The Rise of AI: Transforming Education for the Future
Asked to write an introduction to this article, AI was happy to oblige. “Artificial Intelligence (AI) has long been the subject of futuristic speculation but, today, it is no longer a distant dream—it is a rapidly evolving reality. In the field of education, AI is reshaping the way students learn, teachers instruct, and institutions operate, making learning more personalized, accessible, and efficient than ever before.” Good job!
Today, Carlsbad Unified is grappling with new AI technologies, looking at the challenges that need to be addressed and establishing the principles that will guide us into the future. How will AI impact our instructional programs? What training and support can we offer our teachers? What guardrails need to be in place? What AI tools are appropriate for use by our teachers? Our students?
CUSD’s Instructional Services team takes this new responsibility seriously. They are working in collaboration with the Information Technology Department, the Tech Advisory Committee, the teachers union, Student Ambassadors, and other stakeholders to refine how the power of AI should be leveraged, and how students and educational programs should be protected.
To that end, the team started with a vision: To prepare students to succeed in a future shaped by artificial intelligence. By responsibly using AI in the classroom, we aim to spark curiosity, encourage problem-solving, and build confidence for lifelong learning. We want every student to utilize artificial intelligence to explore new ideas, work together, and gain the skills they will need to thrive in a world that is constantly changing.
“AI is here,” says Director of Assessment & Technology Robert Allen. “Teachers are already piloting it, and students are using it. We can't stop the river from flowing, but we can guide where it goes. But we need to be using the right tools to protect privacy. We need to provide teachers with the training and resources that will allow them to explore the new AI world. We also need to prepare students to use these powerful new tools to support their learning, not to replace it. And we must communicate with our families about how AI is being used, and will be used, as we go forward.”
“Many students have already discovered the power of AI,” reports Instructional Technology Specialist (TOSA) Callie Fleury. “We held a Student Ambassador AI Showcase at Sage Creek High School where students from different grades and various subject areas demonstrated how they use AI. The students held an insightful discussion about the difference between what constitutes ‘borrowing/copying’ from AI and what is a student’s original work.”
This year a cohort of teachers is delving into potential instructional uses of Artificial Intelligence, and the areas of concern that must be addressed. Here are some comments about their AI projects:
“I am a Spanish teacher. We have a new instructional materials adoption. I am using AI to create a syllabus that I can share with all of my department colleagues to assist them with a smooth transition.”
“I find that using AI in the elementary classroom can make learning fun, exciting, and meaningful.”
“I am learning how to use Snorkl with my English learners. It is a powerful tool that can give students individual feedback on their spoken English.”
“As I write curriculum I like to use AI to help me organize my thoughts and pull together creative ideas.”
“We are using the AP Test plagiarism standards and AI policy to discuss what kind of guardrails we should write for our students. We want to help the kids use AI correctly. We want them to ask, ‘Am I using AI as a learning tool, or is AI doing the work for me?’”
After spring break CUSD will be launching some new AI tools and training, with appropriate guardrails.
Our summary, generated once again by AI: “As we stand on the brink of an AI-driven educational revolution, one thing is certain: AI is not here to replace teachers but to empower them. By embracing AI responsibly, we can unlock new possibilities in education and create a future where students and intelligent systems work hand in hand to shape a smarter, more inclusive world.”
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Carlsbad Unified School District
Email: cusd@carlsbadusd.net
Website: https://www.carlsbadusd.net
Location: 6225 El Camino Real, Carlsbad, CA, USA
Phone: 760-331-5000