Establish an AI Tool Evaluation Process
As your district moves from Nascent to Emerging in AI governance, establishing a process for evaluating AI tools is a key step. This process will help ensure that AI tools adopted by your district are appropriate, effective, and align with your educational goals.
Purpose and Importance
An AI tool evaluation process provides a structured approach to assessing and selecting AI technologies for use in your district. It helps ensure that adopted tools are educationally sound, secure, and compliant with relevant policies and regulations.
Building Your Evaluation Process
Assemble an Evaluation Team
Form a small, diverse team that includes:
- A curriculum specialist
- An IT representative
- A teacher familiar with classroom technology use
- A school administrator
This team will work together to create and implement the evaluation process. Draw from your AI Oversight Committee to help add expertise on AI-specific considerations.
Define Evaluation Criteria
Determine the key factors to consider when evaluating AI tools. These might include:
- Educational value and alignment with curriculum
- Data privacy and security features
- Ease of use for teachers and students
- Cost and resource requirements
- Compatibility with existing technology infrastructure
Prioritize these criteria based on your district's specific needs and constraints.
Create a Simple Evaluation Rubric
Develop a straightforward rubric that:
- Lists each evaluation criterion
- Provides a clear scale for rating tools on each criterion (e.g., 1-5 scale)
- Includes space for comments and overall recommendations
Keep the rubric concise and easy to use, focusing on the most important factors for your district.
Establish the Evaluation Process
Outline the steps for evaluating AI tools:
- Initial screening of potential tools
- In-depth evaluation using the rubric
- Small-scale testing or piloting if possible
- Review of evaluation results by the team
- Recommendation for adoption or rejection
Include guidelines on who should be involved at each stage and how decisions will be made.
Implementation and Communication
Approval and Integration
Present the process to district leadership for approval. Integrate the process into your district's technology adoption procedures.
Communication Plan
Share the evaluation process with teachers and staff. Explain how they can suggest AI tools for evaluation.
Training and Support
Provide basic training on the evaluation process to the evaluation team. Designate a point person for questions about the process.
Navigating Challenges
Be prepared for potential hurdles such as:
- Keeping up with the rapid pace of AI tool development
- Balancing thorough evaluation with the need for timely decisions
- Ensuring consistent application of the evaluation process
To address these challenges, plan for regular reviews of the process and be open to refinements based on experience.
Measuring Progress
Track the effectiveness of your evaluation process through:
- Successful adoption and implementation of AI tools
- Positive feedback from teachers and students on selected tools
- Avoidance of inappropriate or ineffective AI tools
Next Steps
With an AI tool evaluation process in place, your district will be better equipped to:
- Make informed decisions about AI technology adoption
- Ensure alignment between AI tools and educational objectives
- Build confidence in AI use among teachers, students, and parents
Remember, this evaluation process should evolve as your district gains more experience with AI in education. Plan to revisit and refine it periodically.