In Birdville ISD, we are at the forefront of integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into our learning environments. Our commitment to innovation, excellence, and the empowerment of every student and educator drives us to harness the transformative power of AI. 

Empowering Learning with AI

In the Birdville Independent School District (Birdville ISD), we will strategically incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) to create an innovative and enriching learning environment that propels our students toward success now and in the future.

The Future of Jobs and AI

The World Economic Forum’s “Future of Jobs Report 2023” predicts that AI will drastically affect the job market in the next five years. In this report, AI and machine learning are the fastest growing fields, with a staggering 40% trajectory in the next five years, expected to create 1 million new jobs.

BISD's Commitment to Students

Our students are and will continue to engage with artificial intelligence in years to come. As such, we are responsible for empowering them to use new technology and tools to advance their learning and reach their potential as Empowered Learners, Responsible Citizens, Global Competitors, and Innovative Entrepreneurs, as outlined in the BISD Portrait of a Graduate.

Birdville understands the importance of an all-encompassing AI strategy to equip students and teachers for the challenges ahead, improve the educational experience, and ensure our school district stays ahead in an ever-changing educational environment.

We aim to ready our students for the evolving demands of the workforce and society, demonstrating our district's commitment to forward-thinking and offering an education that is both modern and relevant.

And while AI tools are invaluable, they cannot substitute the human touch in teaching or any other profession. AI can make processes more efficient, yet it necessitates the guidance and expertise of a professional to manage and optimize its use. 

We believe that AI is not just a tool for enhancing educational outcomes but a catalyst for reimagining how we teach, learn, and interact within our educational community. 

Empowering Educators

AI does not replace our dedicated educators in Birdville ISD. Rather, AI empowers educators by enabling personalized learning, automating administrative tasks, providing data-driven insights, enhancing accessibility, creating interactive environments, and improving communication and assessment methods, thereby transforming education into a more efficient, accessible, and engaging experience for students. 

 

Personalizing Learning for Every Child

Celebrating the uniqueness of every learner is central to our educational philosophy in Birdville ISD. AI opens up many possibilities by customizing educational experiences to individual needs. It can serve as each student's tool for personalized instruction, adapting content delivery, and offering diverse ways to showcase their knowledge.

 

Engaging Students in Exciting Ways and Developing Skills to be Successful

Dynamic and interactive tools, such as gamified lessons, virtual simulations, and personalized projects, will ensure that our classrooms remain vibrant, engaging, and responsive to the evolving learning and skills acquisition needs of our 21st-century learners.

 

Ensuring Accessibility and Opportunities

Our unwavering commitment to equity and fairness is reflected in the role of AI as a unifying force. In Birdville ISD, we dedicate ourselves to using AI to provide equal educational opportunities for learners of diverse backgrounds, fostering inclusivity, particularly for students with disabilities and those who are multilingual.

 

Prioritizing Data Privacy

The security and confidentiality of student data are our top priorities. We are committed to being vigilant custodians, treating every piece of information responsibly, and ensuring its secure handling.

 

 

Ongoing Professional Learning, AI Literacy, and Academic Integrity Initiatives

The district is dedicated to equipping students and teachers with digital literacy and knowledge about AI advancements. Teachers will receive continuous support to ensure the confident use of AI for teaching, learning, and productivity. Students will receive direct instruction addressing opportunities to improve how they use technology with academic integrity to enhance their learning. AI is a potent tool for improving education when used responsibly and ethically; however, the district underscores the enduring value of human wisdom, judgment, and connection in its educational philosophy.

By adhering to these guiding principles, we will ensure the integration of AI in a way that enhances educational outcomes, supports teachers, and prepares students for the future, all while upholding ethical standards and promoting accessibility and opportunities for all.

 

Educational Goals and Accessibility

We use AI to help our students achieve their educational goals. AI will help us achieve our district goals, improving student learning, teacher effectiveness, and school operations. We aim to make AI resources universally accessible. We are committed to evaluating AI tools for biases and ethical concerns, ensuring they effectively serve our diverse educational community.

 

Policy Adherence and Privacy

We reaffirm adherence to existing policies and regulations. AI is one of many technologies used in our schools, and its use will align with existing laws to protect student privacy, ensure accessibility to those with disabilities, and protect against harmful content. We will not share personally identifiable information with consumer-based AI systems. We will thoroughly evaluate existing and future technologies and regularly address any gaps in compliance that might arise.

 

AI Literacy

We educate our staff and students about AI. Promoting AI literacy among students and staff is central to addressing the risks of AI use and teaches critical skills for our students' future endeavors. Students and staff will be given support to develop their AI literacy, which includes how to use AI, when to use it appropriately, and how it works, including foundational concepts of computer science and other disciplines. We will support teachers in adapting instruction in a context where some or all students can access generative AI tools.

