Almost 200 educators from eight counties in Northwest Florida invested part of their summer in discovering how to integrate artificial intelligence and robotics into their classrooms—immersing themselves in innovative tools and instructional techniques via Florida State University’s InSPIRE program and the Florida Center for Research in STEM (FCR-STEM).
Supported by Triumph Gulf Coast, the weeklong summer sessions were provided at no expense to educators and concentrated on incorporating AI tools, robotics, and STEM approaches into K–12 education. This initiative contributes to InSPIRE’s wider goal of enhancing the region’s workforce by preparing educators with the knowledge to ready students for in-demand careers.
“During my travels across the area attending these teacher training events, I’ve noticed an abundance of enthusiasm and dedication from the educators here,” stated InSPIRE Executive Director Drew Allen. “They could be pursuing their own interests during this time off, yet they choose to engage with us—not just to further their own development but also to enhance their teaching practices. That’s very uplifting and a multitude of educators have been highly open to refining their skills and curriculum to meet the future job market’s requirements.”
InSPIRE is committed to promoting regional economic growth in Northwest Florida through workforce training, practical research, and innovation. The institute emphasizes high-speed aerodynamics, advanced manufacturing, and fostering a robust STEM workforce.
Carrie Meyers and Jim Reynolds, co-directors of STEM Outreach at FCR-STEM, are steering the Learning Systems Institute’s (LSI) involvement in the InSPIRE project.
For the second consecutive summer, they have collaborated with their team to create extensive sessions of coursework and professional development curricula for educators in Coastal Northwest Florida.
“It is evident to me that Jim, Carrie, and the LSI team are the specialists equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to build a workforce,” noted Allen. “They are undoubtedly the channel through which we will achieve our workforce objectives to transform the NWFL region. They are doing a commendable job of encouraging teachers to consider more advanced topics—grasping the essence of AI and the significance of robotics—and how these elements can be integrated into their distinct classrooms. It’s been remarkably inspiring.”
The “Introduction to Robotics in the Classroom” course provided educators across Coastal Northwest Florida with the essential understanding and practical experience necessary to incorporate robotics, AI, and pre-engineering concepts into their teaching environments.
“I immensely appreciated my week with InSPIRE,” expressed Tricia Coady from Gulf Breeze Middle School. “I had previously experimented with some robotics in my classes, but through this program, I developed a significantly deeper comprehension of how robotics function. I’m thrilled to bring what I’ve learned back to my gifted middle school students and offer them more profound, hands-on experiences to motivate the upcoming generation of ‘STEM-ists.’”
The two AI courses explored the core principles of generative AI, prompt engineering, natural language processing, and foundational machine learning, also addressing bias and ethical considerations associated with AI along with integrating literacy and STEM best practices. One course was tailored for elementary educators while the other was aimed at secondary instruction.
“Professional development through InSPIRE allowed me to grow as an educator while also empowering others to gain confidence in exploring AI with their students,” stated Anna Prindle from Holley-Navarre Intermediate School. “We weren’t merely facilitating technology learning; we were demonstrating the mindset of curiosity, adaptability, and resilience that we wish for our students to embrace in the future.”
Another significant aspect of InSPIRE is their educational outreach scheme. This innovative initiative is launching new workforce training and educational programs focusing on advanced aerospace and manufacturing sectors. These initiatives aim to equip teachers with the insights and skills necessary to “InSPIRE” their students to be prepared for lucrative job opportunities in these expanding industries, thereby ensuring a lasting impact on the community’s economic and educational sphere.
“I’m contributing to initiate a movement,” stated Samantha Woltz from East Milton Elementary. “By enabling educators to introduce curiosity, AI, and genuine engineering into classrooms using familiar tools like PowerPoint, we’re bridging the divide between education and careers in crucial industries.”
LSI aims to lead in creating groundbreaking educational solutions that seamlessly merge theory with practical application. Through advanced research, we develop industry-leading approaches and implementation strategies to enhance systematic learning at all levels and in various environments. For over fifty years, LSI has been dedicated to inducing measurable improvements in the performance of both individuals and organizations.
For further details, visit lsi.fsu.edu
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