BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) – In an age marked by technological advances, the world of education is rapidly changing. What kids need to learn, how they learn and what tools they use has changed dramatically over just the last few years. This is in large part due to the rise of artificial intelligence.
Every school has their own unique AI policies, some ban it outright, some heavily restrict it, but Bowling Green Independent Schools are fully embracing AI. They are tapping in to how AI can benefit their students education and provide learning opportunities that were never possible before.
Megan Marcum, the District Digital Coach for Bowling Green Independent Schools, said that their school system was very quick to adopt AI.
“Our teachers were pretty quick to adopt the opportunities of AI, so it’s been really interesting to see the lack of resistance, the immediate recognition at the possibilities that this gives,” said Marcum.
Marcum says because of that philosophy and open mindedness, their teachers have seen AI deployed with great success. Students and Teachers at Bowling Green Independent Schools are permitted to use AI within a set of parameters specifically designed for each.
Teachers are encouraged to use AI in any way that will enhance a lesson, as long as the AI is vetted by Marcum and the technology department. Students can use AI tools in any capacity their teacher allows.
Marcum says the implementation of AI has given students the opportunity to learn in ways that were never possible before.
“We’ve seen students be given a bot that’s been trained to take on the personality of a historic figure so they can interact with that historic figure in a way that they never could before,” said Marcum. “They can talk about perspectives and decision making, or take on the personality of a book character and talk about themes and character development and things like that.”
Marcum said another part of AI cool to see is age is thrown out the window for this type of technology. The technology is easy to use and is so user friendly that older, long-tenured teachers can use it just as easy as a second grader could.
“Surprisingly, the adoption of technology and specifically AI, does not fall along age lines, said Marcum. ”We have evenly spread adoption of AI across all age levels and experience levels. I’ve got 25 year veteran teachers that were interested in it from the start, and I’ve got first-year teachers that have the same interest.”
Marcum said the same is true for the students. They have juniors and seniors in high school learning about AI in preparation of using it in college and ultimately their jobs one day. Bowling Green Independent Schools also deploy various forms of AI at the elementary school level, with the youngest being second grade.
“The youngest example that comes to mind would be second grade,” said Marcum. “Some of our second graders are using a form of AI that will listen to them read and practice fluency and comprehension and help correct them along the way. It is in preparation of doing that with a teacher, so it becomes another touchpoint and practice point for that student.”
Marcum acknowledged, while AI is a great tool, it can also be misused. Rather than installing a big-name AI detection system isn’t always reliable, they take a teacher-centered approach to addressing improper use of AI.
“We’ve got a few different tools that teachers can run on an assignment that a student has turned in and get those multiple data points and outputs,” said Marcum. “You combine that with the teacher’s observations and knowledge of the student and their abilities, and we just think if you have those multiple data points, if they all are saying the same consistent thing, that’s helpful when you pull that student in for a discussion or have to call that parent in.”
Marcum says while the endless possibilities of AI are exciting, it’s important to remember that the goal is the education of students.
“I would tell anyone who’s looking to use AI to first always go back to your instructional goal,” said Marcum. “What is the learning outcome? What are students supposed to be able to do? We’re all about using the right tool to accomplish the right goal.”
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