Sept. 7, 2024
As educational leaders navigating the future of learning in Oxnard Union High School District (OUHSD) and 91视频 (91视频), we are committed to our students and our communities. With an emerging landscape that includes Artificial Intelligence (AI), our educational institutions are poised to lead. We recognize that AI is rapidly becoming a central player in the world our students are preparing to enter. But with this technology, there comes a critical need to determine not just 鈥榠f鈥 it belongs in our schools, but 鈥榟ow鈥 it should be used. An instinctive reaction might be to limit or ban its use in schools, fearing its implications for academic integrity. But that鈥檚 a narrow view. We believe that if we guide our students on how to use AI ethically and effectively, it could be a transformative educational tool.
Last year, OUHSD piloted Khanmigo, an AI-powered tutor, as a resource for students. The success of this pilot led to its expansion in this academic year. Yet, introducing AI isn鈥檛 about rolling out new tools. It鈥檚 about listening to the students who will be using them. When we presented to a student advisory group, we learned that they didn鈥檛 need us to explain AI鈥攖hey need us to help them navigate its use within the structure of their education. 鈥淕ive us the tools, help us with rules, and let us figure it out,鈥 they told us. Their voices reflect a growing reality: today鈥檚 students bring new skills to the classroom; and for many, that includes knowledge of AI.
This awareness is critical as we consider the broader implications of AI for students, especially those facing unique challenges. For our English Language Learners (ELLs), particularly newcomers to the U.S. who arrive in their mid-teens, AI offers new avenues for developing language skills and accessing learning experiences. As a learning companion, AI can provide personalized support and adapt to individual needs, acting as a foundation to build upon as they navigate an unfamiliar educational system.
In higher education and specifically at CSU Channel Islands, our mission is to put students at the center of our educational approach. AI aligns with this mission in a profound way. It鈥檚 not about using AI to replace traditional learning but to enhance it, ensuring that our students graduate with the skills they need for a world where AI is prevalent in nearly every industry. To do that, we need to be thoughtful and intentional about how we integrate AI into curriculum and practices.
There鈥檚 opportunity to collaborate across institutions, from high schools to universities. Whether it鈥檚 summer academies blending AI training with traditional learning or partnerships that give students hands-on experience with this technology, we need to be forward-thinking in how we structure these learning environments. This conversation isn鈥檛 about increasing the number of digital worksheets or automating basic tasks鈥攊t鈥檚 about creating interactive, dynamic experiences that resonate with students and prepare them for meaningful careers.
Of course, there are challenges. As educators, we have to take a scholarly and ethical approach to issues like access, privacy, data security, information literacies, and the environmental impact of AI technologies. These are complex issues, and it鈥檚 crucial that we teach our students not just how to use AI, but how to think critically about its implications.
We鈥檝e heard repeatedly from students that they鈥檙e ready for these conversations. They鈥檙e already grappling with big questions: Is it cheating if I use AI in my assignment? If AI helps me write a paper, is it still 鈥榤y鈥 work? These aren鈥檛 questions we should shy away from. If anything, they provide a perfect entry point for deeper inquiry-based learning.
Students today are regularly curating their digital lives鈥攎anaging online coursework, social media, communication with peers and family鈥攄emonstrating significant digital competence. Our role is to provide the framework, ethical guidelines, and opportunities for students to take what they learn and push it further in responsible ways that benefit their growth and development.
Ultimately, listening to our students and faculty across institutions will guide our critical next steps as we explore AI. Students are telling us what they need: relevance, engagement, and a voice in how they learn. If we can offer them that, we鈥檙e not just preparing them for the world as it is鈥攚e鈥檙e empowering them to shape it. As we move forward, we鈥檒l continue working across institutions to ensure that we embrace AI with intentionality, enthusiasm, and a healthy dose of caution. Our students are ready; it鈥檚 up to us to meet them where they are.
Thomas McCoy, Ed.D.
Superintendent, Oxnard Union High School District
Richard Yao, Ph.D.
President, CSU Channel Islands