 

Opportunities and Risks

We explore the opportunities of AI and address the risks. In continuing to guide our community, we will work to realize the benefits of AI in education, address risks associated with using AI, and evaluate if and when to use AI tools, paying particular attention to misinformation and bias.

 

Academic Integrity

We use AI to advance academic integrity. Honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility are expectations of students and teachers. Students should be truthful in giving credit to sources and tools and honest in presenting work that is genuinely their own for evaluation and feedback.

 

Agency and Decision-Making

We maintain student and teacher agency when using AI tools. AI tools can provide recommendations or enhance decision-making, but staff and students will serve as “critical consumers” of AI and lead any organizational and academic decisions and changes.

 

Continuous Evaluation

We commit to auditing, monitoring, and evaluating our district’s use of AI. Understanding that AI and technologies are evolving rapidly, we commit to regularly reviewing and updating our policies, procedures, and practices.

As we embrace the potential of AI in education, we commit to principles of responsible use and academic integrity in ways that enrich the educational journey without compromising our foundational values of honesty, integrity, and fairness.

Responsible Use

We will use AI to advance the fundamental values of academic integrity - honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility. The district encourages the responsible use of generative AI tools to enhance ALL students' learning, creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

Always be mindful of:

Staff and students will harness AI's benefits in education while focusing on responsible and ethical practices. While AI tools are increasingly sophisticated, their information is not always accurate. Hence, students and staff will need to exercise critical thinking skills to evaluate work produced by AI.

(access this and other free resources for your department, school, or classroom at AI for Education)

How to Use AI Responsibly EVERY Time

EVALUATE
the initial output to see if it meets the intended purpose and your needs.

VERIFY
facts, figures, quotes, and data using reliable sources to ensure there are no hallucinations or bias.

ENGAGE
in every conversation with the GenAI chatbot, providing critical feedback and oversight to improve the AI’s output.

REVISE
the results to reflect your unique needs, style, and/or tone. AI output is a great starting point, but shouldn’t be a final product.

YOU
are responsible for everything you create with AI. Always be transparent about how you’ve used these tools.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity in the age of AI means leveraging technology to enhance the educational process while maintaining the core values of originality and authenticity in student work. It's about fostering an environment where AI aids in exploring new ideas and deepening understanding, rather than being a shortcut that undermines the learning process. Educators play a crucial role in guiding students on how to use AI ethically, helping them to distinguish between appropriate use and misuse, and encouraging them to engage with AI in ways that promote their intellectual growth. 

Example Guide for Students: Should I Use AI?

(download the resource above at AI for Education)

• AI Output Review: Review and critically assess outputs from AI tools before submission or dissemination. Never rely solely on AI-generated content without review.
• Bias and Misinformation: Always verify AI-produced results using trusted sources before considering them in academic work. Be aware that AI-generated content may possess biases or hallucinations (inaccurate or made-up information). 
• Safety & Respect: Use AI tools safely and kindly, and never create or propagate harmful, misleading, or inappropriate content.
• Transparency: Use AI as a tool to aid assignments, projects, or research, but be sure to cite when you do.
• Students may include such content in their work if they have obtained explicit consent from the teacher assigning the work.
• AI-generated content is not considered the student's original work. All learning community members will appropriately credit, reference, or cite instances of AI-generated content following recommended practices. (see Brown University or University of Waterloo citation illustrations)
• Plagiarism involving content from a generative AI program will lead to academic consequences in line with Birdville ISD grading guidelines, academic dishonesty procedures, and the Student Code of Conduct.
• Birdville ISD teachers can permit or prohibit using generative AI based on specific learning objectives.

 

AI offers students and teachers a wide array of applications that can significantly enhance learning, creativity, and efficiency. Here are some of the ways Birdville students may use AI in school. 

 

 

 

Collaboration: Use AI tools in group projects by contributing concepts, supplying research support, and identifying relationships between varied information.

Communication: Use AI tools for real-time translation, personalized language exercises, and interactive dialogue simulations.

Content Creation and Enhancement: Use AI tools to generate personalized study materials, summaries, quizzes, and visual aids, help students organize thoughts and content, and help students review content.

Tutoring: Use AI tools to access one-to-one tutoring and support, making personalized learning more accessible to a broader range of students. AI-powered virtual teaching assistant bots may provide non-stop support, answer questions, help with homework, and supplement classroom instruction.

Aiding Creativity and Design Thinking: Harness generative AI to spark creativity across diverse subjects, including writing, visual arts, and music composition.

