AI can be a powerful learning sidekick but you’re still in charge of the thinking.
In this video, you’ll learn how AI works, when it can support your schoolwork, and how to use it responsibly. You’ll also learn why it’s important to check AI’s answers, protect your personal information, follow your teacher’s expectations, and make sure the ideas, decisions, and learning stay yours.
Think of AI like a classmate: if it would be cheating with a person, it’s also cheating with AI.
For example, if your friend wrote your whole paper and you turned it in with your name on it, that’s cheating. The same goes if AI writes the whole thing for you. But if you wrote the paper yourself and your friend read it, asked questions, and gave ideas to make it stronger - that’s more like getting feedback. Using AI in that way (to brainstorm, ask questions, or improve your own work) is usually okay.
The golden rule: AI should support your learning, not replace it. And when in doubt, always check your teacher’s rules first.
AI tools are becoming more common in school, and they can be really helpful for learning. But without clear expectations, it can be hard to know the difference between using AI responsibly and crossing the line into academic dishonesty. What feels like teamwork to one teacher might look like cheating to another.
That’s why your teachers may have set rules for how and when AI can be used. If you don’t see the rules on your Canvas page or aren’t sure what your teacher’s expectations are, make sure to ask. Clear expectations help keep things fair and set you up for success.
Your personal information - and the information of your classmates and teachers - needs to be protected. A good rule of thumb: never share private or confidential details with AI tools. Even though some tools have security protections, it’s always safer to keep sensitive information out of them.
Why does this matter? Once information is shared, you can’t always control where it goes. Sharing private details could put you or others at risk of identity theft, scams, or unwanted attention. Practicing safe digital habits helps protect your privacy, keep you safe, and make sure nothing ends up in the wrong place.
Most AI platforms require parent permission if you’re 13 to 17, and some aren’t approved for anyone under 18 at all. The good news is that you already have access to several safe, district-approved tools with new AI features built in, like Canva, Padlet, and Adobe Creative Cloud. As a secondary NISD student, your Google for Education account also gives secondary students safe access to Gemini, Google's version of ChatGPT.
If you are 18, or you're between 13 and 18 and have parent permission*, you can explore ways to use AI as a learning partner using the following Daily Sidekick Slides, and the AI in the Writing Classroom prompt library.
* Check the tool's Terms & Conditions to make sure you're allowed to use it with parent permission
