Two Orange County administrators are leading the push for artificial intelligence in public education.
Kunal Dalal and Wes Kriesel work for the Orange County Department of Education and specialize in AI. Their job is to streamline the process of integrating AI into school curricula.
“We really give everyone a positive way to use it,” Dalal says. “One of the things we've noticed, which was unexpected in some ways, is how much deeper human connections are starting to become because of AI.”
The two joined the district near the end of 2023, according to the OCDE newsroom. Dalal is working closely with his 1,200 OCDE staff members, and Kriesel is implementing her AI in 29 of her schools.
“We need to think creatively about these tools and how we can use them to our advantage,” Kriesel says. “If we can come up with solutions using human creativity, I think there are no limits.”
Kriesel uses AI technology to generate thoughtful conversations with students. As an example, he showed how his ChatGPT can be used in his 5th grade classroom.
“What hobbies do you enjoy? If you could have any superpower, what would it be?” Kriesel read.
The pair also say that AI can help with creative storytelling.
“You can ask them to create four sequences of images that tell a story,” says Dalal.
Some people find this technology mind-boggling, while others say AI should be banned because it can rob us of critical thinking and imagination.
Dalal says it’s all about perspective.
“This is no substitute. “My son may not have the ability to imagine that deeply, but now he can go from there to places where he doesn't even know where he is,'' he said. Told.
