On Tuesday, January 30, 2024, Longwood University ITTIP welcomed SVRTC members to campus for a Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) Workshop. Teams of educators from 16 SVRTC school divisions attended the workshop: Amelia, Brunswick, Buckingham, Charlotte, Colonial Heights, Cumberland, Dinwiddie, Greensville, Halifax, Henry, Hopewell City, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Nottoway, Petersburg City, and Prince Edward. During the workshop, attendees engaged in understanding and using generative artificial intelligence, as well as reflecting on the impacts on our education landscape. The workshop was the first of a 4-part series of Generative AI that will be offered to SVRTC school division teams for strategic planning and implications of AI in their school divisions.
The workshop was hosted as part of a Strategic Planning Initiative that began last school year with SVRTC members. The initiative resumed this academic year after Dr. Paula Leach, Director of ITTIP, further explored collaboration among division leadership, including superintendents, to develop a learning series to support SVRTC needs through the 2023-2024 school year. This led to a partnership with – Advanced Learning Partnerships (ALP), educational consultants who support innovation and leadership in education. As the work continues this year with Generative AI, potential themes for future strategic planning include innovation in school schedule redesign, student help desk models, industry certification pathways, and intern-/mentorship programs around durable skills.
Any questions about this partnership initiative should be directed to Dr. Paula Leach.