The Harrison School District is proud to highlight Kevin Kaeser, our 7-12 Technology Facilitator, who was recently invited to speak at the University of Arkansas NorthArk as part of their teacher training series.
Kevin hosted a relaxed, hands-on workshop called "AI in the Classroom" at the Bradley Center. He spent the day helping about 20 teachers from around our region learn how to navigate the fast-moving world of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The big focus of the day was showing teachers how to use these powerful new tools in a way that is safe, legal, and helpful for students. Here is a quick look at what Kevin shared:
Comparing the Tools: Kevin looked at popular AI programs like Google Gemini, Claude, and ChatGPT to show teachers which ones are safe for school use and why.
Keeping Student Information Private: Safety comes first! Kevin shared a clear, three-step plan to help teachers use AI legally while keeping students' personal information completely safe and private.
Keeping Kids Thinking: A big question with AI is making sure students don't just let the computer do all the work. Kevin introduced a fun, Stranger Things-themed guide called the "Five Roles Framework." It uses the popular show's theme to teach students how to use AI as a helper without losing their own problem-solving skills.
Saving Time for Teachers: Kevin showed how AI can help teachers with their daily workloads, like coming up with lesson plans, creating classroom games, and finding different ways to help students who learn at different paces.
The most exciting part of the presentation was when Kevin gave the audience a live look at a tool called Google NotebookLM.
Instead of just talking about it, Kevin showed the teachers that he actually used NotebookLM to research, brainstorm, and create the Stranger Things poster for the presentation itself! By showing how he built the lesson using the exact technology he was teaching, Kevin gave the visiting educators a perfect real-world example of how the tool works.
We are so proud to have leaders like Kevin Kaeser helping our district—and our neighbors—stay ahead of the curve. Way to go, Kevin!