Building an AI Classroom Policy With Your Students, Not For Them

It’s the beginning of school. Your students file in with Chromebooks under their arms, buzzing about ChatGPT, AI art, and the apps they swear will “help” with homework.

One student raises a hand before you’ve even taken attendance:

“So… are we allowed to use AI in this class?”

You know the answer matters. Not just for compliance, but for trust. Will your AI policy be a list of rules …or an invitation to shared responsibility?

Here’s how to co-create an AI policy that builds student ownership, critical thinking, and ethical decision-making.

Step 1: Name What Matters Most

Before talking about ChatGPT or AI tools, talk about learning values. These are the human skills that last longer than any app:

• Curiosity – AI helps us ask better questions, not skip the work.
• Integrity – We’re honest about when and how we use AI.
• Creative problem-solving – AI is for brainstorming, not bypassing thinking.
• Collaboration – We share ideas and learn together.

When students see the why behind your approach, they’re more likely to see AI as a partner for learning, not a shortcut.

Step 2: Ask Students How They Want to Use AI

Invite an open class conversation:

“Where could AI make learning easier or more fun?”

“What would feel unfair or dishonest if AI did it for you?”

“How should we credit AI if we use it to help?”

Giving students specific scenarios can also add to this discussion.

Classroom Snapshot
Last year, one teacher discovered that students mostly wanted to use AI for idea generation and grammar checks—not to cheat. Giving them space to share first turned “policy” into partnership.

Step 3: Build the Agreement Together

Co-create a simple, visible AI class agreement with three key sections:

• Allowed Uses – Brainstorming, research checks, getting feedback
• Not Allowed – Copying AI-generated work or avoiding original thinking
• Acknowledgement – Students note when AI helped and how

Below is a ready-to-use template to guide this conversation:

Download the Our Class AI Agreement Template

This process isn’t just about rules—it’s a chance to practice human skills like reflection, communication, and ethical decision-making. (If you’re an IB teacher, you’ll notice this also reinforces traits like being principled and reflective.)

Want to guide this conversation with a global perspective? I created this IB Guiding Principles for AI Use poster to help students connect our AI agreement to the IB Learner Profile traits like being principled, reflective, and open-minded. I believe questions like these give students just enough pause to think about what they are using AI for and what they might lose or gain along the way. Feel free to remix this however you like!

Step 4: Keep It Transparent and Flexible

Post your class AI agreement somewhere visible. Revisit it together after the first month, mid-semester and whenever new AI tools arise that might be important to discuss as a class. This way students learn that responsible AI use is a living conversation, not a one-time rule.

Step 5: Focus on Human Skills First

AI will change. Human skills won’t.

Your AI agreement should keep students practicing critical thinking, ethical decision-making, collaboration and communication… When these skills lead, students become thoughtful tech users, not just rule followers.

Day 1 Quick-Start Guide for Teachers

If you only have 15 minutes to start your AI policy conversation:

1. Ask: “How should AI be used responsibly in our class?”
2. Brainstorm: Make 3 lists together—Allowed, Not Allowed, and Ask First.
3. Agree: Draft a 3-bullet class AI policy on the board. Revisit next week.

Why This Approach Works

By centering student agency, transparency, and communication, this approach:

• Builds trust between teachers and students
• Turns AI from a risk into a responsibility
• Makes your policy a shared agreement, not a rulebook

Students quickly learn that AI isn’t about shortcuts—it’s about choices. And when they own those choices, they’re far more likely to use AI thoughtfully and ethically.

Reflection for Teachers

• How will you invite your students to co-create your AI guidelines this year?
• Which human skill do you most want them to practice first?

Note on AI Use:
I used ChatGPT to help me organize and refine my thoughts for this blog. I provided the ideas, notes, and direction, and the AI tool helped me pull it all together. I reviewed and edited everything to make sure it reflects my voice, stories, emojis ?, and the message I want to share.