Critical Thinking and Future Skills: Students who learn how AI works are better prepared for future careers in various industries. They develop computational thinking skills to break down complex problems, analyze data critically, and evaluate the effectiveness of solutions.

AI Innovation in Education Action Team Members

 

The action team consist of a diverse group from the Birdville community who worked together to develop comprehensive strategies and processes for integrating AI into our educational environments, including setting objectives, identifying key areas for AI application, and establishing some general guidelines for the ethical use of AI tools. 

Our FAQs cover a wide range of topics and will be updated often.

 

 

Welcome to the CyberSmart Families Resource Hub! Cybersecurity is more important than ever, and the Birdville Technology Department is dedicated to ensuring that all families stay cyber-safe.  This October, we’re rolling out weekly videos to teach your family about protecting personal information, avoiding scams, and more. We encourage you to watch the videos together as a family, explore the provided resources, and engage in discussions on how to build online habits that will keep your family cyber-safe all year long!

During Digital Citizenship Week, from October 14th to the 18th, families can explore topics like AI, identity theft, and media literacy. Be sure to check back each day of Digital Citizenship Week for new resources and at-home activities to explore!

Share with Care

To kick off the CyberSmart Families series, we’re diving into the importance of protecting personal information online - Share with Care. With so much of our daily lives happening on the internet, it’s easy to overshare without realizing it. But did you know that hackers and scammers look for even the smallest pieces of personal information to cause harm? In this video, we’ll explore why it’s essential to be cautious when posting online, what information to keep private, and how parents can teach kids to develop smart sharing habits.

Share with Care Family Resources

Family Discussion: English, Spanish

Family Tips: English, Spanish

 

Don't Fall for Fake

In today’s world, it’s more important than ever to be able to spot what’s real and what’s fake online. Scammers are getting smarter, and whether it’s a suspicious email or a sketchy website, it can be hard to know what’s trustworthy. That’s why in this video, Birdville Digital Learning is here to show you how to stay safe by recognizing online scams, phishing attempts, and fake websites. They’ll guide you through simple steps you can take to protect yourself and your family from falling for online fakes.

From verifying emails to checking website URLs, this video will equip you with the tools you need to confidently navigate the digital world. So, let’s get started and learn how to keep our personal information secure and steer clear of online traps!

Don't Fall for Fake Family Resources

• Family Activity: English, Spanish

• Tips: English, Spanish

 

Secure Your Secrets

Your personal information is valuable—and cybercriminals know it. In this video, we’ll show you how to protect your digital identity by creating strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and safeguarding your data. Learn simple steps to secure your secrets and prevent unauthorized access to your accounts. Don’t wait until it’s too late—start securing your secrets today! 

 

Secure Your Secrets Family Resources

• Family Activity: English, Spanish
• Tips: English, Spanish

 

Device Security

Do you think hackers need advanced skills to access your data? The truth is, they often don’t. In this video, we break down how simple oversights—like leaving devices unlocked, skipping updates, or using unsecured Wi-Fi—can put your information at risk. Learn easy steps to secure your devices, from setting strong passwords to recognizing safe networks. Watch now and discover how a few smart habits can protect your personal data and keep hackers out.

 

 

Additional Resources

• Be Internet Awesome Family Guide - English, Spanish

  • The Be Internet Awesome Family Guide gives families the tools and resources to learn about online safety and citizenship at home. Google has created this guide for families to make it easier to incorporate and practice good digital habits in your everyday lives. Packed with good stuff, this guide will help you and your kids discuss, learn, and think about online safety together.

• Interland for Kids

  • Interland is a playful online game that makes learning about digital safety and citizenship interactive and fun — just like the Internet itself. Here, kids will help their fellow Internauts combat the badly behaved hackers, phishers, oversharers and bullies by practicing the skills they need to be good digital citizens.

• Explore Highlights Magazine special edition Be Internet Awesome content

  • Check out Highlights Magazine Be Internet Awesome special edition issue and content for kids, families, and educators. Here, kids can explore the Be Internet Awesome lessons through a fun, educational, and activity-packed magazine, take the online safety pledge, and practice the skills needed to be a safe, confident online explorer.

• Digital Wellbeing Family Guide

  • A conversation guide to help you tackle the tough tech questions and navigate the digital world as a family.

 

 

 

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Digital Citizenship Week: October 14 – 18, 2024

Highlighting the importance of supporting our students, families, and teachers as they navigate our ever-present digital landscape. As students dive into lessons on AI, personal identity, and media literacy, we encourage families to explore these important themes together. Check back during Digital Citizenship Week for resources to support meaningful home discussions and build stronger online safety habits. This week is all about empowering students to be responsible digital citizens, and with your help, we can ensure they thrive in the digital world. 

