify text to accommodate different learning needs, supporting differentiated instruction.
- Executive Functioning Support: AI-powered tools assist with task scheduling, reminders, and goal setting, helping students manage their time and tasks effectively.
- Socialization Support: AI can provide conversational practice and social cues in a non-judgmental, predictable learning environment, helping students navigate social situations and improve their social skills.
- Communication Support: AI-powered assistive technologies, such as Lookout and Look to Speak, enhance communication for students with visual impairments or other needs.
- Accessibility: AI enhances existing accessibility features, such as text-to-speech, voice typing, and screen readers, making learning more inclusive for students with disabilities.
- Time-Saving for Educators: AI can generate letters, create newsletter templates, and provide summaries from various media sources, saving educators valuable time.
- Crucial Skill Development: Teaching students about AI is essential because these skills are becoming more important in the workforce. We have a responsibility to prepare students for a world where AI is a common tool. Additionally, not all students have access to technology at home, so it’s important to provide them with opportunities to learn and use AI in school.
Incorporating Critical Thinking
Incorporating Critical Thinking
AI literacy is more than just knowing how to use the tools. To mitigate the potential risks and biases of AI, our AI guiding principles will be introduced to students using age-appropriate language. Additionally, educators in all grades will emphasize the global competency of Critical Thinking. Students will be reminded to use their critical thinking skills when reviewing the output of AI tools.
Guidelines for Student Use of AI
Students will be allowed to use age-appropriate Board-provided AI tools. When assigning student work, educators will provide guidelines on how AI can be used for a given assignment. Examples include:
- Students can use AI to help develop ideas for a project or essay.
- After proofreading, students can use AI to correct grammar or suggest better wording.
- Students can use AI to add creative elements or polish their projects, such as turning the information they provide into a song or creating illustrations to enhance a presentation.
Additional Resources
Additional Resources
Guardian’s Guide to AI: This is a guide for families produced by Google for Education.
AI for OCSB Parents/Guardians: Frequently Asked Questions about the Use of AI at the OCSB.
Generative AI Primer: This free 1-hour course explores how Generative AI will transform computing and work and focuses on using it to amplify and augment creativity and critical thinking.
* Coursera Course. It is a helpful introduction for students, parents, and educators.
OCSB AI Use Cases: Staff members explain how they use AI in their work and teaching practices.
The OCSB AI Implementation: The AI Strategic Implementation explains in more detail why the OCSB embraces AI in a balanced manner across all grade levels. The podcast was AI-generated using Google NotebookLM.
