Approach to Artificial Intelligence

Merion Mercy Academy Artificial Intelligence Approach

Learning to leverage AI effectively and ethically is a modern literacy.
At Merion Mercy Academy, we believe students must be prepared to navigate—and shape—the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence.

Our approach emphasizes not just technical skills, but also forward-thinking collaboration, clear communication, creativity, and responsible digital citizenship.

Teaching Digital Agility

We partner with students to develop the skills needed to harness AI as a powerful accelerator of learning—while also helping them avoid the temptation to let AI bypass the productive struggle that deep learning requires. Our comprehensive AI policy reflects our “yes/and” approach: yes to innovation and exploration, and a firm commitment to the integrity of the learning process.

Classroom Spotlight: AI as a Math Tutor

Individualized and Immediate Feedback

Using Flint, an educational AI platform, students in Ms. Montague's math course use "Sparky" (Flint's AI robot) to look at mistakes on their tests or homework and figure out where they went wrong. The resource provides a summary of what was learned and recommends what to study next. "I can also see their chats, so if several students are asking about the same problem, I know I need to address it," says Ms. Montague. "Most importantly," she adds, "Sparky walks them through problem solving step-by-step without giving them the answers."

Instilling Educational Honesty

With the goal that all students will be confident learners and good citizens of Merion and larger communities, MMA students complete an annual AI fluency course. The purpose of this course is to deepen their responsibility for their own learning, to learn responsible and ethical use of AI, and to demonstrate integrity in their work with peers, teachers, and staff.

Proper Use

Improper Use

Academic Integrity Code

Merion Mercy Academy’s Academic Integrity Code emphasizes trust, honesty, accountability, and respect as essential to learning and community life. Students are expected to take responsibility for their own work, demonstrating honesty in both classroom and online settings, with the clear expectation that all submitted work must be their own.

Generative AI may only be used with teacher permission, and students are accountable for any work completed on their behalf by others. Upholding this code is a shared responsibility among students, teachers, and parents/caregivers.

Understanding Our Impact

Equally important to learning how to use AI is understanding its broader impact. At Merion Mercy Academy, students explore issues such as combating misinformation, safeguarding data and privacy, and considering the environmental costs of technology. This thoughtful approach ensures they not only use AI effectively, but also responsibly.

Combatting Misinformation

AI can generate deepfakes, fabricated news, and persuasive content at an unprecedented scale. Developers and users alike must put safeguards in place to prevent deceptive or harmful uses, particularly in political and social contexts.

At Merion Mercy Academy, we empower students to think critically, evaluate sources, and uphold truth in the digital world—skills that align with our values of integrity, justice, and responsible citizenship.

Environmental Impact

It's important to understand the environmental costs of emerging technologies like AI. Training large AI models consumes significant energy and resources. Ethical AI development should factor in sustainability, using efficient architectures and renewable energy sources when possible.

By helping students recognize the environmental footprint of AI, we prepare them to ask important questions and to be leaders who seek solutions that balance progress with care for creation.

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