Three months have passed since Lexington Richland Five released a new policy regarding Artificial Intelligence and technology. On October 27th, an email was sent out to the parents of students in the district.
This email included a video from Superintendent Dr. Ross, where he outlined the new policy. He discussed the impact of technology in the classroom and why it is an important learning resource. He also states how the new policy will go into effect and why it is being implemented.
School District Five’s AI position states, “School District Five of Lexington and Richland counties recognizes the potential of Artificial Intelligence to enhance teaching and learning. We acknowledge the ever changing nature of AI and understand the need to adapt to new developments. Our commitment is to ensure that any use of AI upholds a humanistic view of teaching as a priority, while implementing technologies in a manner that is equitable, ethical, and beneficial and to all of our students and staff.”
The new policy limits the accessibility to sites such as: Chat GPT, Google Gemini, and Grammarly by blocking these sites and many others that use AI on all school Chromebooks.
One possible solution to AI learning is Magic School. It allows teachers to make certain tools unavailable to students and monitor their use of AI. With teacher invites, students can access the website to utilize its tools. However, this site is unfamiliar to many students and teachers, so there will be a learning curve if a teacher decides to use this website.
Mrs. Abbott, English teacher at Chapin High School said, “I wish I would have had more notice.” Before the policy was introduced, she had used Magic School only a few times to help create rubrics.
Senior Zoe Ortuno commented, “I think the ban (on AI) is good, there are way too many people dependent on AI in our school.” Zoe said that AI can be helpful, but people should be able to complete assignments without its assistance.
New ways of learning come with new policies. Now that AI is blocked on school Chromebooks, students will have to work without it and teachers will now have less to worry about when it comes to the use of AI.
Edited by Brayden “Bree” Andrews
