Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a part of so many aspects of our lives––from the algorithms that curate social media feeds to the autonomous systems that drive our ride-share cars. As this technology finds its way into more industries, educational disciplines, and careers, a fundamental understanding of AI is becoming an essential part of students’ education.
Learners who understand the applications and ethical implications of AI will be better equipped to navigate a world that increasingly relies on this technology, setting them up to navigate future educational opportunities and careers with confidence. At VHS Learning, we recognize how important AI education is for today’s students, so we developed our Artificial Intelligence course to help them get a head start.
AI is a rapidly evolving technology
As students learn about artificial intelligence, it’s important that they understand not only how quickly the technology has become a part of our careers and lives, but also how it keeps growing and changing every day.
Although AI has been around for decades, the launch of generative tools like Chat GPT and DALL-E have launched the technology into the mainstream. AI is now ubiquitous and continues to evolve as big tech companies invest considerable time and resources in developing even more AI tools.
Not only is AI here to stay, but it is rapidly becoming an integral part of many industries and careers. As AI continues to evolve, it’s important that students develop the skills needed to be informed users of this complex technology. Although many of these tools are still in development and should be used carefully and sparingly in classrooms, engaging learners with AI can help them understand the bigger picture.
Preparing students for college and careers
It’s no secret that AI has worked its way into almost every industry, from healthcare and education to business and technology. To prepare students to navigate this technology in college and their careers, schools must make AI education available and accessible to students.
At VHS Learning, we developed our Artificial Intelligence course to enable high school students to explore AI and the impact it has on their lives. During this course, students are asked if they can identify an industry that won’t be impacted by AI in some way. Typically, most students agree that nearly every industry will intersect with AI at some point.
As students consider their future majors and potential career fields, it’s important that they understand the intersection of AI within their chosen discipline. High school is a great time to build students’ AI understanding, as it equips them to make thoughtful decisions about their future.
Our Artificial Intelligence course provides students with a wealth of knowledge on the growing AI industry, helping to point them in the right direction as they pursue college majors and careers that are impacted by AI. Learners also gain valuable insights on the responsible use of AI tools and technologies, ensuring their background in AI has a strong foundation of ethical, fair use.
AI education has improved, but there’s still room to grow
While progress has been made to improve access to computer science education, schools still need to bridge the gap to provide students with learning experiences in specialized STEM disciplines. In particular, a common challenge schools face is finding qualified educators to teach subjects like Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, or Video Game Design.
At VHS Learning, we’re fortunate to work with many highly-qualified computer science educators that bring their knowledge and expertise to our program and students. We help schools fill curriculum gaps by connecting their students to teacher-led online courses in a wide variety of disciplines. By partnering with VHS Learning, schools can expand their course offerings with our catalog of more than 250 courses––including more than a dozen computer science and technology courses.
To learn more about how we’re helping high schools connect students with foundational AI education, read our article in Tech & Learning.