#5 District Discussions with Kamiya Estes - AI & The Art of Learning

Have you ever wondered if AI is helping our kids learn or just making it easier to skip the hard work? In the latest episode of District Discussions, host Kamiya Estes sits down with Superintendent Dr. Stan Winborne and Director of Technology Mr. Michael Spradlin to get real about Artificial Intelligence in Granville County Public Schools.

Here’s the "inside scoop" from their conversation:

🧠 The "Struggle" is Real (And That’s a Good Thing!)

Dr. Winborne and Mr. Spradlin talk about why learning isn't always supposed to be easy. Think about when you first learned to ride a bike—the wobbles and the falls are what actually taught you how to balance.

• The Goal: Use AI as a "tutor" to help explain hard concepts, not a "cheat sheet" to give the answers.
• The Philosophy: We want students to use tech to work smarter, while still doing the "brain work" that helps them grow.

📉 Tech ≠ Higher Grades?

Surprisingly, the district committee found that simply spending more time on a screen doesn't automatically mean better test scores. Because of this, the district is calling for "Tech-free Tuesdays and Thursdays" and more intentional balance. We aren't just adding tech because it’s new; we’re adding it only where it actually helps.

🤝 We’re Learning Together

This isn’t just for the kids! Teachers are also getting trained on how to use these tools effectively so they can guide students safely through this new digital world.

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