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Privacy-First Classroom Routines for GenAI

Privacy is not separate from pedagogy. It is part of your duty of care. When you frame it this way, privacy stops being an IT problem and becomes a learning design feature.
Three Rules You Can Say in One Breath
  • No personal data into AI: no student names, addresses, medical information, or identifiable images
  • Anonymise by design: replace names with Student A or B, remove location details, use teacher-written dummy paragraphs
  • If AI helped, say how: one disclosure line: "AI used to generate options; final decisions and evidence are mine"

Teach anonymising like citing sources: it is a skill, not a restriction. Students who learn to anonymise before they analyse are developing a capability that matters beyond the classroom.

The Anonymising Mini-Lesson

A 10-minute lesson that builds the habit before any AI-supported task begins. Run it once at the start of the year and refer back to it throughout.

  • Show a before and after prompt example: one with names and identifying details, one anonymised
  • Students practise converting a short scenario paragraph into Student A or B language
  • Discuss what still feels identifying after anonymising and why
  • Require anonymising on every AI-supported task for one week to build the habit
Primary

Give students a short scenario paragraph with names and a sensitive detail. Ask them to rewrite it into an anonymised version suitable for a tool prompt. Discuss what still feels identifying and why.

Secondary

Teach anonymising as a class skill, like citing sources. Students practise converting real-context text into Student A or B language before any AI-supported task begins. Make it a non-negotiable step, not an optional extra.

Decision Checkpoint

Are students being asked directly or indirectly to put identifiable personal information into any AI tool, and if so, how will you redesign the task to remove that risk?

Governance Reminder

Ask two questions before any AI-supported task: Would I be comfortable if this prompt was read aloud in a staff meeting? Is my class rule aligned with our school authenticity policy and NCEA conditions of assessment?

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