Explore the ethical use of AI in ways that uphold cultural values, learner rights, and trust in education.
Using AI responsibly starts with the right questions
AI can be a powerful educational tool — but like any powerful tool, it comes with risks. Who owns the data we input? Can AI be biased? How do we ensure we’re protecting learners while still exploring what AI can offer? This page helps you navigate the ethical landscape of AI in education.
Why ethics matters in AI-enabled education
What do we mean by ethics?
Ethics is about what’s right, fair, and safe — especially when power, data, or decision-making is involved. In education, ethics shapes how we build trust and uphold the mana of learners.
Why it matters for AI
AI tools are trained on massive datasets, often without cultural context. They can:
- Repeat or amplify harmful bias
- Make decisions we don’t fully understand (“black box” models)
- Store and process learner data outside Aotearoa
Our values give us a compass
Rather than assuming one shared set of values, start by asking:
| “What values guide me, my teaching, and my organisation’s decisions about technology?” |
Many TEOs in Aotearoa draw on kaupapa Māori principles and institutional frameworks. For example, Ako Aotearoa was guided by:
- Whanaungatanga — Relationships and connectedness
- Manaakitanga — Respect and care for others
- Whakamanatanga — Uplifting the mana of learners
- Māramatanga — Clarity and understanding
- Pūmautanga — Integrity and excellence
| Reflective Prompt: “Would I feel comfortable if this AI tool made a decision about me — or my learners — without context or consent?” |
Common questions educators are asking
As AI enters classrooms and admin systems, educators across Aotearoa are asking:
- Can I safely use AI with student data?
- How do I explain AI limitations to learners?
- What if an AI tool gives biased, offensive, or inaccurate output?
These concerns are real — and worth slowing down for. Critical oversight and clear boundaries matter.
Start with trust and transparency
Ethical AI use isn’t just about policies. It’s about relationships — with your learners, your organisation, and the wider community. Building trust means being open about what AI is, what it isn’t, and how it should be used.
Steps you can take now:
- Avoid pasting private student data into public AI tools
- Talk to your students about how AI works (and what it gets wrong)
- Explore tools with better privacy settings or institutional controls
Educators have a powerful role to play in shaping a culture of ethical curiosity and critical engagement.
Key ethical principles for AI in education
| Principle | What it means in practice |
| Transparency | Make it clear when and how AI is used |
| Fairness | Don’t let AI reinforce existing bias |
| Accountability | Educators retain responsibility — not the algorithm |
| Data Sovereignty | Honour where and how learner data is stored or used |
| Agency | Let learners choose how they interact with AI tools |
These principles draw from both global frameworks (like UNESCO) and local guidance, including Te Mana Raraunga, NZQA, and kaupapa Māori values. They aim to balance safety, fairness, and autonomy — especially for Māori and Pacific learners.
| Reflective prompt: Do these principles align with how we use AI in our organisation — or are there others we should name? |
Aotearoa lens
In Aotearoa, ethical practice also means upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi, supporting Māori data sovereignty, and ensuring learners — especially Māori and Pacific — have the right to understand, opt in, question, and critique.
Example:
If using Turnitin or Grammarly, clarify:
- What’s uploaded?
- Where is it stored?
- Who sees it?
Common ethical dilemmas (Scenarios)
These scenarios are based on real questions and challenges raised by educators across Aotearoa. They’re not exhaustive — but they offer a starting point for reflection and kōrero.
| You might ask: What other dilemmas are arising in your context — and how are you navigating them? |
- Student uses ChatGPT to reword a paragraph. Is that support or plagiarism?
Consider context, intent, and whether attribution was offered. Did they learn, or shortcut? - AI tool generates quiz questions — but reinforces gender or cultural bias.
Test outputs before use. Invite student critique as part of the task. - An AI-powered app stores learner writing offshore.
Check privacy settings. Can data be anonymised or processed locally?
To guide discussion, try asking:
- Who benefits?
- Who is left out?
- What would a learner say?
| Reflective Tool: Include a short ethics checklist or disclosure for each tool or task. |
Resources to explore and use
Ethical Guidelines + Tools
Global + Local Frameworks
- UNESCO – Recommendation on the Ethics of AI
- Jisc – AI Empowering Inclusive Education
- EDUCAUSE – Redesigning Assessment with Generative AI
This guide was part of a series, created in 2025 by Ako Aotearoa, designed to help educators explore AI in education — safely, ethically, and in ways that reflect our values in Aotearoa.
Each guide offers practical steps, real examples, and reflective tools to support your journey. Whether you’re just starting or deepening your practice, these resources are here to support your next steps — practically and purposefully.
Links were correct at the time of publish but will not be checked or updated in the future.