Overview
St. Pius X is a PK-8 Catholic school located in the suburbs of Albany, New York. The partnership with St. Pius X began after connecting with the school at the Diocese of Albany professional development event in November 2023.
Program Goals
Increase teacher knowledge of AI and it’s implications
Encourage the use of AI tools by teachers
Integrate AI tools into classroom practices
Matt Rucinksi, Principal
Leadership expressed enthusiasm about implementing the Integrate AI program last year, which offered educators a chance to explore the practical applications of AI. Although not all teachers were initially prepared to incorporate AI in their teaching, the focus remained on providing ongoing exposure and support to guarantee sustained success.
The Challenge:
St. Pius X faced the challenge of enhancing the AI knowledge and skills of its teaching staff. Educators initially expressed limited knowledge of AI and its tools, raising concerns about their ability to effectively integrate AI into their classrooms or even for their personal use.
The Solution:
Eduscape’s Integrate AI Program with St. Pius consisted of three targeted workshops for educators throughout the year and a workshop for middle school students.
Initially, teachers sought to understand AI's practical applications and expressed concerns about academic integrity.
As the sessions progressed, they became more comfortable with AI tools, identifying practical uses in lesson planning, rubric generation, and prompt creation.
Results
Throughout the school year, there has been remarkable progress in staff members, showcasing a substantial improvement in AI understanding and confidence across all levels.
"[The instructor] did an excellent job connecting AI to preschool!! It was a valuable use of my time." - E. Blake, PK Teacher
"I discovered new and practical methods to incorporate AI into my teaching." - C. Spain, Social Studies Teacher
What's Next?
Ongoing workshops with educators aim to delve deeper into the practical application of AI across different grade levels and explore incorporating AI into alternative assessment methods.
- AI in the Classroom
- Rethinking Assessment