New grants to empower New Zealand educators with important AI skills
We can see that new technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are becoming part of everyday life and changing the way we work.
Having the skills and opportunity to use these new technologies is crucial - which is why we recently launched a new AI Essentials course, helping people to learn AI skills.
But we’re also keenly aware of the need to ensure New Zealand’s educators have the capabilities they need to teach the next generation of technologists, scientists and engineers. How do we ensure we are preparing New Zealand students for a digital future where these technologies will be integral to daily life and work?
Announcing the 2024 Educator PD Grants
By equipping educators with the knowledge and tools to integrate these technologies into their classrooms, we can prepare students to be not just consumers of technology but also creators, innovators, and critical thinkers who shape New Zealand’s digital future.
To effectively integrate AI and ML into education, we first need to ensure students have a solid foundation in computational thinking and computer science (CS). These foundations involve breaking down complex problems into smaller, more manageable steps, designing algorithms, and using data to make informed decisions. These skills are not only applicable to coding but also to everyday problem-solving.
Google’s Educator PD Grants program has been funding high quality professional development for educators throughout Australia and New Zealand since 2011. These PD opportunities have focused on these core computational skills and ensure that educators in regional and remote areas have access to relevant and engaging resources.
We’re excited to see many of the New Zealand 2024 grant awardees embracing AI education and upskilling in their PD workshops and look forward to the innovative uses of technology in the classroom.
