Generative AI

Generative artificial intelligence (generative AI) is a type of AI that can create new content and ideas, including conversations, stories, images, videos, and music. AI technologies attempt to mimic human intelligence in nontraditional computing tasks like image recognition, natural language processing (NLP), and translation. You can train it to learn human language, programming languages, art, chemistry, biology, or any complex subject matter. It reuses training data to solve new problems. For example, it can learn English vocabulary and create a poem from the words it processes. (‘What is Generative AI’, Amazon)

Understanding generative AI is crucial for Saint Paul Public Schools and all educational institutions because:

Educators can harness its potential for individualized instruction, engaging activities, and administrative tasks.
Using it effectively in the classroom mitigates risks like plagiarism, misinformation, and overreliance on AI outputs.
The workforce our students are entering into is rapidly evolving with AI technology. Our educational system must also reflect and prepare our students.
- The World Economic Forum's "Future of Jobs Report 2023" indicates that 75% of surveyed companies plan to implement generative AI by 2027.
- The International Monetary Fund released a report that states that AI will impact nearly 40% of jobs around the world.

AI represents a powerful tool in education and also has the potential to create a growing divide if not used equitably. This same conversation has been echoed in previous years with other technology including iPads, grammar / spell check tools, ‘Siri’ and Wikipedia.

How are SPPS Staff educated about AI?

All SPPS staff are encouraged to take a Professional Development focused on AI in Education for 10 clock hour credits. This course, “Getting Comfortable with AI” contains 6 modules introducing teachers to AI (artificial intelligence) in education.
In the course, teachers will learn about AI vocabulary, practice using generative AI chatbots, create prompts and analyze responses. Teachers will also consider ethical uses of AI in education and create an action plan for AI in their own teaching practice.
Administrators and district level staff meet regularly to provide guidance for students and staff on the appropriate and responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly generative AI tools, in classroom instruction, school management, and systemwide operations.

How are Students Educated about AI?

Rights and Responsibilities Handbook
Plagiarism/academic honesty tools integrated into Learning Management Systems (Schoology)
Digital Citizenship lessons
- In compliance with the federal Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA), Saint Paul Public Schools provides students with lessons on digital citizenship, online safety and privacy, and appropriate online behavior each fall.
- Throughout the year, concepts of Digital Citizenship are embedded in content area lessons and PBIS restorative practices.

iPad Security & Privacy

All student and staff iPads are pre-configured with functionality customized for education. Saint Paul Public Schools actively works with several security vendors to create and update security policies. Most relevant to this conversation is the “JAMF” mobile device (iPad & Macbook) management system. JAMF is a Minnesota - based company, one of the leading companies nationwide and worldwide managing Apple devices. Some of the features our JAMF management system controls on student iPads include:

Internet Filtering

Student iPads have pre-installed internet filtering that works when students are at school AND at home. Adult content is blocked from student access, as well as social media site such as Facebook, Snapchat and TikTok. While no content filter is 100% foolproof, our Technology Services team is responsive in continually adjusting filters to keep students safe and protected.

Securely Home

Securly Home adds optional parent controls to student iPads when at home. Parents and guardians can choose to download the Securly Home app on their phone to view student’s online activity on their school iPad, receive alerts if they view any concerning content, and pause internet access on their device when your student is at home. Due to new MN data privacy legislation, parents and guardians are unable to view student activity on ‘incognito’ or ‘private’ browsing mode. SPPS internet filtering is still active in incognito and private browsing. For more information about new data privacy legislation, please see this page and contact MN legislators.

App Store / FaceTime / iMessage

Although SPPS uses Apple iPads, many apps and tools are not relevant or desirable for the classroom (either physical or virtual!). Pre-installed device management features block apps such as the Apple App Store, FaceTime, iMessage and other tools. Students cannot add their own personal Email accounts, and throughout most of the school year students are unable to reset (erase) their own iPads due to the difficulty of setting the device up again and/or circumnavigating the security management features.

Self Service App Store

Students and staff have access to a special ‘app store’ on the iPads with over 400 apps that have been reviewed for content, data privacy and security guidelines. More information about the App Approval process and Security Review can be found at: spps.org/apps

Family iPad Settings and Controls

Families have the ability to further customize the apps and websites accessible to their student at any time with a built-in feature called “Screentime”. popular parental features of Screentime include:

Setting a ‘bedtime’ for the iPad (the iPad will shut off automatically at 8:00pm, for example)
Only allowing SPECIFIC websites
Blocking specific websites (for example, Youtube)
Limiting the time on any specific app or website

Families set a 4 digit passcode to manage the restrictions and functions in Screentime. You can read more about setting up Screentime on the student iPad here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208982

Digital Citizenship for Educators & Students

Digital citizenship is an overarching concept that includes appropriate and responsible use of technology by staff and students. As members of 1:1 iPad learning environment, we all contribute to the security and data privacy of our community.
In compliance with the federal Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA), Saint Paul Public Schools provides students with lessons on digital citizenship, online safety and privacy, and appropriate online behavior.
The district also encourages teachers to revisit digital citizenship topics frequently with students during the school year. Staff complete training courses on Digital Citizenship, Internet Safety, Copyright and more each fall. These guidelines are to be used as they curate digital resources and activities for students throughout the year. You can read more about Digital Citizenship in SPPS here.
Students and Families sign a Technology Use Agreement at the beginning of each year addressing Digital Citizenship, Internet Safety as well as iPad Use/Care. Families are asked to review the Technology Use Agreement during the Back to School Forms at the start of school. A preview information on the Technology Use agreement can be found here:

Student Privacy, Tracking & Location

External “LMS” companies including Seesaw, Schoology and others sign contracts and data sharing agreements with Saint Paul Public Schools. Student Data privacy is of the utmost importance to all. Student data is NOT tracked by these companies after our students leave or move to the next system. Often, these companies are unable to see into our systems because of the security and privacy policies set by both sides, intentionally. Students and staff authenticate into these systems with their school username and password (Active Directory). When SPPS deactivates or changes that account password, the student account in Seesaw, Schoology and other tools is inaccessible.
Camera and microphone use on the iPad is controlled on an app-by-app basis by the student. When opening an app for the first time, the iPad will prompt students to ‘allow’ access to the microphone and camera. This pop up can be confusing for many students (and staff). It does not mean the app is listening or watching the student from that point onwards. Students must always tap ‘record’ for the microphone or camera to begin recording. If students disabled the camera access by default, they would need to go to the Settings app and enable access every time the app was opened. They would still have to tap ‘record’ once in the app.

Student location tracking is not allowed for third party apps. Location tracking of the device is reserved for security and lost device procedures by a core group of Technology Services staff. General staff do not have the ability to view device location. Student location tracking is one of the items prohibited by the SPPS apps review process and in accordance with Federal education guidelines.