How Schools Use AI Content Filtering for Healthier Learning

In 2024, Merrimack College released a report that hit a little too close to home for us in education. It laid bare what most teachers and IT teams already feel every day: the nonstop digital noise in classrooms is taking a real toll and needs to stop. Between juggling learning apps, monitoring online behavior, and keeping students on task, burnout is constant.

The report also surmised that cutting back on social media access during class hours was one of the top steps linked to better student well-being.

But that's easier said than done.

Locking up phones isn’t the magic fix. Students can move those same habits to Chromebooks and school devices. Over 95% of students in Australia can slip past keyword- and URL-based filters with ease. Teachers end up stuck in an endless loop of trying to outsmart their own students, wasting energy that should go toward actual teaching.

That's until they switched to AI content filtering. In this article, we’ll break down how this new method changes that dynamic: from punishment and lockdowns, to creating a digital environment where both teachers and students can finally breathe again.

95% of K12 students in Australia can slip past keyword- and URL- based filters

Why Isn't Traditional K12 Content Filtering Working Anymore?

Conventional web filters, designed for an internet landscape of the past, have not kept up with the fast-paced digital environment students encounter today. Traditional filters typically rely on URL and keyword lists, an approach that is both inflexible and easily outsmarted by tech-savvy students. And as students devise new methods to bypass these filters (using proxy sites, VPNs, or other tools) the burden of monitoring their online activity often falls on teachers and IT administrators.

Consequently, rather than focusing on teaching, educators are increasingly tasked with “policing” students' online behavior, resulting in teacher burnout and frustration.

Also read: How Digital Distractions and Teacher Oversight Affect K12 Learning

Further, K12 IT teams are frequently locked in a reactive cycle. They are constantly updating blocked site lists, patching security gaps, and managing device compliance in an attempt to stay ahead of student circumvention efforts. As a result, both IT administrators and teachers are stretched thin, unable to effectively support a learning environment where students can engage positively with technology.

Adaptive AI Content Filtering: Smarter Than All-or-Nothing Web Filters

An all-or-nothing approach to internet access is no longer viable for schools. Today’s educators need tools that adapt to the dynamic nature of the internet, allowing students the freedom to explore and learn while keeping them safe from harmful content. Enter AI-driven solutions like Deledao’s ActiveInsights™ suite, which offers an innovative answer to these challenges by utilizing adaptive, real-time filtering technology.

Unlike traditional filters, Deledao’s AI-enabled platform doesn’t rely on static lists. Instead, it actively analyzes content in real-time, distinguishing between safe and inappropriate material, even when new or unsanctioned sites emerge. Deledao’s approach isn’t punitive or restrictive, but rather it promotes responsible digital behavior by giving students access to needed educational content in a secure environment.

Designed to foster self-regulation by allowing students to navigate the internet with guidance rather than total restriction, Deledao's unique approach to filtering aligns well with today’s emphasis on digital literacy and personal responsibility. 

Consider the comments of Michael Robbins, Chief Technology Officer for Westminster USD in California: 

“The Deledao filter guided our students back to learning. We saw a lot of attempts to access blocked content in the beginning, but students gradually stopped trying when they figured out that they wouldn't be able to bypass the filter. I didn't expect this positive change in student behavior, but it is great to see!”

How Deledao Empowers IT Teams and Educators

Deledao’s ActiveInsights™ suite significantly reduces the burden on IT teams by streamlining workflows and automating routine tasks. Using InstantAI technology, the platform continually updates itself, identifying and blocking new proxy sites in real time removing the constant need for manual list maintenance, saving IT administrators hours every week.

It's helped to Kyle Calderwood, Technology Coordinator at Tabernacle Township School District in New Jersey, recapture time he’d been spending JUST on managing proxy sites alone.

“We kept all the features we had with our previous filter product and gained more with Deledao so it was a no brainer. Besides blurring inappropriate images with AI, Deledao developed ProxyGuard™ to detect and block proxy sites like Interstellar in real time. The proxy detection feature alone has saved me 10-15% of my weekly time spent manually adding sites to the blocklist. That’s 4-6 hours I get back every week!”

For teachers, Deledao’s classroom management tools shift the focus back to education. Rather than constantly monitoring students’ screens, teachers can leverage Deledao’s tools to manage internet access seamlessly, empowering teachers to reclaim valuable classroom time and allowing them to engage with students and focus on instruction rather than digital oversight.

Building a Healthier Learning Environment with AI-Driven Filtering

The need for solutions like Deledao is clear - today's students require tools that guide them toward healthy digital habits without restricting their access to valuable educational resources. Meanwhile, educators need technology that works for them, not against them, allowing them to teach in a balanced, productive environment.

Deledao’s AI-driven platform is paving the way for a more adaptive and effective approach to digital learning, one that respects the educational mission while keeping students safe. For K12 administrators and IT leaders seeking to maximize their EdTech investments, Deledao offers a smart, sustainable solution.

Take the Next Step with Deledao

Deledao’s ActiveInsights™ suite offers schools the flexibility, efficiency, and peace of mind needed to manage digital learning in today’s complex landscape. Don’t just take our word for it; experience the difference Deledao’s technology can make in your district.

Reach out to Deledao to schedule a demo and see how this cutting-edge solution can transform your school’s digital learning environment for the better.