Extending school chatbot policies beyond the classroom: Safe-use tips for students

Chatbots are fast becoming part of children's digital lives. From getting homework help and brainstorming ideas for creative projects to revising for exams, these tools are woven into the way young people learn, play and explore the world around them.

Schools have a unique opportunity to turn students’ curiosity into new capabilities with chatbots. By introducing school chatbot policies in a structured, guided way, educators can model how to use artificial intelligence (AI) thoughtfully and responsibly. With the right frameworks in place, schools not only safeguard AI use in the classroom, they help students develop healthy digital habits they can apply at home too.

Let’s explore how schools can harness chatbots to support learning and still ensure that students stay safe using the technology in the classroom and at home.

Use school chatbots together in the classroom

One of the most effective ways to teach safe AI usage is to start using it together with your students. This shared approach helps normalise the technology while allowing you to demonstrate responsible, purposeful use from the beginning.

Begin by modelling how to write good prompts and questions for chatbots. Show students how a specific, detailed prompt produces more useful, accurate answers than a vague one. Then, discuss how to evaluate the responses produced by the chatbot – what sounds correct, what needs checking, and what biases or errors could appear. This guided practice helps demystify AI tools and gives students a sense of agency rather than overreliance.

As confidence grows, assign in-class tasks that students can complete independently with the aid of the chatbot. These might include:

• Drafting the first paragraph of a story
• Generating research questions for a project
• Summarising a text

Afterwards, review the work as a class, discussing what students noticed, what worked well and what surprised them. Allow them to share if the chatbot got something wrong and when human insight was still needed. This reflective process reinforces critical thinking, which is the foundation of safe AI use and lifelong digital literacy.

Teach data privacy and safe AI habits

An essential part of responsible chatbot use is helping students understand how to protect their personal information. Many children assume that because a chatbot feels conversational and friendly, it’s private – but that is not the case.

Start by clearly explaining that students should never share personal details such as their full name, home address or phone number via a chatbot. Reinforce that chatbot conversations are stored by systems and the data entered isn’t completely anonymous or confidential. This doesn’t need to be a frightening message – it’s about building awareness and confidence in AI for students, so they are able to work safely and responsibly.

Ask students what types of information they think are safe to share. For example, is it OK to tell a chatbot your pet’s name or mention your school? Encourage them to consider the privacy of others as well – what if a family member uses the same device or account at home?

Framing the conversation in this way helps students connect digital safety with everyday behaviour, so they develop a sense of responsibility when using AI in school or outside of school.

Create healthy chatbot timetables

Once students understand safe AI measures, it’s worth helping them think about when and how often to use it. Just like social media or gaming, moderation matters. Chatbots can be brilliant support for learning, but too much screen time or reliance on them for quick answers can limit deeper thinking and creativity.

Have an open discussion about what a ‘good’ amount of chatbot use looks like. For example, using AI to clarify homework questions, practise vocabulary or brainstorm project ideas can be really helpful. However, spending hours scrolling through conversations or relying on a chatbot to complete all tasks can be less healthy, so it’s about finding the correct balance.

Have students create their own chatbot timetables. These can outline when it’s appropriate to turn to AI – for instance, during homework hours – and when it’s best to switch off, such as before bed or late at night. Encourage them to consider how using a chatbot fits into their daily routine, planning out time for rest, physical activity and offline hobbies.

Show students how this is a wellbeing exercise rather than a restriction – it’s not about saying ‘no’, but learning when and why to say ‘yes’.

Chat about chatbot experiences

Open communication is key to making AI a positive part of school and everyday life. Encourage students to talk about their experiences with chatbots, especially when something feels confusing, uncomfortable or doesn’t make sense. Let them know they can always come to you if they encounter an odd or inappropriate response; this will help them feel supported rather than judged.

Regularly checking in about students’ chatbot experiences doesn’t have to feel formal or intrusive. A quick classroom chat, a reflective journal task or even a ‘show and tell’ of interesting prompts can create space for discussion. By showing genuine curiosity about what students are learning and how they are using AI, you reinforce that they’re not in a secret digital world they navigate alone.

It can also help to share your own experiences with AI in school. Maybe you’ve used school chatbots to draft lesson ideas, or you’ve had to refine a prompt various times before getting the desired result. Being open about both the helpful and frustrating aspects of chatbots normalises the learning process for everyone. Students will quickly see that even adults are still figuring out how to use these tools wisely, and that’s perfectly OK.

Clever chatbot use makes clever students

Chatbots can be an excellent life and learning resource – they just need to be used thoughtfully and with guidance. By using school chatbots together, discussing privacy and limits, and keeping open lines of communication, you can help students build safe digital habits. Moreover, you help students gain valuable skills for the future, plus know how to maximise the potential of chatbots, while minimising any harmful risks.

Further reading

Learn more about responsible AI application in, and outside of the classroom. Read 7 AI tools to explore with your students in 2025, Exam preparation: how your students can use AI for studying and 5 ways to discourage your students from cheating with AI.