Quebec launches a guide to using artificial intelligence in schools

Photo: Jacques Boissinot The Canadian Press Education Minister Bernard Drainville

The Canadian Press in Montreal

Published at 6:11 p.m.

• Quebec

As part of the Quebec government's work on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in schools, the Minister of Education, Bernard Drainville, launched a guide for teaching staff on Wednesday.

This document, entitled “The educational and ethical use of generative artificial intelligence (AGI)”, specifies in particular the criteria for the educational, ethical and legal use of AI.

Mr. Drainville believes that the subject is essential, since “artificial intelligence is now an integral part of our reality, including in our schools”.

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“Not taking this new reality into account would be turning a blind eye. This is why we prefer to guide school teams and students for the responsible use of artificial intelligence. With this guide, we are creating an additional tool for school staff and students, for the benefit of educational success”, he declared in a press release, emphasizing that “the development of artificial intelligence has made dazzling progress in recent years”.

AI has advantages and disadvantages. “On the one hand, it offers several opportunities to innovate in teaching and improve current teaching practices. On the other hand, AGI brings its share of questions regarding the desired place of digital technology in teaching and learning,” the guide states.

It proposes three criteria that can guide decisions regarding AI in an educational context: pedagogical relevance, ethical principles and legal obligations.

For each criterion, it explains in detail the different issues and suggests a list of questions to fuel reflection. Each section deals with the implications related to digital competence.

“The fundamental mission of the Quebec school, defined by the Education Act, is to instruct, socialize and qualify students. It is therefore essential that the development and use of AI in education always serve humans, in order to support and promote this mission,” states the press release from the Ministry of Education.

This guide aims to provide “avenues for reflection and action regarding the responsible use of AI, both for teaching staff and students.”

The document from the Ministry of Education “is part of a process of continuous improvement, because even if reflections are initiated, AGI systems are constantly evolving,” we can read in the guide.

“It is essential to adopt a lively and flexible posture so as not to hinder innovation, while keeping humans at the heart of decisions,” it concludes.

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