Sept. 7, 2024
As educational leaders navigating the future of learning in Oxnard Union High School District (OUHSD) and 惇蹋勛圖 (惇蹋勛圖), we are committed to our students and our communities. With an emerging landscape that includes Artificial Intelligence (AI), our educational institutions are poised to lead. We recognize that AI is rapidly becoming a central player in the world our students are preparing to enter. But with this technology, there comes a critical need to determine not just if it belongs in our schools, but how it should be used. An instinctive reaction might be to limit or ban its use in schools, fearing its implications for academic integrity. But thats a narrow view. We believe that if we guide our students on how to use AI ethically and effectively, it could be a transformative educational tool.
Last year, OUHSD piloted Khanmigo, an AI-powered tutor, as a resource for students. The success of this pilot led to its expansion in this academic year. Yet, introducing AI isnt about rolling out new tools. Its about listening to the students who will be using them. When we presented to a student advisory group, we learned that they didnt need us to explain AIthey need us to help them navigate its use within the structure of their education. Give us the tools, help us with rules, and let us figure it out, they told us. Their voices reflect a growing reality: todays students bring new skills to the classroom; and for many, that includes knowledge of AI.
This awareness is critical as we consider the broader implications of AI for students, especially those facing unique challenges. For our English Language Learners (ELLs), particularly newcomers to the U.S. who arrive in their mid-teens, AI offers new avenues for developing language skills and accessing learning experiences. As a learning companion, AI can provide personalized support and adapt to individual needs, acting as a foundation to build upon as they navigate an unfamiliar educational system.
In higher education and specifically at CSU Channel Islands, our mission is to put students at the center of our educational approach. AI aligns with this mission in a profound way. Its not about using AI to replace traditional learning but to enhance it, ensuring that our students graduate with the skills they need for a world where AI is prevalent in nearly every industry. To do that, we need to be thoughtful and intentional about how we integrate AI into curriculum and practices.
Theres opportunity to collaborate across institutions, from high schools to universities. Whether its summer academies blending AI training with traditional learning or partnerships that give students hands-on experience with this technology, we need to be forward-thinking in how we structure these learning environments. This conversation isnt about increasing the number of digital worksheets or automating basic tasksits about creating interactive, dynamic experiences that resonate with students and prepare them for meaningful careers.
Of course, there are challenges. As educators, we have to take a scholarly and ethical approach to issues like access, privacy, data security, information literacies, and the environmental impact of AI technologies. These are complex issues, and its crucial that we teach our students not just how to use AI, but how to think critically about its implications.
Weve heard repeatedly from students that theyre ready for these conversations. Theyre already grappling with big questions: Is it cheating if I use AI in my assignment? If AI helps me write a paper, is it still my work? These arent questions we should shy away from. If anything, they provide a perfect entry point for deeper inquiry-based learning.
Students today are regularly curating their digital livesmanaging online coursework, social media, communication with peers and familydemonstrating significant digital competence. Our role is to provide the framework, ethical guidelines, and opportunities for students to take what they learn and push it further in responsible ways that benefit their growth and development.
Ultimately, listening to our students and faculty across institutions will guide our critical next steps as we explore AI. Students are telling us what they need: relevance, engagement, and a voice in how they learn. If we can offer them that, were not just preparing them for the world as it iswere empowering them to shape it. As we move forward, well continue working across institutions to ensure that we embrace AI with intentionality, enthusiasm, and a healthy dose of caution. Our students are ready; its up to us to meet them where they are.
Thomas McCoy, Ed.D.
Superintendent, Oxnard Union High School District
Richard Yao, Ph.D.
President, CSU Channel Islands