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In the latest explAInED episode, we’re joined by Vera Cubero, a visionary leader in AI and education at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, who discussed her role in leading the state’s AI framework after the 2022 launch of ChatGPT revealed the immediate need for educational change.
We discussed the necessity of instructional redesign, shifting the focus from basic AI literacy to prioritizing durable human skills like critical thinking and judgment. Vera introduced the concept of the knowledge architect, where educators use AI to customize resources for their specific students, and explained how Micro PBL 2.0 leverages AI to make project-based learning more manageable and standards-aligned.
We also explored the North Carolina AI Solv-a-thon, a pitch contest that empowers students to use AI to solve real-world community challenges. After a slow start last year, this year’s Solv-a-thon had 25 competing teams from middle and high schools throughout North Carolina, with students developing solutions for issues like homelessness, DMV backlogs, and protecting local wildlife.
Addressing the difficult mindset shift regarding the cheating narrative surrounding AI use, Vera argued that we must move past a "blocking and banning" mentality to ensure students are prepared for a future workforce where AI is ubiquitous. Finally, she shared her goals for scaling these pilots statewide and using portfolios to promote metacognition and reflection on AI use to capture the actual process of learning.
