Lights, Scripts, Action! West Utica Students Take Control with AI in Theatre! *

West Utica fourth grader Aria DeMiglio  had a hard time putting in words how much she loves a new drama unit at her school. 

“It’s not just fun. I’d say is way better than fun,” she settled on.

What she is not having a hard time putting into words is the original play that she will be performing as part of the drama unit. That is because her class has been using a tool created in AI by media center specialist Chris Brown to write the script. 

“The students are more engaged because they have buy-in to what they are actually performing,” Brown said. “Everybody has the opportunity to be creative.” 

Previously, students performed scripted plays that were given to them. Feeling that the scripts were getting outdated or losing relevance to students, they were looking for an innovative alternative. 

Enter SchoolAI. 

Using the tool that Brown customized for them, the students identified the plot to their story, answered a series of questions about elements of their play and had an opportunity to answer a series of questions about their ideas and characters. 

The result – with the addition of props, students have a fully formed play tailor made to perform in front of their classmates. 

“Now they have full creative control with the teacher being provided oversight to their work,” he said.  

DeMiglio’s play is centered on a group of kids that land on the moon and realize they do not have any food because they ate it during the trip. 

Enter the hero, an astronaut who lands with a ship full of pizza – DeMiglio’s favorite food – and everyone on the moon has a party. 

Her classmate Lucas Khammo created a scenario where robots battle a city for control. 

“I want it to be interesting that something another person could not imagine,” he said.  

For many students, the assignment was the first exposure to using an AI tool – something that will only grow in use over the course of their lives. 

Each fourth grader was able to create an original idea, and later worked together in groups to select a play the students could perform in front of their peers. 

Fourth grade teacher Becky Jonkman said the students are excited to present the finished product. 

“It is more of a fun experience for them because it is more personalized as opposed to just finding a skit,” she said. 

*Headline written with School AI