Judi Hunter – Ward 5 Trustee
Happy New Year!
I hope everyone had a wonderful winter break and had time to enjoy family and friends and rejuvenate.
ELECTION OCTOBER 2025
It will be four years in October since the last election. The Provincial government passed The Local Authorities Election Act, which will be in force for the upcoming elections. Related to Trustees candidates, the current Board of Trustees has made the following bylaws:
- a one-hundred-dollar deposit will be required with the candidate’s application
- the application must have 20 resident signatures
Candidate applications open January 1, 2025.
I encourage any person who has a passion for young people, education, and community service to consider serving in this important role. I am happy to discuss trusteeship with any interested party. Further information will be posted on the Rocky View Schools website.
There continue to be 8 trustees serving on the Board. The Boundary for Ward 5 remains the same. However, in redefining boundaries, Ward 5 will be known as Ward 4.
Artificial Intelligence in Education
As we watch AI adoption and progress in the broader world, we see AI being used in classrooms. Our teachers recognize that AI can be a powerful tool to assist earning. Many high school teachers are exploring ways in which AI helps students improve their learning and demonstrate their outcomes. Companies are developing AI software that helps students progress as they are ready to learn the next concept.
With every technology, there are benefits and hazards. A not-for-profit organization, AI for Education, (https://www.aiforeducation.io/) offers free information and learning on the topic of AI. Its recent video called “Anthropomorphizing AI” provides an interesting view on some of the pitfalls. They caution that the public did not see the adverse effects of social media on children and feel that AI impacts could be worse, if we don’t get ahead of it.
The video talks about the mental models our youngest learners create while using AI. Young learners give human characteristics to robot such as this is my friend, he/she thinks. These researchers say is not to be encouraged. Robots are machines and should be viewed as such. Research shows that robots are very good at getting information from children because of this trust factor.
Adults are encouraged to use language that identifies AI as a tool created by people and not refer to robots as having human characteristics. Netflix has a movie, Subservience, that demonstrates anthropomorphism. The researchers suggest that no person under the age of 13 should be using AI without adult supervision.
AI adoption is happening very quickly. Governments are racing to keep up. Currently, guidelines are being created to ensure student data privacy, safety, ethical use and practice. Organizations such as the Canadian Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute (CAISI) are also engaged in this process.
