“This semester alone, we will probably hand out between 120 and 150 credits in apprenticeship credits,” St.Vincent notes.“That’s a lot of students out in the workforce while also doing a school semester. Our approach appeals to three major learning areas: trades, academics, and those who don’t yet know what they’ll do.” APPROACHING THE AI REVOLUTION “AI is new and that’s something we’re certainly dealing with as we go on,” says St. Vincent. “We’re trying to advocate that it is a valuable tool, but obviously it can’t do your high school diploma for you. It is certainly valuable in some areas. We offer several computer science classes along with computer programming and desktop publishing. Some of these are based on essential tools that probably everyone should have as we move through the 21st century.” The division ensures technology accessibility through various hardware solutions, addressing potential economic disparities among its student population. “Here at the high school, we have specialized computer labs for specific courses. After that, we have many laptops that are available to students and teachers,” St. Vincent explains. “Often teachers will book them out so the entire class can use them, but we always have some for students who need to complete assignments. We’re certainly not lacking in that area.” At the governance level, the division is developing comprehensive policies around artificial intelligence, informed by recent professional development and research. Campbell indicates this work extends beyond merely restricting AI to actively incorporating it as an educational tool. “We were at a conference a couple weeks ago with sessions on the impact of artificial intelligence in education globally,” he notes. “It starts with establishing good policy around how to ethically use AI. We must look at things differently now, including how teachers plan lessons, how teachers assess students. At the same time, AI helps some students who need support, creating a level playing 7 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 06 SEINE RIVER SCHOOL DIVISION
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