MONTH of AI

In a lead up to National AI Literacy Day on March 27th, Piedmont will focus on two vital questions: “What is AI?” and “How do we prepare our students to thrive in an AI-enabled world?”

The focus of this Month of AI is for all of us to gain an understanding of the evolving technology, so we can better navigate the changing landscape: to understand how it influences commerce, communication, medicine, business, the workforce, and education. Along the way we will look for value-adds for your lives, and explore the SEE framework for SAFE, ETHICAL and EFFECTIVE use.

If you have felt that AI has exploded onto the scene, you would be right! Here's a chart that shows how quickly the LLM tool ChatGPT grew to 100 million users, compared with other digital tools

We will be launching a poster contest and a self-paced AI Literacy course next week.

Participants in either will be entered into a drawing for Mr. Green Bubble and Mulberry's gift cards!

Piedmont has partnered with InspiritAI to host an in-person project-based artificial intelligence program in June in Piedmont.

• June 8-18 (9 weekday sessions ) for 3.5 hours each day
• Provide in-depth learning on machine learning, programming in python, ethics and bias within AI.
• Participants will complete a group project applying AI to a discipline like healthcare, astronomy, finance, among others.
• No prior computer science experience is required to participate

If you are interested in participating in this unique opportunity, please fill out this short interest form. The program is offered at a fee of $1600 and is taught by AI practitioners and graduate students from Stanford and MIT. Feel free to peruse the program brochure for more information about curriculum, schedule, projects, teaching team, and more! Scholarships available.

The district is looking for feedback on a draft instructional technology plan. There is a presentation to the school board on Wednesday night on the plan!

The main tenet is a focus on using technology strategically and purposefully to support student learning. The plan recognizes the changing landscape our students' face with the increase of Artificial Intelligence, and the increased digital load in their lives. The plan aims to develop AI-readiness, including critical thinking about AI, and its ethical and safe use, while recognizing students need a foundation of academic knowledge and productive struggle and cognitive load is necessary to develop minds. And you need the soft skills of collaboration, communication and self-regulation to thrive also.

Major activities to be undertaken in the next years include:

• a comprehensive audit of technology use, including discussions with the community about appropriate supports at home and school.
• a centralized vetting process for edtech tools and programs, to keep use aligned with priorities and safeguard student data
• the development of AI-readiness scope and sequence, including critical-thinking frameworks, fundamental concepts, and ethics.
• data dashboards and warehousing systems to provide schools and leadership with more actionable information