Teachers union wants guidelines for AI use in schools

The teachers union AOb wants a national guideline for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in education. The technology is already used in class, but teachers and schools still know little about it, the union told NOS.

“We already use AI in the classroom, but we don’t really know how to deal with it in education,” said AOb vice-chairman Jelmer Evers. “The risks of AI are great. By using it as a school, you make it normal. Then, you have to know exactly what influence it has. Especially because it concerns children. You have to be extra careful.”

Little research has been done into the impact of AI in education. But students are already using generative AI, like ChatGPT, to do their homework. The College for Human Rights also recently raised concerns that the increasing digitalization of education could lead to more discrimination. And experts worry that tech companies will gain influence on teaching materials, according to NOS.

AOb thinks that clear national guidelines for teachers will help raise awareness of these kinds of concerns. “Some tech companies have a very poor track record when it comes to ethical standards. Do you want sensitive student data to end up there? Or should you choose another provider?” Evers said.

The guildines could also provide teachers and students with more practical tools for how they can use the technology. “AI is not bad. It can be very useful. But it is very much about how you use it. There are hardly any frameworks for that now,” Evers said.

The teachers’ union is already working on a guideline itself, but it wants to involve other organizations, including the Ministry of Education.

NOS asked State Secretary Mariëlle Paul of Primary- and Secondary Education and Emancipation whether she supports a guideline, but her answer was unclear. “AI offers opportunities to personalize learning and to support teachers in their work. But I see that the rapid development of AI also raises concerns,” she said in a written response. “I understand those concerns very well. As far as I am concerned, the key lies mainly in the way in which the teacher deals with this in the classroom.”

She added that there are initiatives to make teachers “AI-skilled,” such as an expertise center for digital literacy for teachers and free AI courses offered through the Dutch AI coalition.