School Committee, high school staff discuss artificial intelligence pros and cons

Wareham High School is looking to tackle artificial intelligence in the school through a newly formed committee , according to Wareham High School Principal Scott Palladino.

The artificial intelligence committee is made of high school faculty looking into the pros and cons of the new technology for both students and the faculty.

“Whether we like it or not artificial intelligence we have to embrace,” Palladino said. “It’s here, it’s going to be here in the future and we have to teach students how to use it appropriately and not plagiarize their work.”

Beginning last year, staff at the high school and middle school received training from artificial intelligence consultant and former director of technology for Triton Public Schools in Byfield Greg Kulowiec.

Palladino said Kulowiec’s presentations focused on practical uses to assist in learning for artificial intelligence such as using it to help students with research and helping teachers personalize learning for students.

The presentations also talked about the negative impacts artificial intelligence can have and Kuloweic gave the schools some vetted websites to check for artificial intelligence use.

“There’s a percentage of our staff that went to college and didn’t have computers so we’re just making sure our staff is up to speed,” he said.

During the Thursday, Jan. 15 School Committee meeting, Palladino said less than five students have been disciplined for improper artificial intelligence usage.

“But there’s still more we’re looking to do with consultants to support us and our professional development,” Palladino said to the committee.

Math department head and teacher for the high school Christine Thomas said she has seen evidence of some students using artificial intelligence on homework assignments which is negatively impacting their learning.

“We don’t know what kind of instruction [the kids] are giving themselves at home. They’re not learning, they're just kind of writing,” Thomas said.

On the other hand, English language arts department chair and teacher Mike Murray said he has seen how artificial intelligence can help some students.

“I have actually done some instruction with students to learn some of the positive tools such as organizing notes,” Murray said. “I think it’s something that I’m less afraid of and more interested in its possibilities.”

As teachers continue to adapt to the new technology, Palladino said he has observed many teachers reverting back to pre-digital age teaching techniques by having kids do less work on computers.

“As a state we’ve become over-reliant on the [laptop] which is only a tool,” he said. “As I bounce around classrooms, teachers will say ‘put your [laptop] away we’re doing old school computation and old school reading.’”

Moving forward, Palladino said the committee is looking to create an official artificial intelligence policy for the school to implement next fall.