AI for Education Newsletter

AIEN Issue #36 - May 12th 2025

Author

Thomas Bouwman
May 12, 2025 • Mental Processing Time: 5 minutes

News and Highlights

Heartland Forward Jump-Starts Gamified AI Curriculum for Rural Schools

Summary – Non-profit think-tank Heartland Forward is partnering with ed-tech firm Stemuli to create a Roblox-style AI curriculum aimed at students in 20 “heartland” states.

Key Takeaways

  • Gamified lessons to roll out first in 10 rural Arkansas schools.

  • Partnership unveiled at the annual Heartland Summit.

  • Focus on bridging rural tech-skills gaps and prepping learners for automated jobs.

  • Early P-TECH data show graduates using Stemuli earn up to $70 k.

Why It Matters – Offers a template for districts seeking engaging AI curricula without big-city resources.

250 CEOs Urge Mandatory AI & Computer-Science Classes for U.S. Students

Summary – Fortune reports a letter from leaders at Microsoft, Airbnb, Uber and others pressing lawmakers to require AI and CS instruction nationwide, citing wage-boost data.

Key Takeaways

  • CEOs reference China’s first-grade AI curriculum as competitive pressure.

  • Letter claims one CS course can raise wages by 8 percent.

  • Push comes as several states add CS/AI grad requirements.

  • Business coalition frames AI literacy as key to U.S. economic growth.

Why It Matters – Heightens policy momentum that could soon mandate AI instruction in every school.

Tennessee Finalizes Computer-Science (and AI) Graduation Requirement

Summary – Starting with the class of 2028, every Tennessee high-schooler must pass a computer-science course that includes AI fundamentals.

Key Takeaways

  • Law already boosting CS enrollment ahead of mandate.

  • Tennessee joins 12 states with similar requirements.

  • Brookings data show CS grads earn 8 percent more on average.

  • Business community lobbying other states to follow suit.

Why It Matters – Signals a growing state-level trend that teachers should prepare for now.

Noteworthy Reads

AI Tutors Can Be Both a Help and a Hindrance, Explain Teachers

Two veteran educators in an EdWeek commentary detail benefits (personalized practice) and pitfalls (shallow thinking, equity gaps) of deploying AI tutors, offering classroom guardrails.

Full Article Here (**pay wall**)

Helping Students Evaluate AI-Generated Content

eSchool News outlines strategies for teaching media-literacy skills tailored to AI outputs, from cross-checking facts to spotting hallucinated sources.

An Antidote to Plagiarism: New App Uses AI to Help Students Think Critically

Summary – The 74 profiles “Level Up,” an app that flips AI from answer-engine to critical-thinking coach, asking students to interrogate and improve AI-written responses.

AI Tools to Try

Diffit (diffit.me) – Paste any article, PDF, or URL and Diffit instantly generates leveled readings, comprehension questions, vocabulary lists, and slide decks at multiple Lexile bands, exporting directly to Google Classroom.

Target Audience: 2nd Grade to High School, Ages 7-17

Check out the tool here: https://www.diffit.me/

ClassPoint AI (classpoint.io/ai) – This PowerPoint add-in creates higher-order quizzes, polls, and formative checks from your current slide in one click, then collects student responses via QR code or LMS integration for real-time feedback.

Target Audience: Upper Elementary through Postsecondary, Ages 8+

Check out the tool here: https://www.classpoint.io/ai

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