This week, President Trump’s executive order on education aims to boost artificial intelligence (AI) education, starting with young students. The initiative seeks to ensure that America remains a leader in AI. Pittsburgh schools are already taking steps to incorporate AI into classrooms.
The Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU) began exploring the role of AI in education back in 2017. Since then, the AIU has developed national tools to help school districts thoughtfully introduce AI to both teachers and students. The AIU also offers training programs for administrators and educators, equipping them with the skills to teach students about AI and integrate it into their learning experience.
Brian Stamford, a program director at AIU, explains, “By building a foundation for students as early as kindergarten, we can shift them from being passive consumers of AI to active creators of AI technology in the future.” Stamford believes that for students to effectively work with AI in the workplace, it is essential to provide teachers with high-quality, ongoing professional development. “This is new for everyone, and it’s crucial for successfully integrating AI into K-12 education,” he adds.
AI is also being used to help teachers create lesson plans and customize instruction, freeing up time to engage more directly with students.
The executive order encourages collaboration between public and private sectors. In Pittsburgh, the AIU is already partnering with Carnegie Mellon University and other local organizations to integrate AI into education for students from kindergarten through high school.
