Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence, or AI for short, is when a computer or a machine can do things that are usually done by humans, like talking, seeing, or solving problems. AI can learn from data or experiences and make decisions based on what it learns.

Generative AI uses natural language to understand what humans want and to create text that is similar to what humans write. For example, a generative AI program can look at many news articles and then write its own article that sounds like a real one. Generative AI can use natural language for many purposes, such as answering questions, summarizing texts, or generating stories.

• Keynote speakers at the yearly BLAST tech training focused on the promise of AI in recent years.
• Multiple AI sessions were offered for teachers at BLAST led by SVSD staff who have used AI for teaching and learning.
• Monthly meetings of Digital Learning Leaders focused on learning about and implementing AI in the classroom.
• AI Explorers 4-week sessions offered for secondary and elementary teachers, administrators, and office staff with a focus on evaluating AI output and using AI for communication and productivity.

Currently we are doing pilots with teachers across the district to determine which education specific AI tools are most effective and how best to implement them.

Stand-alone generative AI tools like Microsoft CoPilot and Gemini are accessible on SVSD devices by students in 8th grade and above due to terms of service restrictions and privacy concerns for students under the age of 13. 

However, some digital learning tools used in SVSD have built-in AI functionality that is available to all students, regardless of age. For example, Canva, a web based graphic design tool, makes it easy to generate images using AI simply by describing the desired result in natural language.

SVSD adheres to a Digital Resource Request process which requires staff to submit information to a team consisting of subject matter experts from Technology, Teaching and Learning, and Student Services departments who vet the tools for privacy concerns, connection to approved curricula and integration with existing SVSD technology.

Innovative educators  in SVSD are using AI to enhance teaching and learning in some of the following ways:

• Supplementing lessons with additional activities
• Creating quizzes
• Generating rubrics
• Providing feedback on student work
• Teaching about AI itself

SVSD staff are using AI to improve productivity in some of the following ways:

• Summarizing reports
• Creating images for presentations
• Composing emails
• Generating help documentation
• Writing strategic objectives

SummaryCOPPA, or the Children's Online Privacy Protection Rule, imposes certain requirements on operators of websites or online services directed to children under 13 years of age, and on operators of other websites or online services that have actual knowledge that they are collecting personal information online from a child under 13 years of age.

• Children's Online Privacy Protection Rule 
• Code of Federal Regulations
• Artificial Intelligence Executive Order 24-01
• VIDEO: What is COPPA?

Summary

FERPA, or the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. It grants parents the right to access their children's education records, seek amendments to those records, and control the disclosure of personally identifiable information from the records. FERPA applies to educational agencies and institutions that receive federal funding, ensuring that student information is handled with care and confidentiality.

• U.S. Dept of Education 
• Understanding FERPA: Protecting Student Privacy
• VIDEO: FERPA for Parents and Students

Summary

GDPR, or General Data Protection Regulation, is a comprehensive data protection law that came into effect on May 25, 2018. It is considered the toughest privacy and security law in the world, designed to protect the personal data of individuals within the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA). GDPR imposes strict obligations on organizations that collect or process personal data, regardless of where they are located, as long as they target or collect data related to individuals in the EU.

• What is the GDPR?
• Complete Guide to GDPR Compliance
• GDPR Regulation from Council of the European Union
• VIDEO: GDPR Explained

Summary

SOC 2, or System and Organization Controls 2, is a compliance framework developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). It is designed to ensure that service providers manage customer data securely, focusing on five key areas: security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. SOC 2 is particularly relevant for technology and cloud computing companies that handle sensitive customer information, as it provides guidelines for evaluating the effectiveness of their security protocols.

• What is SOC 2?
• Comparison of SOC 1, SOC 2, and SOC