Leaders from Lindbergh Schools, the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL), Scale AI — an artificial intelligence infrastructure company — and Missouri Rep. Wesley Bell came together on Oct. 30 to announce the launch of a new, free artificial intelligence initiative created to assist K-12 educators in navigating the ever-changing landscape of technology.
“It gives (educators) a chance to really understand the fundamentals of AI and to understand how to harness it and when to use AI, when not to use AI, how to continue to ask follow-up questions and the great things that AI can help them in the classroom so they can bring it to students,” AJ Segal, Head of Workforce and Workspaces for Scale AI Public Sector — and a Lindbergh Schools parent — told The Call.
The course, titled “Fundamentals of AI for Educators,” was developed by Lindbergh Schools’ Colin Davitt, the district’s director of artificial intelligence and blended learning, in partnership with Scale AI. Piloted by 20 Lindbergh teachers over the summer, it is now available not only to local educators but also to educators from across the country through UMSL’s Advanced Workforce Center. Teachers can work at their own pace, though the course should take approximately 12 hours to complete. Once completed, educators will receive a certificate of completion and a microcredential with a digital badge that can be displayed on resumes, portfolios and/or LinkedIn pages.
“We went from no AI to AI everywhere, and it was something that was moving much faster than other technologies. Our kids were using it, from elementary to the high school, without our help and support. At the same time, my daughter is a first-year first-grade teacher, my wife is a 30th-year reading specialist, and I was thinking about how I can help them understand how to use AI effectively and meaningfully,” Davitt told The Call. He later added, “There’s no way we could have done this without Scale and without UMSL.”
The connection between Lindbergh Schools and Scale AI — which has since grown into a collaboration impacting education across the nation — is especially meaningful to Segal as his children attend the district.
“This event is particularly personal for me, because my two kids are Lindbergh students,” Segal said. “As a parent, I see firsthand how much teachers influence the way our children learn, and I think a lot about what it means to prepare them for a world where AI will be part of their everyday lives. Education is an area where we see a tremendous opportunity, and I believe giving teachers the resources and confidence to use these tools is one of the most meaningful investments that we can make.”
Bell later expounded on the importance of the collaboration between his office, Scale AI, UMSL and Lindbergh.
“This was a natural partnership, but also one that we were deliberate about,” Bell told The Call. “The work that they’re doing here is just tremendous. And we’re talking about our most valuable resource: young people.”
