Artificial Intelligence transforms learning methods on isolated islands
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the educational landscape, and Hawaii is at the forefront of this transformation. Schools across the state are adopting AI to streamline administrative tasks, enhance teaching quality, and provide personalized learning experiences for students.
Justin Lai, an educational technologist at La Pietra - Hawai'i School for Girls, views AI as a powerful partner for both teachers and students. He explains, "AI can help teachers focus more on students’ needs by reducing time spent on administrative tasks and lesson creation."
Mid-Pacific Institute, another leading educational institution, has established an AI Council made up of educators, students, and industry professionals to help shape its approach to AI integration. The council aims to ensure that AI applications align with High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) and research-backed strategies to avoid gaps or inconsistencies in teaching.
One such AI-powered platform is The Curipod Classroom, which allows teachers to create interactive, standards-aligned lessons with slides, polls, and activities on any topic and in any language. This tool is designed to boost student engagement and learning, providing real-time, personalized feedback to students.
However, keeping pace with AI's rapid evolution is a challenge, even for those deeply immersed in the field. Schools must engage in open, community-wide communication due to students already using AI tools at home. Hawaii's independent schools are betting on AI not to replace human educators, but to amplify them, freeing teachers from routine tasks and allowing more time for meaningful relationships, hands-on learning, and authentic community engagement.
The number of home-schooled students in Hawaii spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic and has remained significantly higher than pre-COVID levels. AI tools like Khanmigo, a personal tutor and coach, and OpenAI's ChatGPT, are available for students to receive real-time academic support, ask questions, and stay on track.
The state Department of Education is actively integrating AI to improve teaching efficiency and student learning outcomes. La Pietra is exploring how AI can serve as a creative collaborator in design thinking and accelerate project research. The rise in AI tools is providing more support for home-school parents and students.
Mid-Pacific Institute is focusing on building AI literacy across all grades and developing AI certification classes open to faculty from any school. "Vibe coding," an emerging practice, allows students to develop software more easily and intuitively using AI.
The Hawaii Association of Independent Schools has seen surging interest in AI training across its membership. As AI continues to evolve, schools in Hawaii are poised to leverage its potential to create engaging, personalized learning experiences for students while supporting teachers in their roles.
- Recognizing the potential of AI in education, Mid-Pacific Institute has established an AI Council to align its approach to AI integration with High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) and research-backed strategies.
- To boost student engagement and learning, schools like La Pietra are adopting AI-powered platforms, such as The Curipod Classroom, which allows teachers to create interactive, standards-aligned lessons and provides real-time, personalized feedback.
- As schools in Hawaii continue to integrate AI to improve teaching efficiency and student learning outcomes, the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools is witnessing a surge in interest in AI training among its members, with Mid-Pacific Institute focusing on building AI literacy across all grades and developing AI certification classes.
