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Schools are starting to teach AI literacy. For many, that means helping kids see chatbots' flaws

Schools are starting to teach AI literacy. For many, that means helping kids see chatbots' flaws

AI chatbots have become the bane of teachers everywhere

Springfield Public Schools Introduces First AI Handbook for Classroom Use

Springfield Public Schools Introduces First AI Handbook for Classroom Use

Springfield Public Schools (SPS) in Missouri has released its inaugural artificial intelligence (AI) handbook, a 36-page guide designed to provide students and staff with clear instructions on the appropriate and safe use of AI in educational settings. Rather than banning AI tools, the district aims to integrate them as supportive resources. Bruce Douglas, SPS chief information officer, stated that the handbook's primary goal is to offer clarity on when and how to use AI effectively within the educational environment. The guide outlines SPS's AI literacy framework, which is built upon four pillars emphasizing AI as a supplementary tool while prioritizing human judgment and safety. Dr. Lloyd Smith, a computer science professor at Missouri State University, supports this initiative, noting the importance of students learning to use AI for their future careers, while also stressing that AI should not replace critical thinking.

Study Reveals AI's Influence on Ethical Judgments, Raising Concerns for Older Adults

Study Reveals AI's Influence on Ethical Judgments, Raising Concerns for Older Adults

A recent study conducted by researchers led by Kouhei Masumoto, a professor of psychology at Kobe University, has found that over 30% of individuals shifted their stance on ethical dilemmas after being presented with AI-generated counterarguments. The study involved posing variations of the classic trolley problem to participants and then providing them with artificial intelligence-generated rebuttals for the two choices they could make. A notable finding was that older adults demonstrated a greater susceptibility to being swayed by these AI-generated arguments. This research highlights the significant persuasive power of AI in influencing human moral judgments, particularly in situations where there are no clear-cut answers. The implications of this influence are particularly relevant for societies with aging populations, such as Japan, where the potential for persuasive technologies to impact older demographics is a growing concern.

Springfield Kiley Prep to Pilot AI-Driven Classroom Amidst Teachers' Union Opposition

Springfield Kiley Prep to Pilot AI-Driven Classroom Amidst Teachers' Union Opposition

Kiley Prep, a middle school in Springfield, Massachusetts, is set to become the first public school in the state to pilot an artificial intelligence-powered education model developed by Alpha School. This for-profit company claims its AI model helps students learn faster than traditional methods. The pilot program is scheduled to commence this fall in a single sixth-grade class, with potential for expansion to additional classrooms. The Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership (SEZP), which oversees Kiley Prep, has the authority to make operational decisions for its schools and has notified the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education about the partnership, though departmental approval is not required. The teachers' union, the Springfield Education Association, has filed a cease and desist letter, threatening legal action and expressing concerns about the program's efficacy, data privacy, and potential impact on teacher roles. Alpha School, which uses 'guides' instead of traditional e...

Charleston Memory Care Facility Under New Management Addresses Past Allegations of Neglect and Abuse

Charleston Memory Care Facility Under New Management Addresses Past Allegations of Neglect and Abuse

Ashley Gardens Alzheimer’s Special Care Center in Charleston, South Carolina, has faced numerous lawsuits, failed state inspections, and allegations of neglect and abuse over several years. These issues include instances of residents experiencing falls, bedbugs, and even escaping the facility. One notable case involved Sandra Garcia, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and, according to her daughter Rebecca Grieff, was found covered in fire ants in 2020, leading to her death less than three weeks later. Another lawsuit details a resident, John Sease, sustaining a spiral fracture and multiple fractured ribs, with concerns raised by a doctor that the injuries were inconsistent with a fall. Despite multiple failed inspections by the Department of Public Health (DPH) citing issues like unadministered medications, missing medical records, and unchecked residents, the DPH has not taken enforcement action against Ashley Gardens. However, new management, RDO Management, took over in June 2024, with Executive Direct...

