Florida Public Schools Launch Statewide Artificial Intelligence Curriculum, Equipping Students for AI-Enabled Workforce
Thousands of high school students across Florida will have the opportunity to engage in artificial intelligence (AI) coursework starting this academic year. This initiative is part of a statewide effort by Florida public school officials and the University of Florida (UF) to equip students with the essential skills needed for an AI-enabled workforce.
The AI education program, designed by UF, was piloted last year in three Florida public school districts, and its success has led to its expansion to 12 districts this month. Nancy Ruzycki, an instructional and associate professor at UF’s Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, is one of the architects of the three-year coursework called AI Foundations, which is delivered through the state’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs.
Our goal is to infuse AI throughout the state’s public school curriculum, from kindergarten through 12th grade. We have been building a supportive pipeline for AI and data science in the state of Florida, Ruzycki explained.
The curriculum framework comprises four courses: Artificial Intelligence in the World, Applications of Artificial Intelligence, Procedural Programming, and Foundations of Machine Learning. Each course builds upon the complexity of the previous one, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of AI concepts.
The first course, Artificial Intelligence in the World, familiarizes students with identifying AI in their surroundings and understanding its functioning. In the second course, students explore how AI is utilized in various fields to solve problems and have the opportunity to create their own AI systems. The next two courses involve a deep dive into AI’s applications and teach students how to build AI systems, preparing them for entry-level jobs or further education in the field.
Educators who have implemented the AI education program have witnessed its positive impact. Juan Tovar, an AI and cybersecurity teacher at NeoCity Academy in Kissimmee, Florida, was among the first three teachers to introduce the program. Tovar emphasized the importance of equipping students with AI knowledge to keep pace with the rapidly advancing technology. He stated, AI is happening so fast, and we must move fast as well. Everyone needs to learn the basics to avoid misconceptions and fears about AI.
The program’s success is also attributed to the professional development opportunities provided to teachers to effectively teach AI to their students. Training boot camps were conducted last year, involving 30 teachers from seven districts. This year, the program expanded to include 150 teachers from 16 districts, enabling them to understand the system thinking and engineering behind AI design, equipping them to guide their students to become ethical designers of intelligent computers.
It is worth mentioning that Florida stands out as the first state to allocate funding for training teachers ahead of implementing an AI curriculum framework. The funding for developing the AI framework and teacher professional development was provided by the Florida Department of Education through the Cybersecurity and IT Pathways Expansion grant. Additionally, the team continues to secure funding from the state and private industry to further expand the AI education program, develop a data science curriculum, and conduct summer camps for middle school students. This comprehensive approach aims to empower the next generation with the knowledge and expertise necessary to navigate the technological frontier.
Florida’s commitment to equipping its students with AI skills reflects the need to prepare the workforce for the future. By embracing AI education at the high school level, Florida public schools are taking a crucial step toward creating a workforce that is well-prepared for the AI-enabled jobs of tomorrow. As AI continues to revolutionize various industries, this initiative will undoubtedly ensure that Florida’s youth are ready to excel in an AI-driven world.
