Navigating AI's Privacy Mindfield (Administrators) by Gordon Baxter

Do you know what your district’s policies are around student data privacy? How do you promote a culture of data privacy within your building?

2025-03-31 15:43:35 UTC

rliberatore2_1 — 2025-03-31 15:44:01 UTC

Don't input the student's name or any PII regarding the student.

Data Privacy

2025-03-31 15:44:25 UTC

Our policies are posted on the website and shared annually with students, parents, and staff.

AI regarding multiple behavior

2025-03-31 15:44:26 UTC

When writing into any AI type website it is important to not put any PII into the prompt. You can always put an alias or general information

2025-03-31 15:44:36 UTC

I am aware of the data privacy policies - I try to model acceptable use and remind people of what we can do and can't do within apps especially when doing trainings

2025-03-31 15:44:40 UTC

No student name or any other PII should be included in any prompts. All identifying information should be changed to something generic.

2025-03-31 15:44:58 UTC

Remove any possible identifying information (names, etc)

Avoid using PII, Use a local or controlled AI tool, redact or anonymize before putting into the AI tool

2025-03-31 15:45:10 UTC

Educate

2025-03-31 15:45:10 UTC

To promote a culture of data privacy, you need to educate!

Teacher Observations

2025-03-31 15:45:23 UTC

Do not use AI at all as this is a violation of Ed Law 2D

2025-03-31 15:45:35 UTC

Summarize student behaviors and include interventions already tried while avoiding use of any of the student’s PII.

Observations

2025-03-31 15:45:41 UTC

In order to use AI to help you write observations, it would be essential to de-identify and remove any sort of PII. EdLaw2d protects teacher APPR data.

Definitely avoid any use of PII

2025-03-31 15:45:41 UTC

Remove all personally identifiable information (PII)

2025-03-31 15:45:44 UTC

2025-03-31 15:45:57 UTC

We have a couple of tools in use in our district that are EdLaw 2d compliant that have a feature for a situation like this. It won’t allow us to use PII but would give us several options to try with the student.

When doing the write up, keep the name out. For instance, refer to them as "teacher" or give them a name such as "Bill" and when complete, copy and paste it to a word processor, and then replace "Bill" with the teacher's real name.

2025-03-31 15:45:59 UTC

2025-03-31 15:46:30 UTC

Develop structured summary templates that allow you to input key observation points and have the AI generate a refined version

2025-03-31 15:46:38 UTC

Remember if you put in a behavior and don't get a good AI response, change the information you put in and add setting or other predictors of the behavior.

2025-03-31 15:46:40 UTC

Policies are posted on website, and shared regularly with staff. Privacy and security information is a highlighted section included in regular tech newsletters for staff.

Instead of using their name, always refer to the teacher as "Teacher" or "T"

2025-03-31 15:47:11 UTC

I would upload a doc with my notes, being sure to remove all PII so that identity is kept private. I would also be sure to read the content and make edits.

2025-03-31 15:47:12 UTC

General Scenario

2025-03-31 15:47:25 UTC

Don't use any PII. Instead put in a general scenario that outlines that the behavior is repeated and ask for ways to help manage the behavior and possibly educate students around the behavior. You could maybe put in some specific behaviors and context to help with the specificity of the results you could get.

Modifying student behavior using AI and keeping PII private

2025-03-31 15:47:30 UTC

Use ChatGPT to generate a short reading with graphic illustrations of punishments used to correct bad behavior on the part of children in the 1,200s. Don't let history repeat itself, kiddo.

toby_coleman — 2025-03-31 15:48:15 UTC

Keep all PII out as it is not necessary for generating the summary. The administrator can enter specific bullet points to highlight within the summary avoiding copying any text that may not be wanted. The AI can generate the summary based on bullet points and prompt parameters.

Educating is the key to data privacy...only as a collective can we keep student data safe!

2025-03-31 15:48:17 UTC

Angela Affronti

2025-03-31 15:48:22 UTC

When asking for feedback regarding a student be careful not to input student identifible personal information! Never use a name or date or birth etc

Teacher Observation

2025-03-31 15:49:19 UTC

Do not use AI as even without a name there is too much information provided to eliminate anonymity and therefore is a violation of Ed Law 2D regarding APPR data

Promote

2025-03-31 15:50:45 UTC

What is PII and what is directory information? Ensure people use district-approved AI when using AI for student work.

Scenario 1 Response

gordon_baxter — 2025-04-02 20:10:20 UTC

This could be tricky. You do not want to enter in any identifying information about the teacher that connects them to the specific APPR information, like observation information. It could be okay to paste in observation information if it can’t be tied back to the individual teacher. You’d want to anonymize what you put into the AI model.

Scenario 2 Response

gordon_baxter — 2025-04-02 20:10:38 UTC

You could enter in some of the behaviors the student is exhibiting, as long as you are not entering identifying information about the student. Be careful, as sometimes if you enter in a number of different pieces of information about a student it can be connected to identify the student. Generalizations of behaviors may be entered to get general recommendations. Avoid names, specific courses, parent names, diagnoses, etc.

Scenario 3

gordon_baxter — 2025-04-02 20:10:56 UTC

You’d want to review the district data security and privacy policy, know what is in the parent’s bill of rights for the district, and also be aware of where to find the district-approved list of software so that you know when a staff member may be using a non-approved piece of software. In order to build a culture of security, it’s best to model privacy best practices. Don’t share information with those who shouldn’t’ have it, lock your computer when you walk away, don’t send sensitive information in emails, and only use apps that are district approved.