NSA: Trailblazers in AI Policy

By Michael C.

Artificial Intelligence, commonly known as AI, is continually being integrated more and more into society, including schools. NorthStar is one of the few schools that actually has an AI policy. This policy is brand-new, and students might have been surprised this year to see the AI acceptable use scale explained in an orientation video. Like all things, Artificial Intelligence can be accepted, rejected, or redeemed. The faculty at NSA “witnessed the rapid development and adoption of AI technologies” (Shafer) and decided not to ban AI, but redeem it.

NorthStar faculty began discussing the need for an AI policy back in January of 2023. Mrs. Shafer, the Director of NSA, explains, “Given our commitment to innovation and preparing students for a rapidly changing world, it was clear that we needed to establish guidelines around AI use. It wasn’t just about controlling or limiting AI but equipping students with the ethical, critical thinking, and technical skills necessary to navigate this new landscape.” AI is a tool, and like all tools it can be used for good and for bad. AI can present some awesome and unique opportunities for learning, but without the proper guidelines it can damage academic integrity.

Towards the end of last year students may remember the AI roundtables that NorthStar had which got feedback directly from faculty, parents, and students. Mrs. Shafer and others already had initial ideas about NSA’s direction with AI, but the feedback helped refine the approach. “It is clear that the consensus is to ensure that AI is used as a tool for learning, not as a shortcut that undermines education. The roundtable confirmed that our policy needed to balance innovation with responsibility, particularly regarding students' use of AI in assignments” (Shafer). School has always been about learning, not just completing assignments. Unguided AI use can undermine both the learning process and the completion of assignments. 

As mentioned previously, most other schools do not have an AI policy, so why NSA? This is because NorthStar is committed to innovation and lifelong learning. Most other schools might not have an AI policy just yet, but it is very important to be proactive in guiding students on how to interact with this technology. Mrs. Shafer shares “AI can be a great educational resource, but it needs to be used in ways that align with our mission and a biblical worldview, so we demonstrate integrity in all we do.” NorthStar’s AI policy helps guide students to use the technology in a way that demonstrates integrity and glorifies God.

Some students may have missed the AI policy in orientation, or do not fully understand it yet. Because of this, here is a very clear explanation of it. NSA has an AI acceptable use scale which is numbered zero through four. Zero means that there should be no AI used on the assignment at all and four means full AI integration. This scale will be referenced as needed throughout courses. 

When asked about any changes that could be made to the policy in the future, Mrs. Shafer replied, “I anticipate that we’ll need to continuously update the AI policy to reflect new developments in technology and how they impact education … Additionally, we'll likely need to expand our teaching on AI ethics to ensure students are equipped to not only use AI but also to understand its broader societal implications.” Mrs. Shafer also explained that as AI becomes more sophisticated, stronger guidelines may need to be implemented. 

Just a Little Extra:

“Not only is NSA focused on helping students be prepared to navigate the world with generative AI, but we are also committed to supporting teachers as they work with students and prepare them for this ever-changing world. NSA regularly offers regular professional development for teachers to equip them with the tools they need to understand generative AI, use generative AI as a teacher, and enter into conversations with students about the importance of ethical technology usage and digital citizenship.” - Mrs. Shafer, NorthStar Director

Michael C. lives in South Asia with his parents and three siblings. He is in twelfth grade and has been at NSA for five years. His hobbies include working out, listening to music, and playing basketball. Michael enjoys all things Star Wars, DC, and LOTR.

🔎Informational, 🎉NSA EventsEIC NSA2024-2025, October 2024 Publication