Florida State’s Learning Systems Institute (LSI) held its first professional learning course for K-5 Gulf Coast teachers this summer as part of the workforce training and education component of FSU’s Institute for Strategic Partnerships, Innovation, Research, and Education (InSPIRE). The training was conducted by the CPALMS staff from the Florida Center for Research in STEM.
The course was designed for elementary teachers who wanted to learn about artificial intelligence (AI) and innovations in aerospace as potential ways to transform education. It covered the fundamentals of generative AI and prompt engineering, natural language processing and machine learning foundations, bias and ethical implications of AI and the integration of literacy and STEM best practices. This InSPIRE course also included hands-on activities, visits to FSU labs and presentations from industry experts and partners.
“It was a pleasure to work with such dedicated teachers who are looking for innovative ways to integrate content areas, generative AI, and research-based best practices within a topic like aerospace that directly relates to the prospects of their local community while ensuring their students are ready for the challenges of the future workforce,” said Carrie Meyers, LSI’s Director of STEM Outreach.
Teachers spent five days in Tallahassee, equipped with skills and strategies for using generative AI to create and enhance stories and informational texts with an aerospace theme while preparing students for an ever-changing technological world. The participants were given access to curriculum and resources designed for use with students exploring AI foundations and aerospace innovations on CPALMS.
“This has been an amazing week,” said Gulf County teacher Jeannie Ford. “We had the best presenters. It has been a fun time, exciting.”
Participants will join a network of teachers who act as catalysts for change in their schools and communities. They will play a key role in educating the next generation of Florida’s workforce in technologically advanced careers.
“Giving (students) a passion for something that they feel so deeply about they will want to follow that through with a career,” said Audrey Moore, a fifth-grade teacher from Santa Rosa County. “It starts in elementary school because there are a lot of kids who… it’s just that one little spark. I want to inspire them because they are the next generation.”
As part of the course, teachers visited the Florida Center for Advanced Aero-Propulsion at FSU, a premier research facility dedicated to advancing the field of aero-propulsion through innovative research and cutting-edge technology. There was also a session at the High-Performance Materials Institute at FSU. The visits offered an unparalleled professional learning experience to explore cutting-edge research in advanced materials.
“InSPIRE has given me many tools that I will be able to use to take into the classroom to integrate technology in some of the industries that are coming to the area into the curriculum,” said Kara Bremer from Wewahitchka Elementary School.
The teacher workshop included activities centered around e-readers, generative AI and PowerPoint. It featured guest speakers from Microsoft, General Electric, Lockheed Martin and FSU.
“The guest speakers opened my mind to what these kids need to learn and how we can guide them in that direction,” said Miranda Fiveash from the Santa Rosa County school district.
The InSPIRE initiative aims to transform the region’s research and development landscape by building advanced aerospace and manufacturing facilities near the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport. A significant component of InSPIRE is its educational outreach program led by LSI, which aims to increase the region’s STEM knowledge and industry certifications.
“The goals of this course are just a small part of the overall goals for InSPIRE,” said Jim Reynolds, LSI’s Director of STEM Outreach. “We are excited to bring teachers together for the start of a long-term commitment to the communities in the panhandle of Florida. We are looking to forge a partnership with schools to create a sustainable support system that allows teachers access to high-quality resources to adapt their instruction to focus on embedding critical thinking, problem-solving and workforce readiness at all levels of education”.
For 55 years, LSI has delivered systems that measurably improve the learning and performance of organizations and individuals in Florida and globally. Our experts’ advanced research provides state-of-the-art methods and a clear path for implementation. To learn more about LSI, please visit us on the web at LSI.FSU.edu.