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Clarity Over Chaos: Setting Guardrails for Student AI Use

A 5-level model to help schools manage AI ethically and instructionally.

May 13, 2025

What does safe, structured student AI use actually look like?


In this quick video, we break down what’s inside the newsletter — and how your school or district can roll out AI use for students with clarity, safety, and purpose.
If you’re planning for Summer PD or 2025–26 training, this is where to start.

A 5-Level Model to Help Schools Manage AI Ethically and Instructionally

Across the Virginia, school leaders are asking the same question:

"How do we allow students to use AI — without losing control of instruction, equity, or expectations?"

The reality is, banning AI outright doesn't prepare students. Letting them use it without clear guidelines doesn't help either.

What schools need is a practical framework — one that educators can use to guide when, how, and why AI is used by students.

That’s why we’ve adapted the AI Use Scale into a student-centered tool:
✅ Instructionally focused
✅ Standards-aligned
✅ Discussion-driven
✅ Built for K–12

🧠 The Student AI Use Scale: A Quick Overview

Level

Name

What It Means

1

🚫 No AI Allowed

Student work is 100% human-generated. Ideal for assessments, skill checks, or live discussions where AI would compromise the learning goal.

2

💡 Brainstorming & Structure

AI can be used to generate ideas or outline structure. Final work must be fully written by the student. Encourages planning and creativity without shortcutting the thinking.

3

✏️ Editing & Language Support

Students use AI to refine grammar, clarity, and word choice — especially helpful for ELs or developing writers. Supports expression without changing original thinking.

4

🔍 Task Completion + Evaluation

Students generate partial content with AI, then evaluate, critique, or revise it. Emphasizes human reasoning, comparison, and refinement of ideas.

5

⚙️ Full AI Integration

Students may use AI throughout the process with clear expectations, citations, and editing. Best for advanced projects and real-world simulations where the product matters as much as the process.

💬 Real-World Examples (with Student Talk Built In)

These examples are aligned to VDOE content-area standards and structured to increase classroom dialogue, collaboration, and analysis:

💡 Level 2 – Brainstorming & Structure

📝 Grade 11 ELA (SOL 11.W.1.A–D)
Students use ChatGPT to generate persuasive essay outlines. In groups, they:

  • Compare AI outlines

  • Revise transitions and structure

  • Justify which outline would lead to the most effective argument
    Student Talk Prompt:

“Which structure makes our argument stronger — and how do we know?”

🧪 Biology (BIO.1a–b)
Students brainstorm research questions on ecosystem energy flow using AI, then:

  • Rank the most testable options

  • Share reasoning with peers before designing their experiment
    Student Talk Prompt:

“What makes this question stronger for investigation — and what data would we need to answer it?”

✏️ Level 3 – Editing & Language Support

🗣️ Grade 11 ELA (SOL 11.W.3 & 11.C.1)
After drafting essays, students use ChatGPT to:

  • Improve sentence clarity and academic tone

  • Compare their own writing to the AI-edited version
    They then share edits and reflect on tone, clarity, and intent.
    Student Talk Prompt:

“Did AI improve your message — or take away your voice?”

📐 CTE: Building Trades I (Safety + Technical Writing)
Students write multi-step project instructions, then use AI to:

  • Clean up sequencing

  • Insert safety language
    In teams, they simulate a job site review and evaluate instructions for accuracy and clarity.
    Student Talk Prompt:

“Could someone new follow this clearly and safely?”

🔍 Level 4 – AI Generation + Human Evaluation

🇺🇸 Grade 5 U.S. History (USI.6a–d)
Students prompt AI to summarize the Boston Tea Party. They then:

  • Identify inaccuracies

  • Revise the version into a class-approved “textbook” entry
    Student Talk Prompt:

“What facts were missing — and how do we fix them with sources?”

🧬 Biology (BIO.4c & BIO.6d)
AI generates a comparison between viral and bacterial reproduction. In pairs, students:

  • Challenge vague terms or misused concepts

  • Create corrected visuals and narrate explanations
    Student Talk Prompt:

“What did AI get wrong — and how can we explain it better to a middle school student?”

⚙️ Level 5 – Full AI Integration

🏗️ CTE: Building Trades I
Students use AI to:

  • Generate timelines and material lists

  • Draft communication for project teams and clients
    They then deliver final proposals, rotating roles to give and receive peer feedback.
    Student Talk Prompt:

“Would this plan pass inspection — and does the communication sound professional?”

Want to Use This Scale in Your District?

We’re working with districts right now to:

  • Train teachers on each level of student AI use

  • Build AI-aligned rubrics that still meet VDOE and WIDA expectations

  • Design lessons that increase student talk, engagement, and creativity

  • Write clear student-use policies aligned with VDOE’s AI Policy

📩 Or reply to this email — we’ll help you choose the right path for your team.