Menlo’s Human-Centered Approach to AI in Education
In an era of rapid innovation and profound possibility, Menlo is meeting this moment with curiosity and intention—encouraging exploration while being thoughtful about technology’s role in our lives and in our students’ learning.
With artificial intelligence opening new frontiers in how we learn, work, and create, we believe what makes us fundamentally human is what will distinguish both us as an institution and our graduates.
Our purpose as a school remains as clear as ever: helping students grow into thoughtful, creative, empathetic, high-character young people ready to positively contribute to the world they’ll inherit. This mission is grounded in what has always mattered most at Menlo: an engaging, relevant, values-driven program defined by joyful learning, meaningful challenge, and a supportive community. That was true at our founding, it is true today, and it will continue to guide us into the future.
We also know the technology in our children’s hands today is the weakest it will ever be. Intelligent machines are becoming more powerful, more personalized, and more embedded in daily life, and education must continue to evolve.
Students who learn to use these tools creatively and ethically will be well-positioned for what’s ahead. Therefore, AI literacy, experimentation, and responsible use are being intentionally woven into our curriculum, alongside the development of the distinctly human qualities that have long been at the heart of a Menlo education. Together, these skill sets will help our students not only navigate a changing world, but also lead it—and make it better.
What does this approach look like in practice?
We encourage students to ask questions, explore ideas, and experiment with new ways to solve problems, create, and innovate with emerging technologies. When learning is engaging and hands-on, students are more likely to take ownership and invest deeply in their growth.
In a world of immediate answers and increasing automation, we help students build a strong academic foundation by iterating, grappling with complex ideas, and tackling challenging questions across disciplines. Through this productive struggle, we aim for them to become resilient, adaptable learners who use technology to expand their capabilities rather than replace their thinking.
As AI lowers barriers to production and makes creation instantaneous, original thought matters more than ever. We help students develop authentic ideas and perspectives that are truly their own—ones they can clearly articulate, stand behind, and proudly carry with them into the world.
The future our children are growing into will require them to pair empathy and diverse perspectives with powerful technologies. We empower them to collaborate, communicate, and co-create with both people and intelligent tools to solve complex problems in thoughtful, human-centered ways.
Because AI can reflect bias, inequity, and inaccuracies, it raises important ethical questions that demand sound human judgment. We emphasize character and integrity in all we do, so students learn to think critically about outputs and use these technologies responsibly and with care.
The heart of a Menlo education has always been human connection—curious, kind students learning alongside dynamic, caring teachers. These relationships spark growth in ways no technology can replace. While students may increasingly rely less on teachers as primary sources of information, educators become even more important as mentors, guides, and coaches, readying students for their futures.
Watch this video to get a sense of how faculty and students are thinking about AI and education at Menlo:
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MENLO SCHOOL Since 1915
