(Editor's Note: This is the third and final story in a series of articles about USD 428's plans to safely implement artificial intelligence programs into Great Bend Schools).
By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
You can't teach if you don't know. Kindric Castro, chair of USD 428's AI Integration Team, told the board of education on Monday that's why educating the educators about new artificial intelligence programs is vital to using the technology safely and responsibly. So far, he said, the teachers are invested.
"I ran a few classes at the high school a couple months ago - this was for teachers to use (Google) Gemini - and the rooms were packed full in every single class I did," he said. "Immediately after the session was over, they were already asking when we would have another session. Our staff wants to use AI and wants to learn more. We just need to provide the resources to do so."
Currently, Great Bend teachers have access to Google Workspace, which includes the AI program Gemini. But AI software comes in many forms, and the technology is new and ever-changing, so many educators are unsure how to use it. Castro said the Integration Team's goal is to educate teachers across all buildings in the district, then get the technology into classrooms for students to use.
"Currently, we have no student policy, and that's okay," he said. "Our students aren't using AI right now. That's what we're doing this for. But this means that student access and classroom expectations still remain undefined, which limits instructional use."
More educational sessions are planned at Great Bend High School and Great Bend Middle School in the coming weeks. Assistant Superintendent Joann Blevins said the district is just starting the process of filling the Integration Team so it can begin looking at which guidelines and guardrails need to be in place, and which AI tools will be serve the district.