(ABC 6 News) – Austin Public Schools are using new tools to boost graduation rates.
Its name is “Infinite Campus”. Early warning system with artificial intelligence. Identify early predictors of success or failure using student data points. It tracks information entered by staff, such as student attendance, grades, and classroom behavior, and converts it into a kind of credit score.
Concerns about the use of artificial intelligence are growing, but Austin Public Schools Director of Information Systems Corey Haugen says parents have no reason to worry. The main reason is that this AI is very different from AI developed for children, such as Chat GPT.
“I wouldn’t worry too much about cheating or getting caught up in conspiracy theories like chatbots,” Haugen said. “Even with AI built in, all student data is protected and the district takes security very seriously.”
Another purpose of APS with this early warning system is to help staff identify student performance problems in the classroom before it’s too late. But it’s not just the classroom. Infinite Campus also has the potential to identify problems students have outside the classroom.
“We’re looking at thousands of data points across educational settings,” Haugen says. “Even stability factors such as registration history.”
APS is in the early stages of an early warning system, but so far it has shown promising results.
Austin High School senior Rachel Toland will graduate next week. She says her APS efforts have put her on track to achieve her dream of going to Ole Her Miss in the fall.
“They made a very easy process a fun one,” Toland said. “It’s exciting and it’s scary, but they’re on the road with all of us.”
Austin High School graduation is scheduled for next Friday, June 2nd.
