Towards a responsible use of artificial intelligence in Canadian public education
Earlier this year, the CTF/FCE released a policy brief highlighting the potential benefits and risks of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), since the explosive emergence of tools and platforms like Curricumate AI and ChatGPT.
Our 2024 AI Policy Brief calls for urgent action to regulate the use of AI in Canadian K-12 public education. As AI tools like GenAI become more prevalent, concerns have emerged about their impact on students, teachers, and educational systems. The brief highlights the potential benefits of AI, including personalized learning for students, enhanced teaching tools, and streamlined administrative functions. However, it emphasizes that the risks of privacy breaches, data exploitation, and biased outcomes could overshadow these advantages without proper policies.
Currently, there is a fragmented landscape of AI legislation across Canada, with no clear accountability for the implementation of AI in public schools. The Federal Government’s Bill C-27, while addressing data protection broadly, does not include provisions specific to the unique risks of AI in education, especially concerning minors. The CTF/FCE stresses that both the Federal Government and the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC) must develop stronger policies to safeguard the rights of students and educators.
Barriers: An uncertain landscape of AI legislation and policy
Key risks identified include:
- Privacy, Security and well-being
- Commercial Exploitation
- Bias and Discrimination
- Deprofessionalization of Teaching
The CTF/FCE calls for a range of actions, including stronger data protection laws, professional development for educators on AI usage, and curriculum updates to address digital literacy and ethical AI use.
The CTF/FCE calls on the federal government and the CMEC to prioritize enacting policies which anticipate and minimize the risks that AI systems pose to students and educators. With policies that ensure AI systems in schools are safe and trustworthy, educators can focus on making sound pedagogical decisions about how to best leverage these systems to meet the learning needs of their students. Recognizing how rapidly AI systems evolve, the CTF/FCE continues to monitor potential impacts on public education and advocate for policies that prioritize the best interests of educators and students.
