Colorado Schools Set to Implement AI This Year

All around Colorado, school is getting kicked off for another year after another long summer.

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As it would turn out, Coloradans are some of the most educated people in the entire country. 

Out of all the school districts here in Colorado, the one that Niche.com considers to be the best in the entire state is Cheyenne Mountain School District No. 12.

However, each new school year can bring a new change to how we educate the next generation.

For one, a lot of people have been talking about the switch to a four day school schedule, with some Colorado schools actually adopting the new model.

While the system certainly has its proponents, critics mention that this system could inconvenience parents who need to work on that day off. 

However, another change is coming to Colorado schools, and will likely fundamentally change how students are taught for the foreseeable future.

Artificial Intelligence to be Used in Colorado Schools

According to Axios, multiple different schools across Colorado have been chosen to use a new artificial intelligence assistant for the fall.

The assistant is called “PowerBuddy”, and essentially works as a tutor that students can use at almost any time.

The first school that got a chance to use the new assistant was Colorado Springs’ District 11, who had a chance to work with the system back in the fall of 2023.

This school year, more schools will be getting involved in using AI as a way to assist teachers.

The Debate on AI in Classrooms

Over the past few years, the prospect of artificial intelligence and what it could mean for the future have been hotly debated.

As it would turn out, Colorado was not only the first state to propose legislation that limits AI, but the first state to actually pass it. 

However, the use of AI in education has also been touchy as well.

For one, the teachers that have used PowerBuddy have found that it can give students immediate feedback on problems when they are not in the classroom. It also has been used to help teachers in creating learning plans for each particular student. 

On the other hand, it is fair to say that from what we have gathered, the current state of AI at large has not been great for education.

Studies have shown that students who use generative AI programs like ChatGPT do significantly worse on math exams. 

However, AI that is tailored directly towards tutoring students have been shown to help.