By Katie Vasquez
History, science and English are some of the subjects that Chaminade High School students learn.
Seniors like Finbar Galligan and John Durham are using AI or artificial intelligence to enhance their education.
“We were talking about the federalists in AP government, we were pretending to be like Alexander Hamilton. We would almost debate him about this,” said Galligan.
“Using it as a way not to replace research, but to condense research, especially for finding sources,” said Durham.
As the use of AI has exploded, his school has embraced the tool.
“So what we try and really infuse here is, along with our Catholic tradition, is ‘What’s the right/wrong thing to do,” explained Chief Academic Officer, Greg Kay.
The Long Island school is partnering with Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, Missouri.
An alumnus reached out, hoping to utilize the skills of these young people.
“To get them to think about the world that they are currently living in and where is it going in the future and how AI is going to impact all that,” said Social Studies Department Chair, Patrick Kemp.
The students are competing in a writing competition with essays based on their experience using AI and Washington University will pick the best.
But no matter who comes out on top, staff hopes all of this work will benefit other schools too.
“We have greater aspirations, with connections that we made with them in terms of developing some AI standards, some guidelines, some playbooks for schools to follow about how AI can be integrated,” said Kay.
That’s one lesson that high school seniors seniors are excited about.
“It’s okay to use AI if you’re using it for the right ways, where you don’t have to hide away from it and completely blacklist it,” said Galligan. “We can just use it the right ways.”
“I think it’s a really great thing we can do,” added Durham. “If we’re doing it the right way, why not share it with other people?”
They hope to have the essays all finalized by January, and then the juniors will have a chance to share their thoughts.