Privacy and Security Questions

These questions apply to all tools and should be the first criteria evaluated.

Criteria	Consider Using	Needs Clarification	Not Recommended
Privacy policy clearly states what data is collected and stored.	Yes	Needs more information	No privacy policy
Inputted data is not used to train AI models.	Confirmed	Unclear or ambiguous	Explicitly used to train models
Data is encrypted during transmission (e.g., end-to-end).	Confirmed	Requires confirmation	No encryption
Minimal or no personal data required for use.	Yes	Requires limited data	Requires significant personal data
Vendor specifies data storage location (e.g., Canada).	Clearly stated	Not specified	Unknown or problematic location
Complies with Canadian privacy laws (PIPEDA, FIPPA, etc.).	Confirmed	Requires review	Likely non-compliant
Does the tool collect data about the user (e.g., IP address, usage patterns, user behaviour)?	No sensitive data collected	Unclear in policy	Data collection is extensive or intrusive
Is there transparency about how user data is used and stored?	Yes	Needs further clarification	No transparency

Use-Case Scenarios

For AI tools in education, understanding and managing these risks is crucial. Teachers should ensure that any AI tool or chatbot used in the classroom adheres to privacy laws and collects only the minimum data necessary for its intended purpose. Check these use-case scenarios down below!

A. Using AI Tools with Students

	Consider Using	Needs Clarification	Not Recommended
Can be used without requiring student accounts or personal info.	Yes	Some personal data required	Full accounts or sensitive info required
Offers age- appropriate, inclusive, and unbiased content.	Yes	Requires content review	Inappropriate or biased content
Usage can be monitored to prevent misuse.	Yes	Partial monitoring options	No monitoring tools

B. Lesson Planning

	Consider Using	Needs Clarification	Not Recommended
Generates accurate and relevant content.	Yes	Verify output quality	Produces inaccurate or irrelevant material
Provides citations for generated content.	Yes	Inconsistent citations	No citations provided
Can be used without uploading sensitive personal data.	Yes	Limited sensitive data required	Significant sensitive data required

C. Writing Report Cards or Using Student Data

	Consider Using	Needs Clarification	Not Recommended
Complies with privacy laws (PIPEDA, FIPPA).	Confirmed	Requires view	Likely non-compliant
Accepts anonymized or pseudonymized student data.	Yes	Limited anonymization	No anonymization option
Provides secure options to delete data after use.	Confirmed	Requires manual deletion	No deletion tools

D. Evaluating Student Homework

	Consider Using	Needs Clarification	Not Recommended
Can analyze homework without storing identifiable info.	Confirmed	Unclear storage policy	Stores identifiable data
Provides fair, accurate, and constructive feedback.	Yes	Needs manual verification	Biased or inaccurate feedback
Aligns with grading standards and practices.	Confirmed	Requires adjustments	Misaligned outputs

E. Creating Classroom Materials

	Consider Using	Needs Clarification	Not Recommended
Generates age- appropriate and accurate materials.	Yes	Requires verification	Inappropriate material
Content is customizable and editable for classroom use.	Fully customizable	Limited customization	Rigid content outputs
Avoids copyright or intellectual property concerns.	Confirmed	Unclear licenses	Copyright violations

F. Ethical and Inclusive Use

Evaluating AI tools in education also requires a focus on ethical considerations and inclusivity. These tools should align with established educational values and promote equity for all students and teachers.

	Consider Using	Needs Clarification	Not Recommended
Does the tool address potential biases in its design and outputs?	Confirmed	Unclear or not reviewed	Evidence of bias or discrimination
Is the tool culturally sensitive and inclusive of diverse perspectives?	Yes	Requires review	Excludes or marginalizes groups
Does the tool support equity in access and usability for all students, including those with disabilities	Yes	Limited accessibility	Not accessible

G. Accessibility and Usability

AI tools should be designed with accessibility and usability in mind, ensuring they are equitable for students with diverse needs, including disabilities or language barriers. Teachers should evaluate the following criteria.

	Consider Using	Needs Clarification	Not Recommended
Does the tool include accessibility features such as screen readers or adjustable font sizes?	Yes	Limited features	Not accessible
Is the tool compatible with assistive technologies already in use?	Fully compatible	Partial compatibility	Not compatible
Does the tool offer multilingual support for students and families?	Yes	Limited languages	No multilingual support

H. Continuous Improvement and Feedback

AI tools should be regularly reviewed to ensure they remain effective and aligned with educational goals. Teachers, students, and administrators should have mechanisms to provide feedback and contribute to the ongoing evaluation of these tools.

	Consider Using	Needs Clarification	Not Recommended
Does the school or district have a plan to evaluate the tool’s long-term impact?	Yes	Limited feedback options	No feedback mechanism
Is there a process for regular updates and improvements to the tool?	Yes	Requires review	No update process
Does the tool provide a mechanism for user feedback?	Yes	Requires development	No evaluation plan