Australian Parliament “Study Buddy or Influencer” Report – GenAI and Education (2024)

ByPaul

The Australian House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training released a report titled “Study Buddy or Influencer,” focusing on the integration of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in Australia’s education system. Released in August 2024, the report presents several key recommendations:

  1. National Priority and Safeguards: The Australian Government should prioritise the use of GenAI in education, implementing safeguards for all users, particularly minors, and integrating GenAI tools into school curricula and practices.
  2. Funding for Schools: Collaboration with State and Territory Governments is essential to ensure all Australian schools are funded to 100 per cent of the Schooling Resourcing Standard, facilitating access to high-quality educational GenAI tools, especially for marginalised communities.
  3. Evaluation of Pilot Programs: The Government, in conjunction with the States and Territories, should monitor and evaluate current pilot programs using GenAI education tools in schools, such as study buddies, to develop high-quality GenAI education products aligned with the curriculum.
  4. Promotion of Fit-for-Purpose GenAI Tools: Working with key partners, the Government should promote GenAI tools that are quality education products, designed in alignment with educational outcomes, and trained on datasets based on the Australian Curriculum, reflecting local context and inclusivity.
  5. Support for Implementation Framework: Increased support is needed to implement the Australian Framework for Generative AI in Schools, including funding for virtual and physical hubs to provide expert advice and support, and offering GenAI literacy and training to educators, students, parents, and policymakers.
  6. Consistent Guidance and Uptake: The Government should encourage consistent guidance and uptake of GenAI in education, working with relevant authorities to integrate AI literacy across all subjects in the curriculum and updating it regularly to reflect technological developments.
  7. Age-Appropriate Access: Policies should be developed to allow the use of GenAI by educators and staff in early childhood education and care for specific purposes, while deferring use by children until appropriate frameworks are developed, and providing age-appropriate access for primary school students.
  8. Ethical and Safe Practices: The Government should work with the eSafety Commissioner and State and Territory education departments to develop and implement ethical, safe, and responsible AI practices, integrating GenAI into educational settings with appropriate safeguards to mitigate risks.
  9. Risk Identification and International Collaboration: Utilising expert advisory groups, the Government should identify unacceptable risks in the education sector, consider the design and deployment of high-risk AI systems, and collaborate with international partners to promote interoperability and share best practices.
  10. Regulation and Data Protection: The Government should regulate EdTech companies through a risk-based legal framework, ensuring products meet established standards, requiring transparency in AI system training data, and developing robust data protection frameworks to safeguard students’ personal information.
  11. Bias Mitigation and Privacy Protections: Collaboration with educational providers is necessary to mitigate risks of algorithmic bias and misinformation, train educators to critique AI-generated outputs, and strengthen privacy protections for students, including minors, regarding the use of GenAI.
  12. Support for Marginalised Cohorts: Investment in training educators of marginalised student cohorts is recommended to maximise the benefits of GenAI tools, streamline teaching and administrative tasks, and use data-driven insights for tailored feedback and assessment processes.
  13. Professional Development: The Government should work with State and Territory education departments to train educators and staff in maximising the benefits of GenAI tools, including pre-service teacher training and professional development for existing teachers.

These recommendations aim to ensure the ethical, safe, and effective integration of GenAI technologies in Australia’s education system, enhancing learning outcomes while safeguarding users. See full report.

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