Tonight's Operation Education: Local school district embracing Artificial Intelligence

by Kristin Bien,WSBT22OperationEducationReporter

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WSBT) — Artificial Intelligence is here to stay.

A local school district is embracing it on all levels.

Tonight, Operation Education is investigating the ways Career Academy Network of Public Schools is using AI and what they have learned about its impact in the classroom.

Career Academy Network of Public Schools is a public charter school system based in South bend.

It serves students from kindergarten through 12th grade.

CANOPS is now using AI in the classroom, behind the scenes, and in its curriculum to improve student outcomes, reduce teacher workload and improve communication with families.

"Because AI is not going away and we wanted to make sure that not only are our staff empowered to use it appropriately, but also that our students understand the appropriate uses and non-uses for it," said David Ebersol, Director of Career and Technical Education for the Career Academy Network of Public Schools.

The district formed an AI task force with members from each of its five school buildings and the central office to help drive the use of AI through the network.

It developed guidelines and guidelines for staff and teachers, including curating AI tools to help them accomplish tasks.

"Everybody gets into education to work with kid, and help kids, and make a difference. If this can give us a little bit more time towards that, I think we're moving in the right direction," said Brett Harring, Director of Online Learning for Career Academy Network of Public Schools.

Harring is also an AI coach helping middle and high school teachers and staff incorporate and expand their use of AI.

At the network-wide level, leaders say it is using AI to "rewire" how it operates behind the scenes, including examining operational efficiencies.

CANOPS has also launched an AI/Machine Learning Pathway to prepare high school students for real world workforce applications that will likely become part of many future opportunities no matter their career goals.

"I'm trying to teach these students that how can we take this and make the world a better place in more ways than one," said Spencer Noah, Lead AI and Mathematics Instructor at Career Academy High School.

Noah says that includes teaching ethical and responsible AI Use.

Operation Education is digging deeper into how Career Academy Network of Public Schools is using AI to show you exactly how it is saving time for teachers, being used to the classroom and impacting students and families.

Watch Operation Education on Mondays and Wednesdays on WSBT 22 at 6 p.m.