The Surrey school district is moving forward with artificial intelligence in the classroom, from helping teachers monitor student progress, to offering learners new ways to express their creativity. In one classroom, students are diving into a creative writing lesson with the help of an AI tool called Sidekick. After scanning a QR code, each student is paired with the AI assistant, which offers feedback, suggestions, and brainstorming support — all under the watchful eye of their teacher. “I like everything about it, like, there’s nothing I don’t like about it,” said one Grade 7 student. “It’s fun and really helpful. It helps me brainstorm really good ideas,” added another. Teachers receive real-time updates on student engagement and progress, allowing them to intervene or guide as needed. “It basically gives me a little glimpse into how on-task the student is,” said Andrew Goertzen, a support teacher. Across the district, educators from elementary to high school now have access to AI tools. While some are embracing the technology, others are approaching it with caution. “I like to think of it as this unpaid intern who’s come in. I don’t know much about him, but he’s hardworking,” Goertzen said. “I’m not going to give him too much responsibility, but I’ll give him the grunt work.” Over the past year, the district has hosted town halls and launched videos and websites to raise awareness about AI in education. Officials say they’re still in the exploratory phase. “It takes me back to when computers were brought in in the late 1980s,” said Mark Pearmain, district superintendent and CEO. “That big step — teaching kids how to use computers — that’s where we’re at today with AI.” Last year, Goertzen’s class used AI to generate images for a fake news project, a lesson in digital literacy and critical thinking. “It was illuminating for them,” Goertzen said. “They realized how easy it is to put something out there on the internet that’s not real.” Teachers have full autonomy over how and when to use AI tools, but the district believes the technology is here to stay. “If we’re really going to prepare our kids for the society they’re entering into — and currently living in — we need to bring this in now,” Pearmain said.
