Nearly 200 educators from eight Northwest Florida counties dedicated part of their summer to learning how to bring artificial intelligence and robotics into their classrooms-immersing themselves in cutting-edge tools and teaching strategies through Florida State University's InSPIRE initiative and the Florida Center for Research in STEM (FCR-STEM).
Funded by Triumph Gulf Coast, the weeklong summer courses were offered at no cost to teachers and focused on integrating AI tools, robotics and STEM practices into K-12 education. The effort is part of InSPIRE's broader mission to strengthen the region's workforce by equipping educators with skills to prepare students for high-demand careers.
"As I've traveled across the region speaking at these teacher training events, there's a lot of excitement and a lot of commitment from the teachers here," said InSPIRE Executive Director Drew Allen. "They could be off doing their own thing on their off time, but instead, they're spending time with us. Not only to advance themselves but also to make themselves better teachers and instructors. That's very encouraging and many educators have been wildly receptive to evolving their skills and curriculum to align with tomorrow's workforce demands."
InSPIRE is dedicated to driving regional economic development in Northwest Florida through workforce development, applied research and innovation. The institute focuses on high-speed aerodynamics, advanced manufacturing and building a strong STEM workforce.
Carrie Meyers and Jim Reynolds, co-directors of STEM Outreach at FCR-STEM, are leading the Learning Systems Institute's (LSI) work on the InSPIRE project.
For the second summer in a row, they've worked with their team to develop large-scale sessions of coursework and professional learning curriculum for educators in Coastal Northwest Florida.
"It is clear to me that Jim and Carrie and the LSI crew are the experts and have the capability and expertise required to develop a workforce," Allen said. "They clearly are the conduit through which we are going to accomplish our workforce goals to transform the NWFL region. They're doing a great job of getting teachers to think about more high-tech things - understanding what AI is and what robotics really means - and how they can incorporate these into their individual classrooms. It's been incredibly encouraging."
The "Introduction to Robotics in the Classroom" course equipped educators across Coastal Northwest Florida with the foundational knowledge and hands-on experience needed to integrate robotics, AI and pre-engineering concepts into their classrooms.
"I thoroughly enjoyed my week with InSPIRE," said Tricia Coady of Gulf Breeze Middle School. "I had previously tried some robotics with my students, but through the program, I gained a much deeper understanding of how robotics work. I'm so excited to bring what I learned back to my gifted middle school students and give them more in-depth, hands-on experience to inspire the next generation of 'STEM-ists.'"
The two AI courses covered the fundamentals of generative AI and prompt engineering, natural language processing and machine learning foundations, bias and ethical implications of AI as well as the integration of literacy and STEM best practices. One course was designed for elementary teachers and the other for secondary educators.
"Professional learning through InSPIRE gave me a chance to grow as an educator while also supporting others in developing the confidence to explore AI with their students," said Anna Prindle of Holley-Navarre Intermediate School. "We weren't just facilitating the learning about technology. We were modeling the mindset of curiosity, flexibility and resilience that we want our students to carry into the future."
Another significant component of InSPIRE is their educational outreach program. The novel initiative is launching new workforce training and education programs with a focus on advanced aerospace and manufacturing sectors. These programs are designed to equip teachers with the knowledge and skills needed to "InSPIRE" their students to be ready for high-demand jobs in these growing industries, ensuring a lasting impact on the community's economic and educational landscape.
"I'm helping spark a movement," said Samantha Woltz of East Milton Elementary. "By empowering educators to bring curiosity, AI and real-world engineering into the classrooms using familiar tools like PowerPoint, we're bridging the gap between learning and careers in vital industries."
LSI strives to lead the way in creating innovative educational solutions that seamlessly connect theory with practice. Through advanced research, we develop industry-leading methods and implementation strategies to enhance systematic learning at all levels and in all environments. For more than five decades, LSI has been committed to driving measurable improvements in the performance of both individuals and organizations.
