With new developments in artificial intelligence (AI), technology has started to play a large role in the high school experience for students at Kinkaid.
The school has started the AI Student Committee, which aims to integrate students’ opinions into the school administration’s policy decisions concerning AI.
Mr. Vinnie Vrotny, director of technology, has served as the faculty sponsor for the student-led committee.
“I help organize the committee by running the meetings, reserving the rooms, and aspects like that,” Mr. Vrotny said. “I am also an observer to student conversations and help with general planning.”
The administration has presented new policies for using AI in recent years, but those have come without the consultation of students who may desire to share their needs, objections and desires.
The committee will allow the school to consider feedback from students in decisions to modify or advance implementations of AI. Information will mainly be collected from meetings that the committee holds.
The committee idea arose from junior Audrey Koo, who was inspired by an AI interim course taught by Mr. Vrotny. Currently, Koo serves on the board of the committee, along with seniors Charlie Yang and Jason Zhang.
“Artificial intelligence is going to play a crucial role in our lifetime,” Zhang said. “This committee will be important in helping Kinkaid better represent the students during this transitionary period.”
While these three students are the heads of the committees, any students are welcome to provide input for the school to acknowledge.
“Anyone can come to our meetings, and we’d love to gain more input from students,” Yang said.
Meetings are scheduled monthly to bi-monthly, overall culminating in a set of student findings in April presented to the school administration. In addition, the findings will be wrapped into Mr. Vrotny’s presentation to the Board of Trustees in May.
