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Amanda Bickerstaff and Charleston County School District Launch AI Literacy Initiative to Prevent Students from Outsourcing Thinking

The Charleston County School District is implementing a new AI literacy strategy to ensure students use artificial intelligence as a thinking partner rather than a crutch. Amanda Bickerstaff, founder and CEO of AI For Education, led the effort to help the district draft policies and train teachers and students on the safe, ethical use of technology. Educators are moving away from blanket bans toward classroom experimentation. By showing students the shortcomings of generative AI, such as its tendency to "hallucinate" or fabricate information, schools aim to foster critical thinking. For example, a map demo by Bickerstaff showed students how AI can produce bizarre errors, like spelling Mali as "Mail." Research suggests that while AI can improve homework scores, it can also lead to lower exam scores if students rely on it too heavily. To bridge this gap, the district is providing training to help students verify factual information and understand data privacy. The goal is to move beyond simple engagement to ensure students actually retain information after the tool is removed.

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