Bay District School makes moves to implement AI in the classroom
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – On April 23, President Trump signed an executive order for school districts to start using AI.
But Bay District school officials were prepared for this transition. They'd already formed a task force to begin the process well before the announcement.
'We just wanted to get ahead of the game,' Instructional Tech. & Media Resources Supervisor Susan Tierney said.
The AI task force, made up of teachers and administrators, set out to test different educational platforms.
'We gave our committee members several tasks to do without a whole lot of guidance. And they completed those tasks with three different products, and ultimately, unanimously, it was decided that Magic School AI would be the product that we chose,' Tierney said.
Magic School AI provides educators and, eventually, Bay District school students with access to over 80 AI-powered tools.
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It will help teachers generate lesson plans, rubrics, and craft parent communications.
Tierney said the task force felt Magic School was user-friendly and intuitive. Once educators become well-versed, there will be a roll-out process.
'It will be a year-long process. So we're going to start at the teacher level and really train teachers in understanding what AI is. All of the good and the bad that is AI and then eventually we will roll that down to students. So with the Magic School, teachers, will have control over what AI tools they can select for their students to use. So it'll make them feel more comfortable with AI and having their students use those tools,' Tierney explained.
Tierney said teachers will still maintain control over their implementation of the product into their curriculum.
Bay District School Board members approved a one-year contract to try out the platform.
The total cost for the trial will be $88,000, funded by half-cent sales tax. Tierney feels the long-term impacts will be worth it.
'We want to make sure that our students are ready for careers that, like I said, don't exist currently right now. And so we want to be prepared for that,' Tierney added.
Some people are suspicious of AI. But school district officials said Magic School AI prioritizes data security and privacy, with strict measures to protect student and staff information.
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