The ALP Position on Generative AI and Systems-Level Change

ALP pledges to serve with dignity and attentiveness in?communities that seek to establish human-centered?policy and applications for generative AI in education systems.

Original Content Authored by Amos Fodchuk.Revised by ALP Team Members

Generative AI Revisions Conducted via?Chat GPT-4 (Transcript)

Published by Advanced Learning Partnerships on LinkedIn

THE AUTHOR AND PUBLISHER ALLOW THIS CONTENT TO BE CAPTURED AND USED TO TRAIN?AI MODELS THAT ABIDE BY TRANSPARENT & ETHICAL STANDARDS THAT DO NOT YET EXIST.?

Earlier this week, I shared my personal position on the early intersection of generative AI, education systems and learning models. Today and on behalf of my team, I’d like to elaborate on my firm’s emerging point of view on this important topic.

Since 2009, Advanced Learning Partnerships, Inc (ALP) has earned the privilege of working with school systems across North America to realize sustainable, learner-centered models. Our team has supported the scale-up of over 750 blended, personalized, and competency-based learning models and laptop initiatives. This experience enables us to leverage the critical drivers and anticipate roadblocks associated with the continuous evolution of technology, learning, community and our profession.

It is likely the impact of generative AI will be more intense and accelerated than any previous waves of technology advancement. Educators and students are already engaging tools like Chat GPT, Google Bard, DALL-E 2, and Claude to challenge traditional assumptions around curriculum design, learner agency, instructional practice and education leadership.?

Regardless of how we feel about large language models (LLMs) in education and our everyday lives, this technology is already here and will only become more pervasive and powerful. Consequently, ALP bears the responsibility to move transparently and ethically through this ‘wild west’ period of early policy design and emergent practice.?

The Early ALP Position on Large Language Models in Education

ALP is an established organization that continuously earns a position of privilege and influence within many communities across North America. It is important that we communicate clearly and transparently on our actions and lessons learned through periods of profound change.

To me, the best way to describe ALP’s emerging point of view on large language models in education is through our organization’s values:

Together, We Perpetuate Trust: This is accomplished through clarity of our intent, our role and our ability to deliver on promises made with integrity and fidelity. ALP does not profess to be an expert in generative AI. We are not, nor have we ever been, cheerleaders for edtech or LLM. Through our service to communities, we strive to balance the purposeful application of technology with learner-centered pedagogy and curriculum. As we begin to engage with districts around AI, we are partnering with trusted organizations and onboarding subject matter experts with long standing technical and legal expertise. Their specialized knowledge and skill, amplified by our data-informed approach to consulting and professional learning, represent the approach we have and will continue to adopt in supporting systems-based, data-informed change in K-12 districts.

Together, We Cherish the Inherent Value of People: Learning has and will always be a human and highly social enterprise. ALP does not and will not endorse partial or whole outsourcing of the learning process to generative AI. We pledge to work with communities united around this position to forge policy and invest in responsive systems change anchored around authentic learner competencies. As is often the case in education, this work will be messy and won’t be without missteps. I will personally answer to and remain accountable for ALP’s actions around the application of AI and the implications these actions have on adults and kids who trust and need schools.

Together, We Realize Opportunity: Since February, ALP has been working with school systems across the United States to develop the policy, structures, metrics and onboarding experiences required to operationalize select generative AI tools within a learner-centered, systemic framework. We anticipate that the need for this level of support will grow substantially throughout the coming academic years. My colleagues, partners and I will provide regular updates on what we are learning through these partnerships as a means of advocating for policy and sharing best practice.

Together, We Serve with Gratitude: This May, as is our tradition each spring, members of our ALP team convened in Chapel Hill to learn, celebrate, reflect and strategize. As we looked back on recent achievements and toward our horizon, we marveled at the range and depth of partnerships we earn with school districts, government and non-profit organizations as well as corporations.

None of these relationships exist without trust. Each opportunity to serve is a genuine gift. As was the case throughout the most trying times in the pandemic, we pledge to serve with dignity and attentiveness in communities that seek to understand generative AI and establish human-centered policy and applications amid uncertainty and rapidly changing implementation conditions.

Our Next Steps

Since February, Advanced Learning Partnerships has collaborated with a growing number of K-12 districts to understand and carefully assess the role of generative AI through a systems lens. As this planning period moves into implementation, our team works with communities to navigate opportunities and risks. ALP commits to sharing regular updates on lessons learned, data-informed practices and protocols. We will advocate for enforceable policies, standards and incentives to uphold intellectual property, confidentiality and transparency.?

In closing, these questions continue to shape our internal and outward-facing conversations:

• What is your organization’s position on generative AI in education and learning?
• How can we leverage our respective platforms, networks and skills to realize human-centric outcomes as a collective?
• How can we respectfully understand and accommodate for the biases that our organizations bring to this challenging work?

In my next post, I’ll share an overview of the services that Advanced Learning Partnerships now offers to K-12 districts that seek to design and implement policy, strategy and professional learning around large language models.