This week, some students got a jump start on the artificial intelligence program with a summer training session.
Thirty students participated in a “prompt-a-thon” at the Hickory Metro Convention Center Aug. 4 and 5.
Students explored the features of generative AI by designing programs that could help them, their peers or the community.
Some teams of students designed a program that could help students manage daily schedules. Another team designed a chatbot that would help people learn what they could recycle and how much they could get for turning the recyclable goods in for money.
A third team designed a chatbot to help students stay focused, with responses answering prompts in the style of "The Lion King" characters Timon and Pumbaa.
Marty Sharpe, chief technology officer for Catawba County Schools, said the prompt-a-thon was done in collaboration with AI for Education.
According to a press release from AI for Education, the organization partnered with Catawba County Schools for a three-year program to implement generative AI in all 28 of the county system’s schools.
“The goal of the initiative is to build community-wide AI literacy (students, teachers, leaders and caregivers), develop and test GenAI tools to enhance instruction and learning, and prepare students for an AI-driven future,” the press release said.
Sharpe said the prompt-a-thon was a step toward achieving those goals. Sharpe said the students in the summer program had a wide range of experience with technology and AI programs.
“It’s all about trying to work together, collaborate as a team, and think of a problem they have that they’d like to address,” Sharpe said.
During the two-day session, Sharpe said he and other facilitators talked about what generative AI is and ethical usage. Then students began experimenting with creating AI programs using an app called Playlab. The app allowed the students to create AI chatbots.
He said the school system created an AI literacy class for staff last year that focused on teaching responsible use of AI. Sharpe said the school system will roll out a program for high schoolers this fall.
“It’s not just about using, it’s about understanding and the literacy piece,” Sharpe said. “It’s about understanding what it is, what it isn’t, what it can do for you and what it cannot do for you. All of that under ethical guidelines and teaching academic integrity.”
Sharpe said the school system plans to do additional prompt-a-thons. They hope to partner with Catawba Valley Community College or Appalachian State for future events.
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