National Association of Realtors Identifies Top U.S. Commercial Real Estate Markets for Future Demand

National Association of Realtors Identifies Top U.S. Commercial Real Estate Markets for Future Demand

National Association of Realtors Identifies Top U.S. Commercial Real Estate Markets for Future Demand

AI Literacy Crucial for Students to Maximize Learning Potential, Close Equity Gaps

AI Literacy Crucial for Students to Maximize Learning Potential, Close Equity Gaps

A recent artificial intelligence pilot program in Chicago, involving 22 students aged 11 to 17, revealed that while young people are eager to use AI as a thinking partner, they often lack the necessary literacy to do so effectively. Many students, particularly those from underrepresented communities or with interrupted schooling, struggle to obtain explanations at their grade level or find AI tools harder to use than traditional study methods. The pilot demonstrated that when AI is designed to prompt critical thinking, such as through Socratic questioning, students retain significantly more information than when AI merely summarizes content. For instance, students engaging in Socratic Q&A scored an average of 83% on a quiz a day later, compared to 67% for those who received summaries. This highlights a critical 'AI literacy gap,' where students with tech-savvy parents are learning effective AI use, while others are left to experiment without guidance, potentially perpetuating educational inequities.

AI and VR in Classrooms Prompt Calls for New Guardrails for Students

AI and VR in Classrooms Prompt Calls for New Guardrails for Students

As artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) increasingly integrate into American classrooms, educators and parents are grappling with the challenge of teaching students to use these powerful technologies responsibly. Adam Mangana, CEO of Optima, which operates the world's first virtual reality school, argues against banning these technologies. Instead, he advocates for establishing proper guardrails to ensure students use them effectively and avoid 'passive consumption.' Mangana suggests that AI can act as a personalized tutor or Socratic guide, challenging students to develop their own answers, rather than simply doing their homework for them. He also highlights VR's potential to create immersive learning experiences, such as virtually visiting historical sites, to increase student engagement while maintaining academic structure.

Common Sense Education Launches Digital Literacy and Well-Being Curriculum for High School Students

Common Sense Education Launches Digital Literacy and Well-Being Curriculum for High School Students

Common Sense Education has introduced a new Digital Literacy & Well-Being curriculum specifically designed for high school students in grades 9-12. This free, research-backed framework aims to equip students with essential digital literacy skills to navigate the complexities of the modern digital landscape. The curriculum comprises over 25 lessons that address contemporary digital challenges, including AI literacy, the impact of social media, cyberbullying, screen time management, and understanding one's digital footprint. It also focuses on developing offline skills necessary to manage these online issues effectively. The initiative provides teachers with a comprehensive resource to either introduce these concepts for the first time or update existing digital education programs, ensuring that students are prepared for the evolving digital world.

Study Reveals Negative Impact of Thoughtless AI Use on College Students' Self-Directed Learning

Study Reveals Negative Impact of Thoughtless AI Use on College Students' Self-Directed Learning

A study conducted by Hui Zhao and Huijuan Gu of Zhoukou Normal University has found that college students who thoughtlessly use artificial intelligence (AI) tools, such as generative AI programs, experience declines in their ability to learn independently. Thoughtless use is defined as blindly adopting machine-generated text without critical evaluation, verification, or deep understanding. The research, published in Scientific Reports, indicates that this habit is associated with a weaker belief in students' own capabilities (self-efficacy) and a reduced motivation to learn. The study involved 487 undergraduate students from four universities in Henan Province, China, who completed an online survey assessing their study habits, academic self-efficacy, learning motivation, and capacity for self-directed learning. The analysis revealed a strong association between thoughtless AI use and lower levels of self-directed learning, with students reporting worse self-management skills and reduced cognitive engageme...

Charleston Man Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Fatal Boating Crash

Charleston Man Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Fatal Boating Crash

A Charleston County judge has sentenced Nicholas Francesco Zuccala Jr. to three years in prison for a fatal boating crash that occurred on the Cooper River in October 2022. Zuccala pleaded guilty to reckless homicide by operation of a boat, just days before his case was scheduled to go to trial. The incident involved a collision between a recreational boat, operated by Zuccala, and the dredge vessel Savannah, near a waterfront concert. The crash resulted in multiple people being ejected into the water, and 27-year-old Macy Sweatman sustained severe head injuries, leading to her death on November 7, 2022. Investigators determined that Zuccala admitted to drinking alcohol and using cocaine before the crash, and his blood-alcohol level was estimated to be above South Carolina's legal limit. He was also not wearing a required kill switch at the time of the collision.

Westchester County Journal News

New York ranks among the best states for women's equality

New York ranks among the best states for women's equality

New York ranked No. 11 nationally for women's equality, according to a new study examining workplace, education, health and political disparities.