Key points:
The new commission, comprised of policymakers, education leaders, business leaders and education stakeholders from 16 states, is addressing the role of AI in education from kindergarten through post-secondary programs, with a focus on AI technology readiness and policy development.
The Southern Regional Education Board's (SREB) Committee on Artificial Intelligence in Education is chaired by South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster and co-chaired by Marshall University (WV) President and former Intuit CEO Brad D. Smith.
The committee reviewed research and industry data and consulted education experts as it developed recommendations for Southern states to use AI in teaching and learning, develop AI-related policies, and prepare students for careers in AI. You will hear it.
After the group's first meeting, the top priority for committee members was how to carefully infuse AI into K-12 and higher education curricula in a way that prepares students for success primarily in careers that require AI skills and know-how. It doesn't exist yet.
“Now is not the time for Rosie the robot to take our jobs. Jobs will be created. “The question is, will we have the workforce to fill those jobs?” SREB Chairman Dr. Stephen Pruitt said during a meeting to discuss the group's first meeting.
The committee's first meeting included discussions on what exactly AI looks like at different levels of education and how to integrate AI in ways that are useful and actionable for students, educators, and stakeholders.
“We have a blueprint for how to implement this technology into different areas of education and what types of relationships it creates with the workforce. We have a plan and we are ready to move forward with it,” said Calvin McNeil, Advanced Placement (AP) instructor in computer science at the University of Florida.
Attracting industry members is a critical part of the success of the committee, which outlines what AI technology proficiency looks like at the K-12 and higher education levels.
“One of the best things about education and legislation is to be actively involved in the industry and know what they want, so we can go back to schools and know what to teach,” said Charles Appleby. He is senior advisor to the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce and the Workforce Development Coordinating Board.
Ultimately, the group's common goal is to ensure students keep up with an increasingly rapidly evolving workforce centered around AI knowledge.
“Everyone here recognizes the importance and key characteristics of this technology from different perspectives. Our mission is to balance risk and opportunity in the education space,” said Senator Katie Fry Hester of Maryland. “When we think about education, AI allows us to personalize instruction to individual students, improve everyday tasks, and look at large data sets to identify trends. But we do all of this very carefully and want to make sure the AI we use is fair and unbiased. We want our student data to remain safe. We want AI to enhance teachers’ jobs, not replace them. “I think we’re the perfect group to do that.”
“We are preparing our institutions to prepare people for a changed world. They say about 60% of our jobs will be affected by AI. So how can we use that technology to better prepare our students for a very different world than the one we live in now?” said Jim Purcell, executive director of the Alabama Higher Education Commission.
“We will bring together industry, students and parents and leverage the capabilities that AI provides. AI is a unique tool that can be used to enhance skills for the workplace. Students ultimately end up in a position to meet the demands of the job market,” said Stanton Greenawalt, professor of cybersecurity at Horry-Georgetown Technical College in South Carolina.
Ensuring that all students have access to AI skills development will play a critical role in equity and access if the AI skills framework reaches students across all pathways, especially as education is key to economic mobility.
“In Florida, we developed a framework for learning standards through our CTE department. In this department, students will learn high-level concepts and become employable as we talk about the new Industrial Revolution 4.0, where jobs have yet to be created,” said Nancy Ruzycki, associate professor of education and director of the University of Florida's Undergraduate Laboratory. “So what are the skills they need to learn, and how can we help them prepare? Helping people get involved in the AI pipeline creates equity and accessibility for all students.”
Find a full list of committee members here.