Description
This course is designed to introduce administrators to the fundamentals of artificial intelligence (AI) and its transformative potential in education. Participants will explore key AI concepts, ethical considerations, and practical strategies for leveraging AI to enhance school operations, improve student outcomes, and support teachers in their instructional practice. This course is designed specifically for K-12 administrators, with a focus on using AI to streamline administrative tasks, facilitate data-driven decision-making, and promote innovation within school settings. Through practical applications and real-world examples, administrators will gain insights into implementing AI tools to improve efficiency, personalize learning experiences, and drive educational success across their schools. The course enriches administrators by enhancing professional knowledge, digital literacy, and strategic planning skills, while also fostering opportunities for reflective practice. By engaging in the course’s interactive components, participants will explore AI’s possibilities and leave with actionable strategies for immediate application in supporting teachers, students, and overall school goals.
Course Outline
Week 1: Student Orientation
Week 2: Introduction: Essentials and Why/How to Use AI
Week 3: Educator Function #1: Managing Content
Week 4: Educator Function #2: Fostering Student Engagement
Week 5: Educator Function #3: Meeting Students’ Instructional Needs
Week 6: Educator Function #4: Assessing Student Learning
Week 7: Educator Function #5: Providing Effective Feedback
Prerequisites
This is an intermediate level course for teachers, literacy coaches, curriculum specialists, professional development specialists, or other school personnel. Participants are expected to have regular access to computers with Internet access. In addition, participants should be proficient with browsing the Internet, uploading and downloading content, navigating to computer files, and with using word processing software, email, and attachments.
Required Materials
The Artificial Intelligence Playbook: Time-Saving Tools for Teachers that Make Learning More Engaging First Edition by Meghan Hargrave, Douglas Fisher, and Nancy Frey is a required professional book for this class. The text can be ordered in Kindle or spiral-bound formats for less than $35.00 on Amazon. All materials in this course are the property of the South Carolina Department of Education Office of VirtualSC PD. All course materials needed/required for the course, other than the book mentioned above, are available online.