At Schuylerville Central School District, teachers and students are exploring how artificial intelligence can be a helpful tool to support learning, not replace it. Over the past six months, educators have experimented with AI in lessons and activities, culminating in a dedicated conference day to learn about these powerful tools.
Elementary School
Fourth-grade students in Pete Carner's class utilize Gemini AI for collaborative projects like creating quizzes, poetry, and plays based on a short story. The AI assists with idea generation and content outlining, while students are responsible for refinement and verification. A key learning moment occurred when students identified an AI error, highlighting the importance of critical thinking and responsible engagement with technology from an early age.
Middle School
Middle school educators are integrating various AI tools to enhance instruction. Rebecca Nesbitt (social studies) uses MagicSchool for vocabulary translation, while Kerri Brennan's English Language Arts students use an AI idea generator for narrative writing, feedback, and proofreading. Technology teacher Mark Belden teaches digital literacy. Students like Natalie Maisano view AI as a valuable aid for brainstorming and understanding lessons, emphasizing its role in improvement rather than providing direct answers.
High School
High school English teacher Anna Flores leverages AI to help students with creative writing prompts and to practice grammar by identifying errors in AI-generated paragraphs. For argumentative essays, AI assists in generating potential counterclaims. Science teacher Tom Robinson uses AI to help students brainstorm project ideas and is developing an AI study bot for anatomy to guide them toward answers without simply providing them, promoting deeper conceptual understanding.
Professional Development Day
A dedicated Superintendent’s Conference Day on March 13 brought together K-12 teachers for breakout sessions focused on the meaningful integration of artificial intelligence and other digital tools into classroom instruction. This professional development initiative, coordinated by Director of Curriculum and Instruction Amy Steele-Whitney, aligns with the district's overarching goal for the 2025-26 school year to enhance teaching and student engagement through thoughtful AI use.
