A Conceptual Framework for Ethical Issues and their Relationships in the Use of LLMs in Education: Focusing on the Privacy Dimension

Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) technologies are widely adopted and used by both students and educational institutions that integrate them into their curricula. Large Language Models (LLMs) have become an integral part of student learning. In this context, many ethical problems concerning the sustainable use of LLMs and their impact on learning outcomes arise. This situation leads to the paramount need to systematically investigate a set of ethical criteria to derive the greatest benefit while mitigating associated risks. This paper undertakes an analysis of the existing frameworks and identifies how and why the main ethical concerns are related regarding the deployment of LLMs in educational settings. In this study, we propose a conceptual framework for analyzing and evaluating the relationships between ethical concerns related to the use of LLMs in education. The proposed framework is considered a starting point for comprehensive and measurable ethical aspects that guide institutions and policymakers in mitigating unique risks while exploiting the benefits of LLMs. The findings highlight the need to consider the interconnections among ethical implications to ultimately contribute to the more responsible integration of LLMs in education.