Carson City early adopter teachers ‘dipping toes’ with AI

The Carson City School Board approved its generative artificial intelligence policy after a second reading during its July 23 meeting.

The collaborative effort between the district’s information technology and educational services staff is the result of data input and feedback from staff, students and Nevada Department of Education officials to implement guidance for curriculum adoption, practices or interaction in the classroom, district Director of Innovation and Technology Raymond Medeiros informed board members.

Superintendent Andrew Feuling added it is possible the high-level statement would be likely to return to the board in the coming year as changes or updates become necessary.

“This is our jumping-off point for consideration,” Feuling noted. “We’re working on this but expecting to offer some kind of professional learning around this, not required at this point. We already have some early adopters at this point. They’re running with it, but for those who are interested in dipping their toes in the water at this point.”

With new AI platforms being introduced on a regular basis, it would be important to gauge educators’ interests, he added. Feuling answered board questions about any recent formal integration into district curriculum, for which some teachers already have assumed or explored practices as they have felt comfortable or applied within their classes.

“What we have is our early adopter teachers, and there are certain teachers that are on the bleeding edge of everything in technology,” Feuling said. “Several of them have already found ways to help support what they do. Some have found ways to, say, indirectly have kids interact with AI.”

Generative AI currently is not available to students through CCSD’s network, so the policy will help answer questions about best practices on responsibility in classrooms, he said.

“How do we provide this with the right guardrails so that our teachers have the autonomy to decide how they want to use it in their classroom or if they want to use it in their classroom, so it’s in places but not necessarily by our direction yet,” Feuling said.

Trustee Mike Walker said providing an introduction or component that would be required for teachers, especially those who might be reluctant to incorporate it into their curriculum, might be beneficial.

“I think it’s the exposure in seeing what is really available and how it could transform some of those menial tasks that teachers create on their own,” he said. “So at some point, ‘optional’ is great for some of those advanced things, but I think at some component (we should have) that introduction for all of our teachers because there are incredible tools that truly will save them time and increase productivity.”

The first reading of the policy came to the Carson City School Board on June 25. Other Nevada school districts are still considering their AI policies.

The Carson City board passed its policy in a 6-0 motion, with Trustee Matt Clapham absent.