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AI Family Resources

AI Family Resources

Artificial intelligence is becoming part of everyday life, including the tools, apps, websites, and media that families encounter. These resources are designed to help parents and caregivers understand AI, talk with children about responsible use, recognize potential risks, protect privacy, and keep human judgment at the center.

New to artificial intelligence? Start with these recommended resources:

  1. Parents’ Ultimate Guide to Generative AI — Common Sense Media
  1. Day of AI + Common Sense Media Family Toolkit
  1. AI in Education: What Parents and Caregivers Should Know
  1. Understanding Generative AI: A Guide for Parents — NAMLE
  2. Google’s Guardian’s Guide to AI

Explore by Topic

Use the sections below to learn more about AI vocabulary, family conversations, school considerations, privacy and safety, and adult learning resources.

  • Artificial intelligence includes different kinds of tools and systems. These definitions are intended to help families understand common terms they may hear in school, online, or in the news.

    Artificial Intelligence or AI
    Technology that can perform tasks that usually require human thinking, such as recognizing patterns, making predictions, generating text or images, translating language, or recommending information.

    Generative AI
    AI that creates new content, such as text, images, audio, video, computer code, summaries, study questions, or ideas. Chatbots, image generators, and audio generators are common examples.

    Large Language Model or LLM
    A type of AI trained on large amounts of text. It predicts and generates language based on patterns. It can sound very confident, but it does not “know” information the way a person does.

    Chatbot
    A tool that lets users interact with AI through conversation. A chatbot may answer questions, explain ideas, help brainstorm, or generate writing.

    Predictive AI
    AI that uses patterns in data to make predictions or recommendations. Examples include autocomplete, recommendation systems, spam filters, route suggestions, and some learning platforms.

    Algorithm
    A set of steps or rules a computer follows to solve a problem, make a decision, or recommend something.

    Machine Learning
    A type of AI where a computer system improves at a task by finding patterns in data rather than being programmed with every exact rule.

    Hallucination
    When AI generates information that sounds correct but is inaccurate, incomplete, or made up. This is why students and adults should check important information with trusted sources.

    Deepfake
    AI-generated or AI-altered video, image, or audio that can make it look or sound like someone said or did something they did not actually say or do.

    Bias
    When an AI system produces results that may be unfair, inaccurate, or harmful because of the data it was trained on or the way it was designed.

    Prompt
    The question, direction, or information a person gives to an AI tool. The quality of the prompt can affect the usefulness of the response.

    Human in the Loop
    The idea that people should guide, review, question, and take responsibility for AI use. AI can support thinking, but it should not replace human judgment.

  • Practical family conversation starters.

    The Two-Source Rule

    If AI gives a factual answer, check it with at least one other trusted source.

    The Privacy Check

    Do not share names, addresses, phone numbers, passwords, school information, private family details, or photos of others with public AI tools.

    The Human-in-the-Loop Rule

    AI can help brainstorm, draft, summarize, or explain, but a person should review, revise, and take responsibility for the final work.

    The Vibe Check

    If an AI tool says something that feels strange, mean, scary, too personal, or confusing, stop and talk with an adult.

    The “Guess the Next Word” Game

    Show your child how autocomplete predicts words when texting on a phone. Explain that AI works in a similar way: it predicts based on patterns, but that does not mean it always knows the truth.

  • Schools are working to understand how artificial intelligence may affect teaching, learning, privacy, academic integrity, accessibility, and student support. Expectations for AI use may vary depending on the grade level, assignment, teacher directions, and individual student needs. When questions arise, families and students should check with the teacher or school team.

    Norton Public Schools is continuing to review AI use thoughtfully, with attention to privacy, safety, academic integrity, accessibility, and human judgment.

    Student Supports and Accommodations

    Some students may use technology tools, including accessibility features, text-to-speech, speech-to-text, word prediction, translation supports, or other assistive technologies, as part of an IEP, 504 plan, English learner support, or other documented need. These supports should be considered in partnership with the student’s team, family, and educators.

    Students should not be penalized for using approved tools or accommodations that are part of their documented learning plan.

    Questions Families Can Ask

    • What are the expectations for this assignment?
    • Is AI use allowed, limited, or not appropriate?
    • Should students disclose when AI was used?
    • Does my child have documented supports that may include technology or AI-related tools?
    • Who should we contact if we are unsure?

    Simple Reminder

    When in doubt, students and families should always check with the teacher. 

  • AI tools can be useful, but they are not people, friends, counselors, or teachers. Children and teens may need support understanding that AI can sound confident, caring, or knowledgeable while still being inaccurate, biased, or inappropriate.

    Watch for:

    • Sharing personal information
    • Believing AI-generated content without checking it
    • Treating a chatbot like a real friend
    • Relying on AI before trying independently
    • Feeling upset, confused, or pressured by AI-generated content


    Learn More:

  • Families do not need to become AI experts overnight. These resources can help adults build confidence, learn the basics, and better understand the tools students may encounter.

  • Families may wish to create simple expectations for how AI tools are used at home. A family AI agreement can help children understand when AI is helpful, when it is not appropriate, and when they should ask an adult.

    Sample Family AI Agreement

    In our family, we agree to:

    1. Use AI, when appropriate, to support thinking, not replace it.
    2. Check important information with another trusted source.
    3. Never share private information, photos of others, addresses, passwords, or personal details.
    4. Tell an adult if AI says something confusing, upsetting, biased, or inappropriate.
    5. Be honest about when and how AI was used for schoolwork.
    6. Remember that AI is a tool, not a person, friend, or authority.
    7. Keep humans in charge of final decisions.