SPOTLIGHT

Head's Message

Artificial Intelligence is not a new arrival; it has been quietly navigating us in Google Maps and correcting our grammar for years. However, the recent surge in Generative AI represents the most significant technological leap in a generation. It is similar to the introduction of the calculator or the internet in how it transforms learning. 

As an IB school committed to excellence and innovation, our response is not to hide from this reality, but to master it.

Our IB philosophy is focused on inquiry. We teach students to ask questions, a skill that is more critical now than ever. AI encourages curiosity, but it requires a human to direct it. We view AI not as a replacement for human intelligence, but as a tool to support and expand our abilities.

The rise of AI forces us to ask a hard question: If an assignment can be easily completed by a computer, is it still worth assigning?

We are actively rethinking how we measure student learning. Research from institutions like Stanford and best practices from forward-thinking schools around the world suggest a shift away from "take-home" essays that prioritize a final product. Instead, we are moving toward:

• Process-over-Product: Assessing the drafting, editing, and thinking phases, not just the final result.

• Oral Assessments: Students must be able to verbally talk about their ideas and explain them in real-time.

• In-Class Writing: We are reclaiming the value of paper and pencil. Developing strong writing skills requires the struggle of organizing thoughts without assistance.

We cannot prepare students for the future by banning the tools they will use in the workplace. Our school's AI policy is designed with flexibility to mirror professional environments. Teachers have the autonomy to permit AI use in tiers, depending on the learning goal:

1. No AI: For tasks requiring foundational skill building (e.g., in-class assignments).

2. Limited AI: For idea generation, planning, or organizing thoughts.

3. Open AI: For generating content or feedback, which students then critique and refine.

We are innovators, but we remain focused on fundamentals. Our goal is to graduate students who are technologically fluent but possess the skills AI cannot replicate: complex problem-solving, collaboration, social intelligence, and ethical leadership.

We are teaching your children to be the pilot, not the passenger.

Josh Hart
Head of School