National trends indicate that — for most states — AI guidance and standards updates have largely focused on computer science, even though AI’s language-based capabilities make it uniquely relevant to ELA instruction. We elevate opportunities, frameworks, and recommendations for aligning AI literacy skills with Tennessee’s ELA standards, ensuring that students, educators, and leaders can responsibly and effectively use AI tools.
Key Takeaways
- AI integration is needed beyond computer science. Most updates to standards focus on AI as a technological extension of computer science, but Tennessee has an opportunity to lead by embedding AI literacy into core subjects like ELA.
- Proposed recommendations include:
- Identify AI literacy skills and competencies for students and educators
- Align these skills with existing ELA standards
- Update technology standards to explicitly include AI
- Define acceptable AI use in classrooms and creating model instructional use cases