Family Guide • AI in 204

A Family Guide to AI in 204

Helping families understand how District 204 approaches artificial intelligence with safety, ethics, human judgment, and learning at the center.

Empowering Students and Families in the Age of AI

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping education and the workforce. IPSD 204 is committed to approaching these tools in a way that is safe, ethical, and effective for students.

Student AI use is not automatic and depends on the learning goal, teacher direction, grade-level guidance, and whether the work is Independent, Supported, or Collaborative.

For example, a teacher may allow AI to help students brainstorm ideas or check understanding, while in another assignment, students may be expected to complete their work independently without AI support.

District Belief Statement for Generative Artificial Intelligence in School

Our district recognizes the growing role of AI in education and in the world our students will navigate. We are committed to using AI ethically, responsibly, and in alignment with our Portrait of a Graduate, ensuring it enhances rather than replaces human connection and empowers both students and educators.

District Guiding Principles for Generative Artificial Intelligence in Schools

Purposeful Support

AI can support learning when used in ways that match the goal of the task and the needs of the learner.

Human Connection

AI should complement the teacher’s role, not replace it. We prioritize Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and community collaboration.

Empowerment

We aim to foster student agency, allowing them to use AI thoughtfully while reinforcing their own judgment, verification skills, and human responsibility.

Real-World Preparation

We prepare students for a digital world by teaching them to think critically, understand ethical decision-making, and recognize the limitations and biases of AI tools.

AI Terms to Know

Artificial Intelligence

A type of technology that allows computers to perform tasks that usually require human intelligence, such as recognizing speech, making decisions, and identifying patterns.

Generative AI

A specialized subset of AI focused on creating new, original content, such as text, images, music, or code, based on patterns learned from training data.

Training Data

The information given to AI to help it learn how to do a specific task.

Algorithm

A set of rules or steps a computer follows to solve a problem or make a decision.

Hallucination

When AI provides incorrect or made-up information.

AI Bias

When an AI tool produces unfair or one-sided results because the data it learned from or the way it was designed does not reflect people and experiences equitably.

Four Rules When Student AI Use Is Allowed

Follow Teacher Directions for AI Use

Students should use AI only when the assignment or teacher directions allow it.

Why: Different subjects and assignments have different goals. Sometimes AI is a helpful tutor; other times, using it bypasses the critical thinking skills the student needs to learn.

Evaluate Outputs

Never assume AI is 100% correct. It’s essential for students to verify AI answers with reliable sources.

Why: Generative AI can produce hallucinations and biases, meaning it confidently presents false information as fact.

Be the Human-in-the-Loop

Use AI to brainstorm, outline, or clarify, never to do the work for you.

Why: AI should boost talents, not replace them. If a student uses AI to write an entire script or solve a math problem without understanding the steps, they miss out on the learning process.

Maintain Privacy

Never share personal information, such as names, addresses, or passwords, with AI chatbots.

Why: Many AI tools collect data to train their models. Keeping personal information private is the best way to stay safe.

Talking to Your Student About AI

You do not need to be a tech expert to guide your child. The goal is to build AI literacy, equipping them to use AI safely and effectively while remaining grounded in human responsibility, judgment, and verification.

Start With Curiosity

Position yourself as a co-learner. Ask open-ended questions:

What have you heard about AI tools at school?
Have you seen AI make a mistake?
Do you think AI can have feelings? Remind them: AI mimics emotions but does not feel them.

Discuss Ethics and Bias

Explain that AI learns from data found on the internet, which means it can pick up human prejudices. Ask:

If an AI learns from information on the internet, do you think it is always fair?
How might an AI be biased against certain groups of people?

Activities to Explore AI Together

Equip your children with the critical thinking skills needed to navigate the age of AI.

Family note: These activities are optional family conversation starters for home use. School assignments should always follow teacher directions and district guidance for AI use.

Elementary School: Discovery and Awareness

AI Scavenger Hunt

Find examples of AI at home like Alexa, Netflix, or smart tools. Discuss how they decide what to show and if they are always right.

The AI Guessing Game

Play a “20 Questions” style game. Think of an animal and let your child ask “yes” or “no” questions to identify it.

Middle School: Creativity and Ethics

Screen Time Story Swap

Swap stories about pictures or videos you think might be fake. This builds early skepticism toward deepfakes and generated content.

Analyze Algorithms

Look at your social media feed before and after clicks. Discuss how prediction algorithms can limit our view of the world.

High School and Beyond: Academic Mastery and Planning

Personal Study Coach

Use AI to turn a complex topic into an organized study plan. Ask AI for hints or step-by-step logic to help solve problems independently.

Exam Prep Support

Create practice tests with AI using study materials and notes, then have AI identify specific topics that need more review.

Note: These ideas may be useful for studying at home, but school assignments should always follow teacher directions for AI use.