AI & IEPs Discussion Guide

Warm Up: Your AI Mindset (Slide 2)

"Good morning, everyone! Today, we're going to dive into a topic that's increasingly relevant in education: Artificial Intelligence, specifically how we can responsibly consider its use in developing Individualized Education Programs. It's a powerful tool, and like all powerful tools, we need to approach it thoughtfully.

To kick things off, let's get a sense of where everyone stands. Please access the Warm Up: AI in Education Poll and share your initial thoughts and feelings about AI in education. What comes to mind? Excitement? Caution? Curiosity? Take about two minutes to complete it."

(Allow teachers to complete the poll. Briefly discuss some responses, noting common themes or interesting points.)

"Thank you for sharing your initial thoughts. It's clear that many of us have a mix of feelings, and that's perfectly normal when discussing new technologies."

Introduction to AI in IEPs (Slides 3-4)

"Let's start by grounding ourselves in what AI actually is. (Advance to Slide 3: What is AI?) Simply put, Artificial Intelligence refers to technology that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. Think about things like understanding language, recognizing patterns, or making predictions.

In education, AI is already being used for things like personalized learning platforms, analyzing large sets of student data, or even automating administrative tasks. When we think about IEP development, AI could potentially assist with drafting initial goal suggestions, analyzing trends in student performance data to identify specific needs, or generating differentiated activity ideas based on a student's profile.

(Pause for questions or initial reactions.)

"Now, this brings us to the core of our discussion today. (Advance to Slide 4: The Big Question: Can AI Be Responsible?) When we bring such powerful tools into a sensitive and crucial area like IEPs, the big question isn't just can it be used, but can it be used responsibly? What are some potential risks or major concerns that immediately come to your mind when you think about AI helping with IEPs?"

(Listen to responses, validating concerns and connecting them to the next section.)

Ethical Considerations Discussion (Slide 5)

"Those are excellent points, and they lead us perfectly into the ethical crossroads we face. (Advance to Slide 5: Ethical Crossroads). Let's explore these key challenges in more detail.

I've outlined four major areas: Privacy and Confidentiality, Bias and Fairness, Human Oversight, and Equity of Access. Each of these presents significant questions we need to address.

For the next 15 minutes, I'd like you to engage with the Discussion: AI in IEPs: Ethical Considerations material. You can work in small groups of 3-4, or individually if you prefer. Focus on the questions provided for each ethical area. Be prepared to share some of your group's insights."

(Circulate among groups, facilitating discussion. After 15 minutes, bring the whole group back.)

"Let's hear from a few groups. What was one significant point or challenge your group discussed regarding student privacy? How about bias in AI and its impact on fairness? Who do you think should always have the final say in IEP development when AI is involved? And finally, how do we ensure all students, regardless of background or resources, benefit from AI tools?"

(Facilitate a brief whole-group share-out, ensuring key points from the discussion material are covered.)

Strategies for Responsible AI Use (Slide 6)

"Thank you for those thoughtful discussions. It's clear that while AI offers exciting possibilities, we must be proactive in addressing its challenges. So, how can we ensure AI becomes a helpful, ethical partner in our work? (Advance to Slide 6: Strategies for Responsible AI Use)

I've highlighted some key strategies here:

• Human-in-the-Loop: This is paramount. AI should assist, not replace, professional judgment. Teachers, parents, and students must always be at the center of IEP development.
• Data Security First: We must demand and utilize AI tools that prioritize robust student data privacy and confidentiality. Understand where data is stored and how it's protected.
• Transparency: We need to understand how AI tools make their suggestions. What data are they using? What are their limitations? We should question and critically evaluate AI outputs.
• Training and Professional Development: This session is a start! Staying informed about AI advancements and best practices is crucial for all educators.
• Focus on Equity: As we integrate AI, we must actively work to ensure it narrows, not widens, achievement gaps. Are AI tools accessible to all students? Are they designed with diverse needs in mind?

These strategies empower us to harness AI's potential while safeguarding our students' best interests."

(Pause for any quick clarifying questions.)

Cool Down: Your AI Action Plan (Slides 7-8)

"To wrap up our session, I want us to reflect on what we've discussed today. (Advance to Slide 7: Empowering & Ethical AI) AI is undoubtedly a powerful tool, offering opportunities to enhance personalized learning. However, with that opportunity comes a great responsibility to prioritize ethics and equity, and to always maintain our human oversight.

(Advance to Slide 8: Cool Down: Your AI Action Plan) Please take a moment to access the Cool Down: AI & IEPs Reflection. I'd like you to think about one key takeaway or one specific action you will consider regarding the responsible use of AI in IEP development, based on our conversation today. This will serve as your exit ticket."

(Collect cool-down responses as exit tickets.)

"Thank you all for your active participation and thoughtful contributions today. I hope this session has provided a valuable foundation for thinking critically and responsibly about AI in IEPs. If you have any further questions, please feel free to reach out!"

AI in Education Poll

Take a moment to answer the following questions to share your initial thoughts on AI in education.

1. On a scale of 1 to 5, how familiar are you with Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in an educational context?
   (1 = Not at all familiar, 5 = Very familiar)
   
   
   
   

2. What is your immediate reaction or feeling when you hear about using AI in education?
   (Circle all that apply)

   • Excited
   • Cautious
   • Curious
   • Concerned
   • Optimistic
   • Skeptical
   • Other (please specify):
     
     
     
     

3. In what ways, if any, do you currently use or foresee yourself using AI in your teaching practice?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

4. What is one hope or one concern you have about AI being integrated into IEP development?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

AI in IEPs: Ethical Considerations

Discuss the following questions in small groups or reflect individually. Be prepared to share your insights with the larger group.

1. Privacy and Confidentiality

• What specific types of student data might AI tools access or process during IEP development?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• What are the primary risks to student privacy if AI tools are used without proper safeguards?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• How can we ensure that AI tools maintain the confidentiality of sensitive student information, especially when data is shared or stored?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

2. Bias and Fairness

• How might existing biases in data (e.g., historical student performance, demographic information) influence AI algorithms used in IEP development?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• What are the potential consequences if AI recommendations are biased against certain student populations (e.g., based on race, socioeconomic status, disability type)?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• What steps can educators and developers take to mitigate bias and ensure fairness in AI tools for IEPs?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

3. Human Oversight

• What is the essential role of human educators in IEP development, even when AI tools are available?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• In what specific areas should human judgment always override AI suggestions? Why?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• What training or support do teachers need to effectively evaluate and, if necessary, challenge AI-generated content for IEPs?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

4. Equity of Access

• Could the integration of AI into IEP development inadvertently create or widen access gaps for some students or schools?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• What considerations should be made to ensure that AI tools for IEPs are accessible and beneficial to all students, including those in under-resourced schools or with complex needs?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• How can districts ensure equitable access to high-quality, ethically developed AI tools for all educators involved in IEPs?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

AI & IEPs Reflection

Take a few minutes to reflect on our discussion today about AI and IEP development. Please answer the following questions:

1. What is one significant takeaway you have from today's discussion regarding the responsible use of AI in IEPs?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. What is one action you will consider taking or one question you will continue to explore related to AI in IEP development?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. What is one area where you still have questions or would like more information about AI and its role in special education?