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Artificial Intelligence at Owasso Public Schools

Embracing the Future: Integrating Generative AI at Owasso Public Schools

We are pleased to announce that Owasso Public Schools is providing access to Google's generative artificial intelligence tool, Gemini, for all faculty, staff, and students in grades 8-12. This initiative is a direct reflection of our philosophy and commitment to providing a forward-facing education that equips our students with the skills, knowledge, and ethical understanding necessary to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.

Our "Why": Preparing Students for the World They Will Enter

Our primary mission is to prepare students for success in college, careers, and life. The landscape of higher education and the modern workforce is being fundamentally shaped by artificial intelligence. To give our students a competitive advantage, we must provide them with early, guided, and responsible access to the tools that are becoming industry standards.

This future is already taking shape in higher education, right here in Oklahoma. Local universities are actively developing and expanding programs centered on artificial intelligence, demonstrating its growing importance:

  • The University of Oklahoma (OU): Offers specializations and research opportunities in their Bachelor of Science in Applied Artificial Intelligence.
  • Oklahoma State University (OSU): Integrates AI and machine learning concepts across its Computer Science and Electrical and Computer Engineering programs and offers a dedicated undergraduate certificate in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.
  • The University of Tulsa (TU): Has a dedicated focus on AI, robotics, and cyber applications within its renowned Tandy School of Computer Science, placing graduates at the forefront of technological innovation.
  • Oklahoma City University (OCU): Offers a Computer Science degree that incorporates foundational principles of artificial intelligence and data analysis, preparing graduates for a tech-driven workforce.

By introducing our students to these technologies now, we are building a foundational skill set that will directly support their future academic and professional pursuits.

A Safe and Responsible Approach

Student safety is our highest priority. We have implemented a multi-layered approach to ensure a secure environment for exploring AI.

  • Enterprise-Grade Protections: As a Google Workspace for Education Plus district, our version of Gemini comes with additional, enterprise-grade safety protections. This means our students and staff use a service designed specifically for a school environment, which is separate and more secure than the publicly available consumer version.
  • District Content Filtering: In addition to Google's safeguards, all access to Gemini on our network is routed through the district's own content filters. This adds a critical layer of protection, aligning with our existing internet safety policies and providing an even more secure experience for our students.

Our goal is not just to provide access, but to teach responsible and ethical use, reinforcing the principles of digital citizenship in the age of AI.

Empowering Our Community Through Training

To ensure all users feel confident and prepared, we are committed to providing robust training for all stakeholders—students, teachers, staff, and parents. This training will be ongoing and offered in various formats to meet the needs of our community, including synchronous (live workshops) and asynchronous (on-demand resources).

For Our Students: An Introduction to Gemini Teachers will show students the following video to provide a foundational understanding of Gemini's features, capabilities, and our expectations for its use in the classroom.

For Our Staff and Parents: Advanced AI Training Opportunities We are pleased to offer our district staff and parents the opportunity to enroll in Google's AI Essentials and AI Prompting courses through Coursera for free. These courses provide a deeper understanding of how AI works and how to use it effectively. If you are interested, please complete the form below.

We will continue to list training opportunities in this space as they become available. If you would like to receive in-person training, please indicate your interest here and we will reach out directly with more details.

Additional Resources: The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) has the below resources available:

We are excited to be on the cutting edge of preparing our students well in all areas. Integrating artificial intelligence into our curriculum and toolset is a powerful way we will continue to fulfill that promise.