MOUNT VERNON – Former Centerburg Local Schools Supt. Mike Hebenthal understands the challenges that classroom teachers face.
He also recognizes the opportunities that artificial intelligence (AI) offers to benefit teachers and students.
“AI is going to have a profound effect on education, more profound even that the impact computers have had,” he said.
Hebenthal joined the Knox Educational Service Center last year as a school improvement specialist. In that role he has led daylong sessions with high school teachers to analyze end-of-course testing data in English/language arts, American history and government, biology and algebra.
Sessions in the Community Room at Mount Vernon’s Energy Fieldhouse also have focused on educators’ use of AI.
Hebenthal’s in-depth understanding of AI emerged from a graduate course and online instruction he has pursued. On Feb. 18 he will begin a 10-week role as an adjunct professor at Ashland University, explaining the benefits of AI to educators.
“We will explore how to use AI to teach, how to be more effective in the classroom,” he said.
Knox ESC Supt. Dr. Timm Mackley said Hebenthal – a longtime classroom teacher, principal and superintendent – is a valuable asset to county districts.
“Through Mike, the Knox Educational Service Center is providing professional development opportunities for our district teachers and administrators,” Mackley said. “I believe it is an incredible opportunity for those who choose to take advantage of it.”
The sessions with high school core subject teachers focused on the results of state testing.
“We looked at each school’s data to ask: What areas are students struggling with? School X is not doing so well, while School Y is achieving better results,” Hebenthal said. “We shared approaches to testing. And we looked at where we are as a county, based on state data.”
One common problem emerged: Test questions are confusing to many students.
“Some questions have more than one correct answer. In fact, three out of four answers may be correct, but the test doesn’t explain that,” Hebenthal said. “Teachers gained a better understanding of why kids are having problems.
“Using data from the last five years of state tests, we can create practice tests that more accurately reflect what students see on the actual tests.”
AI has a role in state testing, he said, because it is used to grade students’ essays in American history and government.
“Ohio’s testing rubric and AI combine to create examples of a 10, the maximum score attainable,” Hebenthal said. “Kids can start to see what good writing looks like and what is required to improve their scores.”
For teachers, Hebenthal emphasized that the role of AI is to offer creative, time- saving assistance.
“Kids perform at three basic levels – approaching proficiency, proficient and exceeding proficiency,” he said. “For a teacher who may have as many as 100 students a day it would take hours and hours to create worksheets and other materials for each student. With AI, those hours turn into minutes.”
Hebenthal noted the use of AI in his role as an instructor.
“AI makes me creative. It gives me a creative way to develop lessons. It gives me ideas and suggests what supplies and materials I might need,” he said.
Hebenthal’s proficiency in the use of AI may soon extend beyond classrooms.
“Our county school treasurers have expressed an interest in learning how AI could positively impact their work. I am talking with them about possibly planning an AI session.”
The bottom line, Hebenthal said, is that students will be better served by AI.
“Some teachers worry that AI might take their jobs,” he said. “I tell them, AI won’t take your job, but someone who understands AI and how to use it might take your job.”