Inconsistent guidelines for AI use in N.S. classrooms fuel calls for provincewide policy
asserted
guidelines → fuel → policy
Expert says teachers need to be 'judicious' with how they allow their students to use AI
Jenna Poste is not opposed to artificial intelligence — in fact, she uses it all the time as someone who works in the tech industry.
asserted
who → say → industry
But as a parent, she’s highly concerned about how, when and why it’s being introduced to young people.
asserted
it → ’ → people
In Nova Scotia, there is no provincewide policy explicitly stating how AI should be used in the classroom.
asserted
AI → be → classroom
The provincial government says it’s up to regional centres for education to make their own rules about the technology.
asserted
it → say → technology
“We need to have consistency,” said Poste, a member of the national advocacy group Skills Before Screens.
asserted
Poste → need → Screens
“We should really be taking a cautious approach.
asserted
We → take → approach
“We shouldn’t be pushing forward like we have with our other technologies.
asserted
we → push → technologies
We just assume it’s going to be helpful to learning without actually having the data that supports it.”
asserted
that → assume → it
CBC News reached out to the regional centres for education, as well as the francophone school board, to ask about their AI policies.
asserted
News → reach → policies
Their approaches vary.
asserted
approaches → vary → ?
For example, the Halifax and Chignecto-Central regional centres for education have guidelines in writing, while in the Cape Breton-Victoria district, use of AI varies by grade level and teachers must “use their judgement.”
asserted
teachers → have → judgement
Once labelled a 'cheating machine,' AI cautiously embraced in Halifax schools
New Brunswick is weaving AI into its K-12 curriculum, drawing praise — and pushback
asserted
Brunswick → label → praise
The Annapolis Valley Regional Centre for Education said it “follows provincial curriculum and guidance” from the Department of Education, and has an educational technology team to support teachers and school staff.
asserted
it → say → teachers
The South Shore and Tri-County regional centres for education said they are focused on ensuring students learn the fundamentals, while they are “actively monitoring the emergence of AI in education to identify potential opportunities.”
asserted
they → say → opportunities
The Strait Regional Centre for Education is finalizing a plan to provide AI guidelines and resources for students and staff.
asserted
Centre → finalize → students
The Conseil Scolaire Acadien Provincial does not currently have a policy, but has appointed a committee to develop one.
asserted
Provincial → have → one
Chris Boulter, senior executive director for the Department of Education, said the government strives to ensure students across the province have similar experiences no matter where they live.
asserted
they → say → experiences
Asked whether the department will develop provincewide guidelines for AI in classrooms, he said it's an "ongoing conversation."
asserted
it → ask → classrooms
He said officials are monitoring what other jurisdictions are doing.
asserted
jurisdictions → say → what
Boulter emphasized the department's primary focus is to ensure students have literacy, math and critical thinking skills.
asserted
students → emphasize → skills
"We feel that sets them up very well to use artificial intelligence to improve their learning," he said.
asserted
he → feel → learning
"But again, I can't stress enough, those foundational skills have not gone away because of AI.
asserted
skills → stress → AI
If anything, it's caused us to really double down on our efforts."
asserted
us → cause → efforts
Peter Day, president of the Nova Scotia Teachers Union, said many of his members have reverted to in-class assessments on paper because it’s not uncommon for students to hand in work that’s been obviously generated by a chatbot.
asserted
that → say → chatbot
He said AI cannot exist in the school system without guardrails in place.
asserted
AI → say → place
He says many teachers have gone back to in-class assessments because some students use AI chatbots to complete their assignments.
asserted
students → say → assignments
He compared it to students being taught how to safely use a bandsaw in an industrial arts class before they're given free reins to try out the tool.
asserted
they → compare → tool
“I don’t see AI as that much different.
asserted
I → see → AI
I think we really need to be showing students how AI works and what an appropriate use for it would be.”
asserted
use → think → it
But in order to teach students how to use AI responsibly, Day said teachers have to feel confident in their own skills.
asserted
teachers → teach → skills
Apart from a voluntary summer technology camp, he said there is no provincewide professional development focused solely on AI for educators.
asserted
he → say → educators
Manitoba ban on social media, AI chatbots for kids could start in schools: education minister
Why these parents want to see less screen time in N.S. classrooms
Boulter said professional development is currently available through regional centres for education, but work is underway to develop more learning opportunities for teachers through the province.
Johan Woodworth, an assistant professor who teaches courses on AI integration and literacy at Mount Saint Vincent University’s education program, said educators have to be “judicious” with how they allow their students to use AI.
uncertain
students → start → AI
Not only can it replace critical thinking and shortcut learning, he said, but it can also produce outputs that are biased, misleading or even factually incorrect.
asserted
that → replace → outputs
He teaches courses on AI integration and literacy.
asserted
He → teach → integration
Woodworth also insists that a provincewide policy is needed.
asserted
policy → insist → ?
Like Day, he said teachers need more time and resources to become familiar with the tools.
asserted
teachers → say → tools
“Just knowing about a technology doesn’t mean that you could pedagogically integrate them into a classroom,” he said.
uncertain
he → know → classroom
He pointed to New York City — home to the largest school district in North America — where officials recently imposed a one-year moratorium on generative AI up to Grade 8, while chatbots in schools have been banned for all grades.
asserted
chatbots → point → grades
Free course covering basics of AI to be available to all Canadians by end of the year
Could AI really 'kill all humans'?
uncertain
AI → cover → humans
…and 6 more, not listed.
The Aporia
