Lab alum teams up with UChicago chemists to recreate George Washington Carver’s 1927 blue pigment—blending art, science, and history.
AI and Learning
AI tools are not just sharper pencils, better paint brushes, or faster computers but new ways to interact with and construct knowledge.
At Lab we exist in a vibrant educational community that prizes inquiry and exploration. As we prepare students for a world where generative AI is commonplace, Lab is experimenting with and investing in AI that balances developing the AI literacy of our students & instructors while maintaining critical thinking skills.
Lab AI Leadership
The excitement, concern, and even trepidation surrounding such a powerful technology warrants careful study and in 2023, Director Tori Jueds convened the AI and Learning Committee to undertake this research.
The Committee is charged with: keeping abreast of developments in artificial intelligence; considering their implications for teaching, learning, and support for students’ social-emotional growth at the Laboratory Schools; providing recommendations on updates to Lab’s program, policies, or practices; and initiating programming to support professional development among Lab educators, awareness among parents and guardians, and skill development and aptitude among students.
Committee Topics
The Committee continues to meet and study the evolving nature of AI in education. Topics that the Committee has previously addressed include:
- The technology, policy and support systems needed for AI to flourish at Lab.
- How AI can be used to support the needs of all learners.
- Models of AI adoption from other schools and in higher education.
- Emerging research on best practices around AI in instruction.
Committee Achievements
Among the Committee’s achievements to date are:
- Introduction of the Alice AI platform
- Hosting of a speaker series featuring AI researchers and technologists
- Implementation of AI policy on use, instructional expectations and procurement
- Availability of open-source, small language models for instruction
AI and Learning Committee
Brian Hewlett, Director of Information, Registrar and Compliance Services (Co-Chair)
Amy Atkinson, Librarian, Middle School (2024 Co-Chair)
Jeremy Schwartz, Computer Science, Middle School (2025 Co-Chair)
Manali Barua, Assistant Director of Admissions
Louis Coronel, Instructional Technology Specialist, Early Childhood
Craig Doran, Endpoint Manager, Information Systems
Lisa Harrison, Computer Science Instructor, Early Childhood
Jessica Herrera, AV Specialist, Information Systems
Megan Hubbard, Accommodations Coordinator
Elizabeth Hubin, Science Instructor, University High School
Ross Hunefeld, Dean of Students, Middle School
Chantal Lambrix, Fourth Grade Instructor, Lower School
Zilkia Rivera-Vazquez, Assistant Principal, University High School
Eric Rizzi, Computer Science Instructor, University High School
Jeremy Schwartz, Computer Science Instructor, Middle School
Yosef Tewolde, EdTech Specialist, Historic Campus