AI decision-making framework
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 129 No 2, 28 March 2024, page 17
The Queensland Teachers Union (QTU) and the Independent Education Union Queensland and Northern Territory Branch (IEU-QNT) – the two teacher unions that represent the professional and industrial interests of Queensland’s teaching profession – relaunched their updated joint Artificial Intelligence Decision Making Framework at the recent QTU Union Reps Conference.
The framework provides guiding principles around the use of AI and digital technologies in education.At its heart, our AI framework urges Queensland’s teaching profession to:
STOP
CONSULT
BE SAFE
We believe there is an urgent need for the teaching profession to adopt this decision-making framework and to ensure consultation takes place that addresses the full suite of legal, industrial, professional, and educational issues.
For clarity, the unions are not calling on members and employers to STOP and not engage with AI. We know that this technology offers exciting possibilities for teachers and can facilitate connections between students and learning. Technology has also afforded teachers the opportunity to work more efficiently through online curriculum materials and student reporting, and Queensland’s teaching profession has contributed to banks of innovative teaching and learning resources.
The unions are instead urging members and employers to STOP and CONSULT. We recognise that many advances in technology provide clear benefits, but the introduction of new ways of learning and working requires careful consideration, to:
- ensure the safety of education leaders, teachers, students
- safeguard the teaching profession
- protect school and systems information and communication technology infrastructure
- preserve the integrity of education systems and their fundamental role in preparing children and young people for full and equal participation in civil life.
The unions are:
- calling on employment authorities to develop and maintain a register of approved platforms and products, like the Department of Education’s Online Service Risk Review Catalogue
- demanding that employment authorities develop appropriate delegations of authority, in consultation with unions and affected employees.
Through consultation, members and employers and students can BE SAFE. That means keeping teachers safe from online harassment, sinister misuse of personal images and voice recordings, theft of personal data, and safe from potential harm to teachers’ careers. The unions also want our profession to BE SAFE from products and platforms that undermine and undervalue the complex work of teachers and school leaders. BE SAFE also means mitigating systems’ exposure to harmful cyber-attack.
The framework is supported by legal advice provided by Holding Redlich, which recommends that:
- the use of AI and digital technology in schools should be avoided unless it is formally authorised by an employing authority (i.e. Catholic Education, Department of Education, or independent schools)
- QTU and IEU members should read, understand, and strictly adhere to the AI and digital technology policies, procedures, or guidelines provided by their employer.
- schools and education leaders at the local level should be attributed responsibility and accountability only as far as the practical implementation of policies, procedures, or guidelines is involved.
- governance of AI and digital technology in schools, including data privacy and accountability, must be the responsibility of employing authorities
- policies, procedures, and guidelines must adhere to industrial instruments to ensure teacher workload, particularly regarding record keeping, is not exacerbated.
The framework considers four categories:
- ethical responsibilities of teachers, schools, and education systems
- curriculum and pedagogy
- products and platforms
- workplace health and safety considerations.
For each category, the framework classifies examples of practice using a "traffic light" system.
Green applications reduce teacher workload and/or support student learning, without undermining the role of the teacher or negatively impacting upon learning. Applications under the green category indicate autonomous, professional decision making by the education leader or teacher.
Amber applications require consideration to ensure that their adoption does not undermine the role of the teacher or negatively impact upon learning. Applications under the amber category require wider consultation before implementation.
Red applications are those that undermine the role of the teacher and/or negatively impact on the learning process and are therefore unacceptable to our members. Placing the applications in the red category indicates they are considered inappropriate and/or unsafe. Members and employees should STOP and not restart these ways of working.