Colorado schools go all in on AI this fall
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Artificial intelligence is top of mind for Colorado educators as the new school year begins, prompting some to overhaul their classes to embrace the super-smart software.
Why it matters: AI has made cheating easier, but advocates see its unprecedented potential to positively reshape learning and teaching.
The latest: This month, the Colorado Education Initiative released a roadmap to help local school districts integrate AI into policies and curricula, giving students a "competitive edge" in the transformative tech.
- The group also urged state-level organizations to help districts quickly learn from each other.
State of play: Numerous schools are experimenting with AI in the classroom this fall. Colorado Springs' District 11, for example, was picked as one of a dozen schools nationwide to beta test an AI assistant called PowerBuddy, KKTV reports.
- The tool helps teachers create homework and test questions for various grades and reading levels, guides students when they're stuck, and offers interactive feedback.
- Douglas County is piloting Khanmigo across 18 schools. The AI acts as a personalized tutor, helping students sharpen writing skills and solve math problems. It can also communicate in their native language.
The other side: While optimists envision a personal tutor for every student, AI-driven learning still faces hurdles, Axios' Megan Morrone writes.
- For instance, high school students who use generative AI to prepare for math exams perform worse on tests than those who don't, a new study shows.
- Critics worry that students will become overly reliant on AI, losing their ability to think critically and problem-solve.
Zoom in: Some districts are taking AI on the road.
- Aspen is using AI-powered dashcams to improve bus safety by monitoring traffic, weather and vehicle maintenance issues and reporting unsafe driving.
- Colorado Springs' District 11 buses are testing a tool that optimizes routes based on the number and locations of students.
The intrigue: Denver Public Schools — Colorado's largest school district — has been cautious in adopting AI.
- DPS has restricted ChatGPT access via district emails and discourages its use due to data privacy concerns.
What we're watching: Denver's school district is exploring programs equipped with guardrails and safety features for potential future AI integration, the Denver Post reports.