The emergence of AI isn't just a passing trend; it's a transformative force reshaping the landscape of the world including education. With its profound potential to revolutionize how we teach, learn, and prepare for the future of work AI is at the forefront of a massive disruption. The challenge to school leaders is that the disruption will inevitably be different for each organization, so navigation through this new world isn't a straightforward task.
Leaders will need to understand both the nuances of their organization and the technology to successfully lead through these exponential times. Identifying the opportunities that exist within your organization is a critical first step in preparing for tomorrow, and in this post, we will explore some benchmarks that school leaders can use to help ensure the successful implementation of AI in various contexts.
Understanding Your School's Ecosystem:
Every educational institution has a unique ecosystem, comprising curriculum design, administration, student services, community needs and so much more. It's for this reason that when considering how AI may play a part in your organization, school leaders must consider the wide-ranging impacts that such a transformative technology can have. It is also helpful to recognize that the second and third-order impacts implementation of AI may have as one decision has an immediate impact in one area and secondary effects in another. Therefore it is incumbent upon school leaders to think of AI integration from a systems level making space for conversations with diverse stakeholder teams along the way.
Internal Vs. External Integration
Much of the conversation thus far has centered on the direct impacts of AI’s potential in the classroom. This, however, is only a small cross-section of the potential application of AI in education. It is helpful to view the potential application of AI projects into two main buckets; internal projects and external projects.
Internal-facing projects aim to enhance the efficiency and capabilities of staff and teachers. To date, most applications of AI in education have focused on this category. Some examples of internal projects might include:
Personalized Learning with AI: Using AI to tailor educational content to individual student needs, supporting differentiation and student agency in learning.
Lesson planning and or curriculum development: tools to enhance instructional design.
Adaptive learning platforms: Early entrants like Khan Academy's Khanmigo help to personalize learning through adaptive pathways that adjust based on learner needs and performance.
If you're interested I've created some bots that can be used to explore AI use in some of these applications, and you can find them here.
External-facing projects: These are projects that are going to be outside-facing. This area has seen less application in education to this point but could see an explosion if we consider the potential for AI-driven tutors, chatbots for parents to access school information, or perhaps AI tools aiding students in course selection based on academic performance.
Strategic Alignment
It is critical to understand that the integration of AI isn't just a technology initiative. A helpful reference would be thinking of the integration of AI akin to that and perhaps potentially more disruptive than the internet. The reality is AI tools will have wide-ranging impacts across most verticles in your organization. While the first users of these tools will likely be your technology, early adopters who are tech-savvy teachers or possibly technology leaders, it is important to understand that they may not have a full view of the strategic direction of the organization. School leaders need to work collaboratively with early adopters to help understand the AI landscape and use that knowledge to help identify opportunities that align with the overall strategy of the organization.
Once opportunities are identified, develop a strategic AI integration plan. This plan should align with your school’s broader goals and consider ethical implications, budget constraints, and professional development needs. Resources like the VISTA Framework provide valuable guidance in formulating a comprehensive AI strategy.
Assessing Your School's AI Readiness:
When you have identified your first opportunities on the path to AI integration, an important step is assessing your school's current infrastructure, digital literacy levels, and staff readiness. Understanding the state of the Tools like ISTE's Edtech Advisor and Future Ready Schools assessments can help gauge your school's readiness and identify areas needing development. Key areas to assess include:
Technology Infrastructure: Evaluate current hardware, software, and network capabilities to support AI technologies.
Staff Digital Literacy: Assess the current digital skills of educators and identify training needs to effectively use AI tools.
Cultural Readiness for Change: Gauge the openness of staff and students to embrace new technologies and methodologies.
Data Management Capabilities: Assess the school's ability to manage, analyze, and secure data, a critical component of AI effectiveness.
Resource Allocation: Determine the budget and resources available for AI implementation, including potential funding sources.
Using tools like ISTE's Edtech Advisor and Future Ready Schools assessments, you can create a comprehensive picture of your school's readiness. This assessment will guide you in identifying the right AI tools and strategies for your institution.
Getting Started
The journey to integrate AI into your organization is complex and multifaceted. As a school leader, your role is pivotal in understanding the unique needs of your educational ecosystem and aligning AI initiatives with those needs. By engaging with stakeholders, evaluating your school's readiness, and strategically planning, you position your school to harness AI's transformative potential effectively. Remember, the integration of AI is not just a technological upgrade; it's a step toward reimaging education in your context. Your leadership in this journey will shape how your students and educators interact with technology and prepare for the future. Stay informed, be adaptable, and lead with vision as you navigate the exciting world of AI in education.
To learn more about general strategies for setting up for success check out this podcast through HBR Ideacast Setting AI Projects Up for Success.