AI Use at a Glance

BB&N expects students to adhere to the following expectations regarding the use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI):

1. BB&N’s orientation toward the use of AI is rooted in our school’s mission and values.

2. Students may never use AI to generate work and submit it as their own.

3. Students may use AI as a tool (e.g. idea generation, study support) only with explicit teacher permission.

4. AI use must be disclosed and cited according to teacher guidance.

5. Violations of these expectations are subject to BB&N’s academic integrity and discipline policies.

Mission and Values Alignment

BB&N is an academically excellent, diverse, and inclusive community where students develop into lifelong learners who lead with kindness, curiosity, and integrity. We prepare students to be responsible and open-minded as they engage with the world around them.

We are guided by four core values as a community:

Inquiry: We promote curiosity and critical thinking to promote a lifelong love of learning.

Integrity: We strive to be honest, conscientious, and accountable in our actions even when no one is watching.

Belonging: We foster a culture of respect, well-being, and connection that values all individuals and empowers them to discover and be their authentic selves.

Kindness: We strengthen our communities by recognizing our common humanity and treating ourselves and others with respect and compassion.

BB&N recognizes that the arrival and evolution of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) significantly impacts how we think about teaching, learning, and schooling, and yet we remain steadfast in our commitment to our mission and values as we navigate the uncertainty, complexity, and opportunity of this new era.

More specifically, in order to prepare students for their future lives beyond BB&N:

• We believe in a human-centered approach to education. Meaningful learning happens through and as a result of human interaction.

• We believe that to learn is to think and to struggle. The brain acts like a muscle; it thrives when we challenge and stretch it. 

• We believe in the value of original thought and work. Developing and refining our own voices is essential to our intellectual, moral, and social development and equips us to contribute meaningfully to civic life and the broader world

• We believe that process matters more than product. Skipping to the end without experiencing the journey deprives us of growth and leads to a false sense of accomplishment.

• We believe that AI, when approached responsibly, transparently, and in age-appropriate ways, may serve as a tool to support learning, experimentation, and equity, but never at the expense of human connection and critical thinking.

Essential Questions

As we grapple with the arrival of AI, we have more questions than answers. We also know that as our understanding of AI expands, our questions will evolve. For now, we encourage all BB&N community members to consider the following questions, designed to foster critical thinking and ethical engagement, in navigating their own use of AI:

1. How can I use AI in ways that enhance, rather than replace, my learning and personal growth?

2. How do I believe my audience would respond if informed that I used AI to generate my work/communicate with them?

3. In what ways might my use of AI amplify or reflect bias? How can I critically evaluate the information it provides?

4. How aware am I of the environmental, societal, and human impacts of AI, and how might I educate myself in these areas?

5. How does my use of AI affect the learning environment for others in my class and community?

6. How does my personal and professional orientation toward AI align with and/or differ from my views about other forms of academic assistance (tutoring, family/parental support, etc.)?
   
   

Digital Literacy and AI

During the 2026-2027 school year, we will be engaging in active, age-appropriate conversations starting in grade 2 homeroom, advisory, and class about digital literacy, including the responsible and ethical use of AI. To come to clarity as a community about the possibilities and pitfalls of these new technologies, we will explore various case studies and scenarios together. Topics may include, but are not limited to:

• Basic AI Understanding & Literacy

• Digital Footprint & Data Privacy

• Critical Thinking & Media Literacy in AI

• Ethical Use of AI

• Citizenship & Responsibility

• Parent & Community Engagement

Artificial Intelligence and Academic Integrity

BB&N aspires to be intentional and proactive in considering the relationship between AI and academic integrity. While external rules and norms around AI use are still evolving, per the guidance set forth by the International Baccalaureate’s “Evaluating 13 scenarios of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in student coursework,” students are advised to consider these two key principles when evaluating their use of AI: 

1. Did I use AI to help me learn? If so, then it may be acceptable.

2. Did I use AI to pretend I did something that I did not? If so, then it is not acceptable.

More specifically, drawing from elements of Teach AI’s “AI Guidance for Schools Toolkit,” BB&N expects students to be mindful of these guidelines:

• Assignments and Assessments: Teachers may specify the limited use of generative AI on entire assignments or parts of assignments, and students should follow the guidelines set forth by their teachers. With teacher approval, AI tools may be used as a tutor or studying assistant to prepare for assessments, such as exams or quizzes, but not in the context of completing exams or quizzes unless explicitly stated.

• Citations: In instances where the use of AI is authorized, students should adhere to the citation guidance set forth by their teacher. Any AI-generated content used in assignments must be appropriately cited, and its use must be disclosed and explained.

• Consistency: Teachers who administer the same major assignments or assessments should be aligned in their communication with students about the appropriate or prohibited use of AI tools.

• Critical Thinking: Teachers and students alike, when using AI technologies, should critically evaluate AI-generated content for potential inaccuracies and understand the limitations of AI and the importance of cross-referencing with trusted sources.

• Plagiarism: Using AI to generate answers or complete assignments without proper citation or passing off AI-generated content as one’s own is considered plagiarism. Such violations will be subject to BB&N’s disciplinary policy for academic dishonesty.

Evolution of Guidance

The rapid development of AI in education calls for an evolving approach to its use in schools. These guidelines are research-informed and will be revisited regularly to ensure they reflect effective practices and align with the needs and values of the BB&N community.