LYNN — Superintendent of Schools Dr. Evonne Alvarez will join the conversation about artificial intelligence in education next week when she heads to Denver for the three-day 2024 Magnet Schools of America Summer Symposium.
Dr. Alvarez was asked to participate in a panel titled “How Education Leaders are Thinking about AI” with Colorado Springs District 11 Superintendent Michael Gaal and Aurora Public Schools Superintendent Michael Giles Jr.
“They specifically invited me to moderate a conversation between superintendents and also share some experiences that I have in putting together artificial-intelligence programs for students,” Dr. Alvarez said.
The symposium will engage educators in discussions about data analytics, ethical concerns surrounding AI, how AI can meet the personalized learning needs of students, and future trends in technology, according to the symposium’s website.
Dr. Alvarez said that what she learns at the symposium will inform how the district enhances its STEM programming.
She added it is critical to discuss the topics that will be addressed at the symposium because research shows the majority of people are not taught to understand data science.
“When we talk about preparing our students for the world that they’re going to live in 10 years from now, it definitely includes making sure that they understand what components of artificial intelligence they’re going to be faced with,” Dr. Alvarez said.
She noted the keynote speaker of the symposium will be Code.org CEO Hadi Partovi, and said that she wants to bring programs like Code.org, a nonprofit that seeks to enhance access to computer science in schools, to the district. She said that starting in preschool, some students are building BeatBots, which is a form of coding.
“Teaching coding as an early language to students is critical,” Dr. Alvarez said.
She added the school district is working toward eventually teaching coding languages such as C++, Python, and Java in its middle-school and high-school curriculums.
Dr. Alvarez said STEM careers require discipline from an early age and emphasized that it is critical for the district to start implementing STEM into its curriculums so students can become proficient.
“Data science is the way of the future, and so we would not be servicing our students if we didn’t look at how we can effectively use data science (and) artificial intelligence in education,” she added.
Dr. Alvarez said that because 77% of the district’s K-12 students are English language learners, it is important to understand how AI can enhance their English literacy.
She added AI can “easily support the acquisition of learning” because students are directly interacting with a software that is teaching them a language.
Dr. Alvarez said educators need to stop thinking of AI as something learners will “somehow become dependent on,” and instead view it as a tool that will help them reach their full potential.
She said in light of concerns about AI, people need to remember that robots do not have emotion. She gave the example of analyzing an author’s purpose in an English language arts class, saying that a robot can provide “a quick and easy response” but an educator can help the student understand the emotion and meaning of the text.
“It’s our job as educators to teach students how to use (artificial intelligence) ethically and responsibly,” Dr. Alvarez.
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