Every teacher should have an AI policy for their classroom. I’m not talking about a 10-page document full of legal jargon. I mean something simple, clear, and collaboratively built with your students. A shared agreement. A reference point. A guide.
Here’s how I see it: You don’t just hand this policy down from above. You sit with your students. You say, “Alright, AI is part of how we learn now. Let’s figure out how we’re going to use it, together.”
You bring in your school’s rules, your own teaching values, and open the floor. When students help build the policy, their sense of responsibility? It grows. They own it.
So what do you actually include in this policy?
1. Keep it focused:
2. What’s okay and what’s not
3. How to handle data and privacy
4. How to use AI ethically
5. What to do if things go wrong
6. And how to make sure every student gets access
I put together this guide to help you get started. It’s based on insights from UNESCO’s AI framework and Priten Shah’s book on AI in education. I also added a few AI tools you can use to speed up the process like ChatGPT for drafting and Canva for turning it into a clean, shareable document.
Here’s a process I suggest:
– You start with a draft, just jot down your key points.
– Then bring your students in. Talk through it. Let them suggest ideas. Turn it into a quick class project or discussion.
– Once you have a rough version, ask ChatGPT or Claude to help you polish it.
When it’s done, use Canva to design it. Print it. Share it. Stick it on the classroom wall.
That’s it. You don’t need to finish it in one go. It can evolve with your class.
There is a visual at the bottom of this post that you can download and use with your students!
What Is an AI Classroom Policy?
An AI classroom policy is a foundational document that guides how AI tools are used in your classroom across the school year. I see it as a flexible, evolving agreement that sets expectations, safeguards learning, and promotes ethical use of AI by both students and teachers.
Why Is It Important?
“Teachers must prepare students to engage with AI systems critically and responsibly, recognizing both the opportunities and risks they present.” (UNESCO, 2023)
A clear classroom AI policy:
- Fosters accountability and shared responsibility
- Builds trust and transparency
- Develops digital literacy and critical thinking
- Promotes equity and responsible innovation
What Should It Include?
Some of the things AI classroom policy should include are:
1. Academic Integrity
- Clarify acceptable vs. unacceptable AI use
- Require students to label or cite AI-assisted work
- Focus on process-based and authentic assessment
2. Data Privacy
- Don’t input personal student data into public AI tools
- Use only district-approved, secure platforms
- Inform families about how AI tools handle student data
3. Ethical Use & AI Literacy
- Teach critical evaluation of AI-generated content
- Model transparency in your own AI use
- Include ethical discussions: bias, misinformation, limitations
4. Equity & Inclusion
- Ensure fair access to tools and support
- Use AI to enhance accessibility and differentiation
- Track usage to avoid unintentional exclusions
5. Pedagogical Alignment
- Align AI tools with curriculum goals
- Use AI to enhance creativity, personalization, metacognition
- Keep the teacher’s role central—AI is a support, not a substitute
Tips for Creating Your Policy
- Collaborate: Involve students in the process
- Make it student-centered: Prioritize their learning experience
- Stay flexible: Allow room for adjustments as tools and needs evolve
- Be transparent: Discuss expectations and boundaries openly
- Review regularly: Reflect on how it’s working throughout the year
Key Questions to Ask
- What AI tools will we allow in this class—and for what purposes?
- How will we define and detect AI misuse?
- How do we handle student data and privacy?
- What skills do students need to engage with AI responsibly?
- What should students disclose when using AI tools in assignments?
Useful AI Tools
Here are some AI tools you might integrate responsibly:
- ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini: Writing support and idea generation
- Canva, Adobe Express: Visual design and AI-powered templates
- Tome, Gamma, SlidesAI: Presentation creation tools
- Quillbot, Grammarly: Writing refinement and grammar support
You can download the visual below in PDF format!
References
- Shah, P. (2023). AI & the future of education: Teaching in the age of artificial intelligence. Hybrid Learning Press.
- UNESCO. (2023). AI and education: A competency framework for teachers. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
