Your Guide to AI

Holliston Public Schools provides a student- and staff-facing guide to AI that defines generative AI, sets privacy and academic-integrity expectations, and ties AI use to existing acceptable-use policies.

Holliston Public Schools — Your Guide to AI. This guide provides clear direction for students and staff on the responsible and effective use of artificial intelligence within the Holliston Public Schools community. It covers understanding AI, ethical considerations, and integration into the curriculum.

What is AI? Artificial intelligence is like a computer that can do smart things such as solve problems, understand language, and create content. One type is a Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT). GPTs generate text, images, and other media based on a prompt — what a user tells the AI.

For Students. Understanding AI: foundational definitions of Generative Pre-trained Transformers (GPTs) and prompts, plus why AI models can make mistakes (hallucinations), algorithmic bias, potential harms, and everyday impact. Responsible Use: prioritize privacy by never sharing personal information with AI models and be aware that user data may be used to train models; focus on learning and use AI as a tool to support learning, not as a shortcut for assignments; check for accuracy because you are responsible for the accuracy of your work. Critical Evaluation: identify and critically evaluate AI-generated content, recognizing its characteristics and assessing reliability. Cultivating Perspective: before using AI, establish your own point of view so AI expands your ideas rather than generates them from scratch. Environmental and Copyright Considerations: be mindful of the environmental toll of generative AI (water and electricity consumption) and copyright concerns related to how AI models use existing works. Classroom Policies and Citation: always confirm your teacher's expectations; cite any AI-generated content to avoid plagiarism, with more specific citation guidance to be provided. Consequences: misuse of AI will result in clear, thought-out consequences; first-time mistakes are treated as learning opportunities while clear policies eliminate ambiguity.

For Staff. Modeling and Expectations: staff should model ethical and responsible AI use and provide specific guidelines for AI use in assignments, including acceptable types of AI and concrete examples of appropriate use. Curriculum and Enforcement: Holliston Public Schools will develop procedures for integrating AI lessons into the curriculum covering functionality, limitations, and daily impact; staff are responsible for understanding and enforcing Handbook and AI Guidance policies.

Handbook Updates — Acceptable Use. Please refer to School Committee Policies IJNDB and IJNDC, as well as the use of generative AI. These policies outline rules and expectations for students, staff, and the school community with respect to technology.

Use of Generative AI. If and when assigned by an educator, AI tools may be used for brainstorming or preliminary research. Using AI to generate answers, complete assignments, or passing off AI-generated content as one's own is considered plagiarism. If AI is permitted by the educator, proper citation is required. Citation styles offering guidance include MLA, APA, Chicago, and Purdue OWL. Recognizing the rapid evolution of generative AI, these procedures may be updated as necessary.

AI Policy Excerpt from School Committee Policy IJNDC — Acceptable Use of Digital Resources (Adopted January 2025). Use of enhanced technology tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini, etc.) are emerging as important components of the digital information and technology landscape, and Holliston Public Schools see their use as strongly connected to students' development as digitally literate citizens. Such tools are subject to all expectations and requirements in the Acceptable Use Policy and other referenced district policies/handbooks. Instructional uses of enhanced technology tools should be governed by educators' professional judgment and all relevant codes of safe, ethical, and responsible digital conduct.