In my years studying the intersection of technology and human development, I've observed a concerning pattern: our tendency to embrace technological solutions before fully understanding their impact on our core human experiences. Nowhere is this pattern more evident – or more concerning – than in education.

Today, I'm sharing news of an initiative occupying my thoughts and research: the Global Student & AI Rights Pledge & Declaration. These are two initiatives I architected as part of presentations I gave this year at ICTE 2024. But before I detail these efforts, I want to emphasize something important: this isn't just another policy document destined to gather digital dust in some institutional repository.

The Deep Work of Protecting Human Connection

What we're building is fundamentally different. It’s a blueprint for “sustainable educational technology” – an approach that harnesses AI’s capabilities while fiercely protecting the human elements that make education transformative.

The urgency here is palpable. Millions of students interact daily with AI-powered tools, and their educational experiences are increasingly shaped by algorithms optimized for engagement rather than understanding. We’re witnessing the industrialization of learning – where commercial metrics override pedagogical wisdom, and the digital divide threatens to create a two-tiered educational system.

The signs are impossible to ignore:

Students spend more time interacting with screens than with mentors
Algorithmic systems supplanting the nuanced judgment of experienced teachers
Standardized digital approaches eroding the cultural diversity that enriches education

Why This Moment Matters

We’re standing at a critical juncture where small changes can have massive downstream effects. The exponential acceleration of AI adoption in education means our decisions will reverberate through generations of learners.

This isn’t hypothetical. We’re seeing unprecedented alignment between educators, institutions, and forward-thinking tech providers on the need for ethical guidelines. The UN’s SDG 4.7 framework has laid the groundwork for global educational ethics. The momentum exists – but momentum without direction leads to chaos.

The Architecture of Change

In response to these challenges, two initiatives have been proposed:

The Global Student & AI Rights Pledge. Launched at the ICTE Conference, the Pledge invites attendees to transform their conference insights into action. Following the AI session with Dr. Christine Haskell and Dr. Wendy Yee, conference participants pledge to:

Read an AI thought piece
Try a new AI tool
Post and share thoughts with colleagues

The Global Student & AI Rights Declaration. [pictured below is a document in progress] This emerging framework ensures that AI integration in education prioritizes student well-being while fostering innovation. The initiative emphasizes the need for:

Equitable access through sustainable funding mechanisms
Clear accountability measures for institutions and technology providers
Comprehensive teacher training programs
Evidence-based guidelines for preserving human connection

The declaration provides actionable guardrails – concrete mechanisms for protecting student rights while fostering innovation:

A global implementation fund ensuring equitable access
Clear accountability measures for both institutions and tech providers
Comprehensive teacher training programs
Evidence-based guidelines for AI integration that preserve human connection

Success requires multi-stakeholder commitment:

Governments providing regulatory frameworks
Institutions implementing ethical guidelines
Technology providers prioritizing student well-being over engagement metrics

The Core Truth

Studying productivity and human potential has taught me that meaningful learning happens in the space between minds—in that electric moment of understanding between teacher and student or in the collaborative exploration between peers. This human connection isn’t just a nice-to-have feature of education; it’s the essence of transforming information into wisdom.

The choice isn’t whether AI will reshape education—it’s whether we thoughtfully architect that reshaping to serve our highest educational ideals. This declaration provides the framework for doing exactly that.

As we progress with this initiative, I’m reminded of a principle I often share in my work on digital minimalism: technology should serve human values, not define them. In education, this has never been more crucial.

Update

I’m happy to report that ICTE has picked up the project and constructed a landing page here. Now named the “AI Rights Declaration", we are inviting education leaders, educators, technology providers, policymakers, and communities to join a collaborative effort to shape a future where AI in education works for the benefit of all students—safeguarding privacy, well-being, and social equity. Check out this page and add your thoughts and support to the cause! #AIEDRights

For more information about joining this initiative, contact Christine Haskell: chaskell99@gmail.com