Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Generative Artificial Intelligence

Generative Artificial Intelligence, or Gen AI, is a specific kind of AI that focuses only on creating new, original things. It's a digital tool to help solve problems. It's like a calculator for words and ideas.

Gen AI is becoming a part of almost every workplace. We want to teach students to use it safely, ethically, and smartly now so they are better prepared for future careers.

Yes, we only use versions of Gen AI that follow strict privacy laws like the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act.

No, these tools do not sell student data or use it to train public models. Think of it like a fenced in playground where their private work stays private.

Gen AI can make mistakes. We each students to verify information by using rusted resources such as books, websites, and more.

These are some suggestions:

• Ask Questions: Ask your child, "How did you use Gen AI as a helper today?"
• Explore Together: Use this as an opportunity to learn together. Ask your child to show you how to use Gen AI to plan a menu, a vacation, a birthday party, or other family activity.
• Practice Caution: Reinforce the importance of protecting privacy when using Gen AI.

Bulloch County Schools’ College & Career Program has 33 career pathways which teach trade skills like construction, heavy equipment operating, Ag mechanics, automotive, engineering, agriculture, and more. You can follow the district’s Career Ready Bulloch Facebook and Instagram pages or the Career Ready Bulloch website to learn more.

Nearly 1,500 middle and high school students are enrolled in at least one career pathway course. Each year the district hosts nine different discovery events for students in Grades 5 to 12. Each one orients them to possible trade skill careers, career pathway options in which they may enroll, and local trade skill career opportunities. We also have nearly 350 work-based learning sites at local businesses and industry who help provide additional job skills opportunities and training.

No. A computer cannot care about your child, mentor them, or understand their emotions. Gen AI actually helps teachers plan and prepare so they can have more one-on-one time with students.

Bulloch County Schools’ Google App Suite of products for students and teachers, which includes Gemini and NotebookLM, are housed within a protected online space which protects student privacy, and it is filtered and monitored by multiple cybersecurity platforms. Yes, it is tested regularly.

There will not be an option for students to opt out of Gen AI instruction. It's important to remember that children have access to artificial intelligence outside of the protected school environment on personal electronic devices to which they have access. Many are already using it on personal devices. 

Multiple studies about the use of Gen AI in schools have been done. Some support its use and some do not. Bulloch County Schools are using a limited approach within a protected space to teach high school students how to ethically use Gen AI. This is intended to mitigate any negative impacts with its use. The district isn't ignoring the risks; it is attempting to fix and prevent any potential damages by guiding students toward responsible use before they graduate into an AI-driven economy.

Outside of school, students already have access to artificial intelligence tools on their personal electronic devices. In most cases, this access is not monitored, nor has guidance been provided to them about how not to off-load their thinking to AI, which can lead to a decline in critical thinking. By allowing the use of limited Gen AI tools in a protected environment, the school district aims to do the following:

• Teach AI Literacy: We have a responsibility to teach AI literacy as a life skill.
  • We want to teach students how to use it as a thought partner and tutor that prompts them to think and reflect, not provide them a final answer. Ensure that they understand that their unique voice and human skills are most important. For example, for many students, the hardest part is starting an assignment, writer’s block. Limited Gen AI use can help with brainstorming and organization, acting as a spark for creativity rather than a replacement for it.
  • Teach them how to ethically craft prompts that create more efficient processes. This is becoming a high-demand critical thinking skill in the workforce.
  • Continue to teach digital citizenship. Just as we have with the internet and social media, we want to continue to teach good digital citizenship with Gen AI. Use of these tools will require students to think critically. They will need to evaluate fact from fiction, recognize group think, and recognize bias in a world where AI is now regularly used.
• Overcome learning barriers: Gen AI can be a powerful equalizer for certain student sub-groups:
  • Students with Learning Disabilities: Tools can help students with dyslexia or processing disorders organize their thoughts or adjust the complexity of a text to match their skill level.
  • English Language Learners: Gen AI offers a private way for students to practice syntax and grammar without the fear of making mistakes in front of a large group.
  • Students who are economically disadvantaged: By providing supervised access to vetted, limited tools, the district ensures all students have access to accurate information and learn to use it ethically, regardless of their background. This reduces the digital divide for students whose families are unable to afford the cost of providing access to technology tools at home.

For the past two years, our school district has been working to plan this soft launch of Gen AI to high school students. Part of our pre-work has been to train teachers on the appropriate use of Gen AI in the classroom. This training will adapt and continue as teachers and students use the new technology. Our guidance to teachers is that assignments should be created in a manner that requires students to employ critical thinking skills rather than allowing for a simple copy-and-paste of Gen AI output. This includes teaching educators how to create schoolwork that requires students to use their own local knowledge, personal experiences, or skills to solve complicated problems with many steps.

No, the school district does not receive any compensation or incentives for using Gen AI.

Gen AI is like a mirror. It reflects what it learns from people online, including bad habits and unfair ideas. We teach students to double-check Gen AI’s answers and look for unfairness rather than following it blindly.

No. Students still have to learn to read, write, do math, and demonstrate understanding. Gen AI is like a bicycle for the brain: it helps you go faster, but you still have to pedal.

Academic dishonesty has existed for hundreds of years even before technology. We can't control the choices that students choose to make. What we can do as educators is set clear expectations, have conversations with students about their assignments, teach them to make better choices and be clear about consequences.

Our school district has established values and codes of conduct by which we expect all adults and students to adhere. These clear expectations are a foundation for our instruction and interactions with students. The district also has clear disciplinary consequences for students who violate our Student Code of Conduct.

We want to teach students to be good digital citizens with their use of technology tools. Solely relying on Gen AI is like asking someone else to run a race for you—you will not get any stronger. We will focus on the process of learning and teach students to use Gen AI as a tool to do their work more efficiently and effectively. It is a thought partner, and will not and should not replace their unique voice or skills.

ChatGPT and other resources that utilize Gen AI tools are currently blocked for student use while they are using a Bulloch County Schools device or connected to the school district’s internet. The school district is unable to block its use on personal digital devices. Students have access to other Gen AI tools outside of the school district. This is why it is important to provide instruction about responsible and ethical ways to use Gen AI, so that we continue to model good digital citizenship.

No. While Gen Ai tools may provide feedback, teachers review and assign grades.