NSW Teachers Federation takes stance on AI at annual conference
Teachers have been warned they’re unprotected against the legal consequences of using AI in the classroom, with their union voting to take a stand on the controversial topic.
Education
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Public school teachers have been left with a target on their back when using artificial intelligence in the classroom, warned by their union that they’re “completely unprotected” against legal action if students’ private data is leaked or hacked.
The NSW Teachers Federation has voted to vehemently oppose any attempts to make AI mandatory in schools, with delegates at the union’s annual conference on Tuesday unanimously passing a recommendation demanding the Department of Education “centralises all responsibility, accountability and ethical decisions” for the use of AI.
The recommendation would also prevent opportunistic ‘edu-business’ entrepreneurs from selling their software directly to schools.
Debate and questions teachers and school representatives who are already using AI at work resulted in a caution from senior vice president Amber Flohm that those who choose to do so “sit unprotected” amid questions of data privacy and vulnerability of students and their families.
“You might know what data is being collected about your students, but do parents?” Ms Flohm said.
The union’s recommendation calls on the Department to legally protect teachers from deliberate or accidental misuse of data by third parties, and to provide adequate time for educators to learn about AI, including additional school development days for professional development.
“Federation rejects the implementation of any AI tools or applications without negotiation with the union and a full and transparent debate about its evidence, purpose and intent, efficacy and pedagogical value for students, and the professional and industrial implications,” the recommendation reads.
The union will also form an emerging education technologies committee in the next school term.
“Whether we like it or not, AI will certainly be part of the future of our professional struggles, but we will shape what those struggles look like,” Ms Flohm said.
“What we cannot accept is another imposition onto teachers, which will see each individual schools and or college choose their own adventure without systems’ responsibility, infrastructure, resourcing, accountability and oversight.
“We can’t even entertain the thought of going to AI until we understand as professionals how it is being used.
“Any attempts to mandate or impose AI and AI tools in this realm will be absolutely rejected and opposed.”
NSWTF President Angelo Gavrielatos said if the government wants teachers to use AI software in the classroom, they must pay for it and not take funding out of individual school budgets.
“It’s a question of access and equity for all students regardless of background,” he said.
“We cannot allow the digital divide to further widen.”
The vote formalises the teachers’ union’s position on artificial intelligence ahead of the national meeting of state and federal education ministers, where AI in the classroom will headline the agenda.
Ms Flohm confirmed the union would bring its recommendations before Department of Education representatives and NSW Education Minister Prue Car on Wednesday, ahead of the joint meeting of education ministers.
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