Artificial Intelligence (AI) has always been a controversial topic, particularly in school settings. However, Gemini AI was introduced into Pascack Hills academics this November. The arrival of the application has had many reactions, whether by questions, prospects, ideas, or more. What opportunities and challenges will it bring to the academics at our school?
Students at Pascack Hills High School have learned about the recent addition of Gemini, Google’s AI chatbot, through word of mouth and teacher announcements. Reactions among students are mixed; some express concerns that AI usage might lead to more misinformation, while others appreciate having an officially endorsed AI tool. Many are curious about the impact that integrating Gemini AI will have on their educational experience.
Dr. Barry Bachenheimer, the Director of Curriculum and Assistant Supervisor for the Pascack Valley Regional School District has been working with the administration to learn more about AI and discover its implications for our school.
Though students may not have been aware of the lengthy process of adding AI into academics, Dr. Bachenheimer and the administration have been active in adding AI, specifically Gemini AI, to our school for almost two years.
“Our administrative team has been doing a lot of work trying to learn more about it, figure out what that looks like for education and what that might look like for staff and students,” said Dr. Bachenheimer.
He detailed the long process and obstacles that caused setbacks in adding AI to our school. Age restrictions, data privacy, and education-specific features were all considered when choosing a good platform to provide students with a safe and helpful application.
“We landed on Gemini as what we felt was the best official choice for everybody to work with,” Dr. Bachenheimer continued.
However, all web applications have flaws, whether technical or factual. A student at Pascack Hills High School expressed concern that using AI in the classroom might make students’ work less authentic because Gemini AI can think of ideas, write essays, and generally substitute what students put into academic assignments. When asked if this was a concern implementing Gemini AI into a classroom setting, Dr. Bachenheimer detailed that it was an important concern and gave some more words about the topic.
“I think if people want to cheat or take the easy way out, it’s always easy to find that way . . . If people want to cheat now they will come up with ways to do it. I think as students you really have to ask yourself, am I looking simply to do this for the grade? Am I really trying to do the learning? And I’m hoping the answer is for the learning to make you better, make you smarter, make you more well-equipped, and give you skills,” he said.
Along with assessing Gemini’s repercussions to the school, Dr. Bachenheimer also recognizes the positives of having a school-specific AI application. The “Pascack Valley Regional High School District Philosophy on the Use of AI” states that Gemini can be used to “prepare our students for the opportunities and challenges of the future.” When asked what specific impacts Gemini AI can help students prepare for, Dr. Bachenheimer referenced a major issue: AI replacing human jobs.
“If you wanted to be an electrician or a plumber, AI cannot install your wiring or put your pipes in yet. But AI, as we’re finding out now if you wanted to be a writer…AI is moving into that area…I think students need to develop skills that AI can’t do, but also realize what AI can do, so they can market themselves as being better than this generative AI in the future, depending on what your future career track is.”
With technology advancing further every day, breaking limits never thought possible, it is difficult to imagine what the future might look like with the advancement of platforms like Gemini AI. While opinions on AI in the classroom might differ, integrating Gemini AI into Pascack Hills academics was a long, thought-out process within our administration. Though there is always the possibility of misconduct when using technology, AI in Pascack Hills can bring new opportunities, help students learn better skills, and improve our school’s learning environment which advances every day.
