LRS Opening Day Convocation
The cutting-edge technology of artificial intelligence (or A.I., as it is more commonly known), took center stage at the Lake Ridge New Tech Convocation for the opening of the 2023-24 school year.
Superintendent Dr. Sharon Johnson-Shirley introduced the faculty and staff to Matt Miller, an Indiana native and former Spanish teacher turned education A.I. guru. Miller is the author of several books on the subject and has become a popular speaker touring the United States and several countries, sharing insights on how to use the burgeoning technology in the classroom.
Miller explained that part of his mission is to help teachers overcome the notion that artificial intelligence is an evil, self-functioning entity bent on the destruction of humankind—as seen in popular movies like the 1984 classic sci-fi film The Terminator and the 1999 thriller The Matrix.
“It has a bad rap,” Miller said. “Part of it is because it is so new, and part of it is because people have different agendas. They want to argue it will replace teachers. I want to help teachers connect the dots in different ways A.I. can help them in designing their curriculums and in classroom instruction. I started using A.I. in 2022 when ChatGPT came out, and as a former teacher, I realized how useful it can be.”
Dr. Shirley welcomes the idea of A.I. as a classroom tool and would like to see teachers using it to assist in instruction.
“I brought Matt in because he is very knowledgeable, he knows what he is doing, and he has done the research,” said Dr. Shirley. “He has written several books on the subject. I want my staff to be ahead of the curve in the use of this new technology. Our students are already using it. That is why our teachers have to have knowledge of how it works.”
Author and lecturer Matt Miller explains how artificial intelligence can be used as an effective classroom teaching tool.
(L to R) Artificial Intelligence Prognosticator Matt Miller shares a moment with LRS Superintendent Dr. Sharon Johnson-Shirley (sporting future shades) after his address to staff on the future of A.I. in the classroom.