"How can we learn and use AI at the same time?": Participatory Design of GenAI with High School Students

Abstract

As generative AI (GenAI) emerges as a transformative force, clear understanding of high school students’ perspectives is essential for GenAI’s meaningful integration in high school environments. In this work, we draw insights from a participatory design workshop where we engaged 17 high school students—a group rarely involved in prior research in this area—through the design of novel GenAI tools and school policies addressing their key concerns. Students identified challenges and developed solutions outlining their ideal features in GenAI tools, appropriate school use, and regulations. These centered around the problem spaces of combating bias & misinformation, tackling crime & plagiarism, preventing over-reliance on AI, and handling false accusations of academic dishonesty. Building on our participants’ underrepresented perspectives, we propose new guidelines targeted at educational technology designers for development of GenAI technologies in high schools. We also argue for further incorporation of student voices in development of AI policies in their schools.