On June 16, the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Subcommittee on Education & the American Family held a hearing titled “The Future of K-12 Education in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.” The witnesses included:
- Joshua James, CEO of QuantHub
- Erin Mote, CEO of InnovateEDU
- Cynthia Marten, Delaware Secretary of Education
The hearing focused on a variety of AI topics in education, including privacy and data protections, school cybersecurity breaches, AI bias and discrimination, student mental health and development concerns, professional development for teachers, critical thinking skills, the role of chatbots and virtual companions, and the need for more research that examines the long-term, causal impacts of AI on learning outcomes. Witnesses outlined AI initiatives occurring across the nation, including the Alabama Data Scholars program and Delaware’s AI Assurance Laboratory.
The discussion also centered on important AI skills students should develop, which include:
- Basic AI literacy and understanding
- Critical thinking and judgement, correcting generated responses when needed
- Ethics and responsible use of AI tools
- AI tool selection, knowing when to use specific tools and how to apply them effectively
- Collaboration between human and AI partners
Joshua James with QuantHub discussed the role schools have in preparing students for careers and industries that will increasingly utilize AI tools, such as agriculture and health care, and pointed to programs that focus on applying AI across industries rather than programs solely focused on AI and technology. Several witnesses also advocated for stronger federal support for AI in education, including preserving the E-rate program, sustaining funding for teacher professional development, supporting federal research and restoring staffing within the Department of Education’s Office of Educational Technology.
Readers interested in additional information may listen to the hearing here.
