Parents’ involvement in education fueled by AI: a call to equity

Artificial intelligence (AI) transforms education in a deep way, personalized learning tools with potential ethical concerns concerning privacy and biases. While AI offers the potential to revolutionize the way students learn, parents must engage in conversation, in particular with regard to racial disparities and biases anchored in these technologies.

The increase in AI education has launched an animated debate: the defenders consider it a game changer, offering tutoring and individual support, while criticisms highlight the inherent faults, especially with regard to AI which does not represent the needs of black students. No matter where you are, one thing is clear: AI has already found its way in class K-12 rooms and parents should not remain passive.

Why parents need to get involved

Ezekiel Dixon-Romàn, professor at the Columbia University Teachers College, is both a parent and a digital expert who highlights the importance of parents' involvement in the development and use of AI in schools. He maintains that parents should not leave the formatting of educational tools in AI only in the hands of schools or technological companies.

“Many parents do not realize that we have the power to make choices,” explains Dixon-Romàn. “We have the right to refuse these technologies, just as we have the right to withdraw from certain standardized assessments or tests.”

The growing presence of AI – job requests to search engines – has raised concerns about the racial bias potential of technology. The facial recognition software, for example, is notoriously inaccurate when it comes to identifying black faces, often identifying them up to 100 times more frequently than white faces. In schools, the AI ​​tools used for classification and tests have been shown to promote specific writing styles, disadvantaging non -native English speakers and perpetuating inequalities.

The potential of AI and its traps

In class, predictive analysis fueled by AI could strengthen harmful racial and socioeconomic stereotypes. For example, AI can predict which students risk the most abandonment according to biased data, leading to predetermined results which do not reflect the real potential of the student.

While AI continues to integrate into education, calls for developers and political decision -makers to contact the digital divide. Although efforts have been made to ensure that all students have equitable access to the tools motivated by AI, Dixon-Romàn warns that relying on these entities to respond to these concerns is insufficient. He stresses that families must remain vigilant about the content to which their children are exhibited at school.

“Companies could try to design technologies taking into account equity, but if they feel the pressure to do so is often unimportant for their real practices,” says Dixon – Romàn. “Parents must ensure that these tools meet the needs of their children, especially those of marginalized communities.”

Teacher training is essential

Although technology giants such as Gates Foundation and the mother company of Google Alphabet have committed to creating accessible and fair tools, schools and parents must play an active role in understanding these technologies. Dixon – Romàn stresses that if companies have room to develop educational tools that promote equity, it is essential that these technologies are culturally sensitive and complete the existing pedagogies that work for colored children.

“Teachers are looking for tools to help the classification and creation of tests, such as lively teaching, Quizizz and Edpuzzle,” explains Dixon – Romàn. However, the successful integration of AI forces educators to undergo professional development. This training should focus not only on the effective use of AI, but also on how to recognize and counter biases in the tools motivated by AI before being used in class.

The power of parents' commitment

A critical part of the integration of AI into schools is transparency – parents must know how these tools will be used and have the possibility of refusing them if they wish. Dixon-Romàn put this into practice during the Pandemic Covid-19 when the school of his son adopted a new class tool, dojo in class. After looking for the tool, Dixon-Romàn shared his concerns with the teacher and asked that his son does not use it.

“The professor was very receptive,” says Dixon – Romàn. “She appreciated me to share my point of view, and in fact, she changed her own use of the information based on the information I provided.”

In addition to individual action, parents' collective voices can have a significant influence. Parents' associations (PTA) and other Parent – LED organizations have the power to plead for or against specific educational technologies, giving parents a stronger voice to shape how AI is used in class.

“The PTAs are powerful organizations,” says Dixon – Romàn. “If parents come together and organize themselves, they can repel the adoption of particular AI technologies in schools.”

Act

While AI continues to reshape the educational landscape, it is essential that parents remain informed and involved. Whether it's asking questions during school meetings, withdrawing from certain tools or pleading for change, parents play a central role to ensure that AI is used for all students equitably – in particular those of the historically served communities.

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