As part of Episcopal’s AI Lab programming, faculty from all three campuses met on the Munnerlyn Campus in June to further explore AI in the classroom and as a teaching tool in a day-long symposium. The symposium will continue in July to further the discussion.
The Episcopal AI Lab, an exploratory program that is digging deeply into development of policy, strategy, and purpose, is generously funded through a gift from the Cranberg family, reflecting a thoughtful, mission-aligned approach—one that places human learning, ethical responsibility, and student development at the center of every decision.
Through different discussion topics, the AI symposium further confirmed to participating faculty that Episcopal’s approach to AI is solid in its foundation, focuses on learner-centered philosophy, and supports the school’s commitment to forming “leaders and doers of good.”
Most importantly, faculty discussed the necessity of students understanding what is essential about each academic discipline, and how academic challenges that arise in math or science, history, theology, and English or foreign language, can be learned. Each academic discipline encourages students to think in different ways, and this must not be lost while exploring AI.
“We know it is vitally important that students develop the skills they learn when faced with the struggle, process, thoughtfulness, and revising that go into completing an assignment,” said Natalie Herford, Head of Upper School. “The process of learning itself can never be replaced by AI; how we approach learning at Episcopal becomes even more important as our society shifts toward ease and efficiency. Learning must be meaningful, help develop usable skills, and expand intellectual capabilities.”
Paramount is reassuring students – and parents – that the learning process is normally a messy process with bumps and bruises, but ultimately reaps immeasurable rewards. Authentic learning requires students to think independently, take risks, experience failure, and grow through reflection.
Episcopal’s goal is to teach students to use AI ethically and purposefully—never as a shortcut, but as a tool that supports deeper thinking. Programs and pedagogy involving AI emphasize the irreplaceable qualities that define human learning: judgment, creativity, curiosity, and moral reasoning.
AI literacy at Episcopal will continue to be introduced in developmentally appropriate ways, tailored to students’ needs and focused on cultivating essential human skills such as creativity, independent thinking, and discernment. The school’s youngest students will not use AI at all, but instead will focus on age appropriate discussions on ethical and safe use of technology and digital literacy. Older students in fourth and fifth grade may use AI through Flint, the school’s private AI platform. As they transition to Middle School, understanding how to prompt, inquire, and use AI as a tool is part of the learning process. Faculty at Lower Schools are able to use Episcopal’s closed Flint AI platform for lesson planning and lesson exploration in order to best serve students where they are.
Ultimately, Episcopal’s path of staying the middle way applies to AI use as well.
“Our faculty conversations and conclusions from the symposium mirrored the middle way approach we bring to all challenges; we believe students must be engaged in order to learn and that learning is exponentially more complicated and nuanced than what a machine can do or teach,” said Herford. “The importance of the human element in the classroom cannot be overstated, and we will continue to ensure authentic learning is taking place across all grade levels.”
Safeguarding student privacy and well-being remains paramount. All authorized AI use at Episcopal is monitored by educators using the Flint AI platform, and community members are instructed never to share personal, sensitive, or confidential information with AI tools.
AI Acceptable Use Menu Image:
Middle and Upper School faculty use the same language and explanation when tackling AI use in the classroom and for assignments. Consistent use of the same language and standards across departments and grade levels is imperative in ensuring students understand expectations. Episcopal’s AI Use Menu is shared across campus so application is appropriate and fair.