Google AI tools default to “On” for all students on 1st August

While the launch of Gemini in Google Classroom is an extremely welcome development, a pressing concern that demands immediate attention for schools is the default activation of Gemini and NotebookLM for all ākonga and kaiako on August 1st. Google has emailed all schools, outlining how these AI tools can be turned on or off for different groups of users in a school. We strongly advise a cautious approach to this change and, for the short to medium term, recommend disabling these powerful AI applications for student access.

The diagram below, from a great educator called Paul Matthews, and his LinkedIn post on this can be viewed here.

In short, he draws attention to the fact that the most significant outcomes from all learning are around the character traits that are developed within the learner.

The purpose of an essay, for example, is not to produce a certain kind of work. The purpose of the essay is to produce a certain kind of person.

A person who can;

• recall

• debate

• ponder

• discuss

• analyse

• wonder

• research

• understand

• contemplate

"Getting AI to do your work may produce the work,
but it won’t produce the person".

While there might be specific pedagogical justifications for limited access, such as enabling some senior students to utilise NotebookLM as a revision tool for NCEA exams, this decision requires very careful consideration. The potential benefits must be weighed against the risks associated with unrestricted AI access for ākonga, including significant issues of academic integrity and the development of critical thinking skills.

Fortunately, managing these settings is straightforward. All configurations can be easily adjusted and optimised within the Google Superadmin console, providing schools with granular control over AI tool deployment. We understand that this situation is both nuanced and rapidly evolving, presenting new challenges and opportunities.

Therefore, we encourage schools to reach out to us for support and guidance in navigating this complex landscape. Our team is equipped to assist with policy development, technical implementation, and best practices to ensure that the integration of AI tools aligns with your school's educational goals and safeguards student well-being.