AI is a useful tool for communicating effectively and efficiently with students and their families. To navigate the complexities of AI, teachers must use critical thinking skills and adhere to ethical and moral standards to maintain the privacy of their students. After working through this section, you will have a deeper understanding of how and why to use AI appropriately. 

Anytime a teacher uses AI, they must consider the ethics of the interaction. Appropriate use of AI can lead to a positive impact on student achievement and family engagement. The following areas are ones to consider when using AI for teaching and learning. 

Data Privacy and Security

• Read the Privacy Policy on the AI site you are choosing to use. Just because it is recommended by your school or district does not mean it will not collect and store the data you submit. The more recent the date on the policy, the more likely the company honors privacy (Trust & Maloy, 2025).     

• Only communicate students' private information using a secure two-way communication tool. The technology tool should use a private network and be password-protected (Constantino, 2021).

Fairness and Inclusivity

• • Bias is prevalent on the internet, and therefore prevalent in AI systems. Unfair representations and stereotypes of race, gender, language, and culture need to be addressed. As the teacher, you are responsible for analyzing AI-generated materials and uncovering existing bias (Trust & Maloy, 2025).

  • Think about families who speak a language other than English. AI tools used for communication should have the ability to comprehensively translate messages (Constantino, 2021).

Transparency

• • Be direct with students and families by including a disclaimer explaining when a product was made with the help of AI.

  • When using AI in the classroom, set clear boundaries for use and restrictions (UNC Charlotte, 2025).  

Accountability

• • As the teacher, you are ultimately responsible for the communication you send to students and their families. You must check anything created with the help of AI for validity and correctness. 

Choose Your Activity

Choose one activity related to the ethical use of AI below. Follow the directions for the activity you choose, and take notes on your Module Reflection Guide. When you are finished, reflect on the presence, or lack thereof, of privacy considerations or bias. How can you address these issues in your classroom as you use AI to communicate with students and their families?

Think about what you have just read regarding the ethical use of AI. Reflect on these questions: 

• What do you need to do to move forward with AI in your classroom and at your school? 

• How can you ensure artificial intelligence is used ethically and responsibly at your school site?

Record your thoughts on your Module Reflection Guide.

As an educator, you have a myriad of options when it comes to choosing an AI tool. You also have many ways you will need to communicate with your students and their families. Understanding the possibilities and limitations AI provides is crucial for you as a teacher so you can form authentic relationships through communication. 

Maintaining family engagement requires establishing two-way communication with every family to build trust and develop relationships. Your job as the teacher is to provide communication that is welcoming and respectful, and that invites families to respond by providing multiple means of communication (Constantino, 2021). 

A key to building trust with families is to send home information that is correct and factual. Unfortunately, AI tools do not always provide truthful or factual information. Your job as the teacher is to use discernment when utilizing AI as a communication tool. You will have to read and revise any text that is generated by AI (Trust & Maloy, 2025).

Choose Your Activity

Choose one activity related to the limitations of AI below. Follow the directions for the activity you choose, and take notes on your Module Reflection Guide. When you are done, reflect on the impact of AI hallucinations. How can you address these issues in your classroom as you use AI to communicate with students and their families?

Think about what you know about the Flora children and their family, and how they might respond to different types of communication. 

What are the ethical considerations you will need to make when communicating with the Flora family? 

What do you need to be aware of when using AI-generated responses to send messages home to the Flora family?

Use what you know about the Flora child in your grade band to reflect on these questions. Remember what you have learned about the appropriate use of AI.

• Aspen: Aspen is the most outgoing of their siblings and enjoys playing soccer whenever they can. According to their state test scores, they are performing on grade level in math and one grade level below in reading. Aspen is respectful to their teacher and classmates, but sometimes has trouble staying on task during independent work time and completing their work on time.  

• Hazel: Hazel is a quiet student and is the shyest member of the Flora Family. Hazel prefers to read books during recess, rather than play with their classmates. They are reading above grade level and working slightly below grade level in math, according to state test scores. Hazel is well-mannered and complies with school rules, but does not talk much during class discussions.  

• Reed: Reed is the oldest sibling and is a confident student. They played varsity soccer for their previous school and had several friends they left behind. Reed is having a hard time with the move and is acting out in class, telling jokes and acting like the class clown. Reed has been classified as academically gifted and is working two grade levels above their same-aged peers.  

On your Module Reflection Guide, write down the AI tools you will use to help you effectively communicate your thoughts to the Flora grown-ups. How will you use them? What considerations will you remember when generating your message?