In my first role as a school Principal about ten years ago, I initially walked into the building shortly after being hired to tour the facilities. I noticed a large computer lab with approximately thirty desktop computer stations. I also noticed a small closet deemed to be the “faculty room.” It housed a refrigerator and soda machine but not much room for anything else.
After some discussion with teachers, it was explained to me that no one used the computer lab because once more than four computers were turned on at the same time, it would always blow a fuse. Consequently, I learned that we also had laptop devices to meet the needs of about half our students.
I quickly made the decision to get rid of the computer lab, and create a much larger faculty room, where teachers could actually gather to eat their lunch together like humans rather than eating in their classrooms. I also stockpiled laptops so that each student had access to a device on a regular basis.
I wouldn’t say I was ahead of the curve, but we went one to one before the term was later popularized. The movement of computers from a once a week occurrence in a lab setting to a daily occurrence in every classroom for every kid certainly sped up our reliance on technology. I don’t think that I clearly thought through the decision. I just saw everyone else making the same decisions.
In many instances, normal classroom activities that worked well were flipped into a digital version whether or not they worked any better or more efficiently. In ten to fifteen years time, we have come to rely on devices in the classroom without giving much thought to how we are actually using them. Should students be spending the majority of their day staring at another screen? Suffice it to say, I think that we need to be more intentional about how students use their devices as well as how often they use devices.
And now, as we stand at the precipice of the AI revolution, I think we also need to think more intentionally. AI is a tool like no other that will change education (and other industries/professions) completely. If we approach it as we did when we put devices in every child’s hands at all times of the day, we may see ramifications quickly.
We should think clearly about what those consequences may be. We need to prepare not only our students and teachers in the ethical and responsible use of AI, but we also need to prepare families for what this technology does and doesn’t do. It’s happening quickly, and we need to be intentional in how we approach our decisions around AI.
Ten years ago, I created a larger faculty room because I realized that teachers needed space to be human together. Today, as AI becomes increasingly present, that lesson is more relevant than ever. Technology is most effective when serving human needs, not when dictating them. Let’s not put AI in every hand because everyone else is doing it. We’ve seen what happens when we prioritize the tool over the task. This time, let’s put purpose first.
Rich
