AI Integration in Okeechobee County Schools
OKEECHOBEE COUNTY, Fla. — As the new school year approaches, students in Okeechobee County will witness a significant shift in their curriculum with the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI). Superintendent Dylan Tedders revealed that a new career and technical program focusing on AI will be launched.
"They'll learn about the principles of AI and then the applications of AI," Tedders stated. "If that resource is there, why wouldn't you use it? Why would you need to start from scratch on anything?"
The program is designed to teach students the basics of AI, including evaluating, developing, and designing systems that utilize this technology. Additionally, students will learn to write code for robots. “We’re literally preparing students right now for jobs we can't even comprehend,” Tedders added.
Upon completion, students will earn industry certifications in Microsoft’s Azure AI, information technology, and cybersecurity. Tedders believes this will enhance productivity and efficiency, potentially improving the quality of student submissions.
The curriculum includes courses like Artificial Intelligence in the World, Applications of AI, and Foundations of Machine Learning. Tedders emphasizes that technology should serve as a starting point to inspire deeper investigation.
“If I just copy and paste that into a report, yeah, that is going to be 100% plagiarism. And we have programs that can detect that. But if I want to use that as like a brainstorming session, a way to get ideas, that's the way our teachers are learning how to incorporate that into classrooms," he explained.
Palm Beach County's AI Initiative
The School District of Palm Beach County is also embracing AI by expanding the use of a tool called Khanmigo. According to Superintendent Michael Burke, Khanmigo, an AI-powered personal tutor and teaching assistant, will be rolled out to all middle and high schools.
"We’re rolling out Khanmigo in a big way to all our middle and high schools," Burke said.
Khanmigo doesn't provide direct answers but guides students and teachers to find solutions and strategies. It was initially used in nine schools across Palm Beach County last year.
"It's very safe. It operates within the Khan Academy content," Burke assured.
Using insights from last year’s implementation, Burke aims to enhance the program's efficiency this year. "One of the biggest challenges was we rolled it out mid school year. So it kind of came as a little bit of an afterthought to the teachers and principals. But it was a good testing ground," he noted.
With AI making its way into local schools, the future of education is undoubtedly set to change, promising to equip students with skills that are increasingly relevant in today's technology-driven world.
