This is Part III in a three-part blog series exploring how Distinctive Schools is approaching artificial intelligence (AI) in education. From building custom tools to supporting student learning, our staff and students are thoughtfully exploring AI’s potential. Read Part I here; read Part II here.
Innovation has always been in our DNA at Distinctive Schools—we were founded 15 years ago with a challenge to question the status quo and to always seek the best possible outcomes for learners. From the launch of one-to-one technology in classrooms to the introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into our practice, we strive to be early adopters ahead of the curve.
We aim to provide learners with the skills they need—which means, in a world where AI is a part of their everyday lives, we are rewriting this road map. Alongside educators and students, we are excited to share the Distinctive Schools AI Playbook, our launchpad for responsible innovation. Our Playbook is a living guide that will continue to expand and evolve. We provide guidelines and ideas so educators and learners alike can explore with confidence. We are fostering a generation of learners who are not only proficient with AI but are also ready to lead and create with AI.
Our approach is built on the principle that AI should amplify student abilities and creativity, making it a tool for deeper exploration and self-discovery. We are using AI tools to enhance and not replace, because the human-AI-human cycle is key; we are driving the input and inspecting the output. The AI Playbook guides our educators and students how to use AI to elevate learning, from brainstorming creative projects to developing new skills. We are safeguarding our community, setting clear boundaries around academic integrity, and encouraging our community to explore and utilize AI ethically and safely.
The most exciting part? Our students are at the heart of our AI journey. They have become active collaborators in our network’s AI strategy, providing feedback and using Playlab during Learner Advisory sessions to tackle real-world school challenges. They were some of our first stakeholders to review the AI playbook and provided invaluable feedback that shaped our approach. Their questions and ideas illustrate how they see AI as a tool for growth and self-advocacy—and they are ready to explore with our support.
Our future—and our present—is rapidly powered by AI, and at Distinctive Schools, we are preparing our students to lead the change. Utilizing AI to create efficiencies, streamline workflows, and offer on-demand feedback loops frees up time for educators to focus on what really matters: building strong relationships with students and truly knowing them as learners and individuals.
As part of our Personalized Learning Model, we believe that All Means All: our instructional practices are designed to meet learners exactly where they are, providing them with the support they need, when they need it. AI has supercharged this ability—data analysis that would have taken hours takes seconds, and personalization of content is happening at a rapid pace. Check out the Playbook here. If you have ideas or feedback, we’d love to hear from you: reach out to AIDesignTeam@distinctiveschools.org. Stay tuned for more to come —we are just scratching the surface of what is possible!