Check out the daily activities and resources below to guide your family through these critical conversations

Lower Elementary Resources (PK - 2nd)

• What is a Digital Citizen?: Pause & Think Online

  • Family Activity - English, Spanish

  • SEL Conversation Starter: English, Spanish

 

• Digital Well-Being: How Technology Makes Me Feel

  • Family Activity -  English, Spanish

  • Family Tips - English, Spanish, More Languages

  • SEL Conversation Starter - English, Spanish

 

• Our School Community: Managing Device Distractions

  • Family Activity - English

 

• Media Literacy: Meet Head!

  • Family Tips: English, Spanish, More Languages

 

• Stay Safe Online: My Online Neighbor 

  • Family Activity - English, Spanish

  • Family Tech Planner - English, Spanish

 

Upper Elementary Resources (3rd - 5th)

• What is a digital citizen?: Super Digital Citizen

  • Family Activity - English, Spanish

  • Family Tips - English, Spanish, More Languages

  • SEL Conversation Starter: English, Spanish

 

• Digital Well-Being: My Media Choices

  • Family Activity - English, Spanish

  • Family Tips - English, Spanish, More Languages

  • SEL Conversation Starter: English, Spanish

 

• Our School Community: Our Device Charter

  • Family Tech Planners - English 

 

• Media Literacy: Is Seeing Believing?

  • Family Activity - English, Spanish

  • Family Tips - English, Spanish, More Languages

 

• Cyberbullying & Upstanders: The Power of Words

  • Family Activity - English, Spanish

  • Family Tips - English, Spanish, More Languages

  • SEL Conversation Starter: English, Spanish

 

Middle School Resources (6th - 8th)

• Artificial Intelligence: What is AI?: Help students think critically about AI, from generative tools to misinformation.

  • Family Activity: Ideas for Using AI as a Family 

  • Family Tech Planners: English, Spanish

 

• Privacy & Security: Impersonation & Identity Theft: Teach students how to protect their digital identities and manage privacy settings effectively.

  • Family Activity - English, Spanish

  • Family Tips - English, Spanish

 

• Tech-Design: Digital Media & Your Brain: Explore the impacts of tech design on well-being and foster healthy digital habits.

  • Family Activity - English, Spanish, More Languages

  • Family Tips -  English, Spanish

 

• News & The Elections: Finding Credible News: Guide students in evaluating credible news sources.

  • Family Activity English, Spanish

  • Family Tips - English, Spanish, More languages

 

• Cyberbullying & Digital Drama: Up-standers & Allies: Encourage students to reflect on their tech habits and create a plan for positive digital usage.

  • Family Activity - English, Spanish

  • Family Tips - English, Spanish, More Languages

 

High School Resources (9th - 12th)

• Artificial Intelligence: AI Chatbots: Who’s Behind the Screen?: Help students explore the role and ethics of AI chatbots.

  • Family Activity: Ideas for Using AI as a Family 

  • Parent Article: Helping Kids Navigate AI

  • Lessons for Parents:  AI Literacy: A Parents Guide to Discussing AI

 

• Digital Footprint & Identity: Who’s Looking at Your Digital Footprint: Encourage students to consider how their online actions shape their digital identity.

  • Family Activity - English, Spanish

  • Family Tips - English, Spanish

 

• Media Balance & Well-Being: The Health Effects of Screen Time: Discuss the impact of screen time on health and well-being.

  • Family Activity - English, Spanish

  • Family Tips - English, Spanish

  • Conversation Starters - English, Spanish

  • Family Tech Planners - English, Spanish

 

• AI & the Elections: Are Deepfakes a Threat to Democracy?: Explore the influence of AI on elections and the risks of deepfakes.

  • Family Activity - English, Spanish

  • Family Tips - English, Spanish, More languages

 

• Positive Relationships: Teen Voices: Friendships & Boundaries: Teach students how to build healthy, positive relationships online and offline.

  • Family Activity - English, Spanish

  • Conversation Starters - English, Spanish

  • Family Tips - English, Spanish, More languages

 

• Blended Learning: Blended learning is a teaching method that combines traditional classroom teaching with online education. Students attend in-person classes and complete online activities or courses at their own pace. This approach uses technology to supplement and enhance learning, providing a flexible and often more engaging way for students to learn.

  Personalized Learning: Personalized learning is a tailored educational experience that aims to meet each student's unique needs and abilities. This method adjusts the pace (faster or slower), style (visual, auditory, hands-on), and level of instruction based on individual student preferences and performance. The goal is to make learning more effective by focusing on how each student learns best and what they need to succeed.

  What do students say about blended and personalized learning?