At Sherwood Middle School, students aren't just learning about reading, writing, and arithmetic— they're diving headfirst into artificial intelligence to create unique, superhero versions of themselves. Career-Technical Education instructor Jeffrey Elam leveraged this technology to celebrate Career-Technical Education Month and Black History Month, giving a new spin on self-expression and technical savvy. A project laying the groundwork—he wanted his students "to see that they could be anything, even superheroes," Elam told the Columbus City Schools website.
Initial surveys from Elam showed that a majority of students were hesitant to interact with AI, but the tide has turned as they've learned to apply the technology through Adobe Express. They've conceived superheroes with speed and ice abilities, like Marcus Jasma, who compared his creation’s learning curve to his personal journey of growing up and making mistakes. By pairing AI with English class principles, students like eighth grader Prince Jones developed characters such as the Prince of Peace, an elemental force to be reckoned with. "I did not know that you could make fresh content like this and put in a minimal effort," Jones said through the Columbus City Schools website, about his experience.
While superheroes in movies usually have flashy capes and dramatic backstories, the students at Sherwood Middle School are experiencing that character creation doesn't need wardrobe departments or screenwriters. Instead, they're using AI to design movie trailers featuring their original heroes and villains. The best trailers will be showcased in front of their peers, adding a unique flair to the school's Black History Month assembly.
According to teachers at Sherwood, the project has uncovered a range of student talents, from artistic design to creative storytelling. It's about more than learning to use new tools. It's about empowering the students to recognize their abilities across disciplines. Elam has high hopes for his pupils' burgeoning confidence, which could shine through in their performance on upcoming standardized tests. “I want them to go into that test with the mindset that they can do anything,” according to Columbus City Schools, Elam envisions for his students.
Through Elam's innovative approach, Sherwood Middle School students are not just passively learning about technology. They actively engage with it to shape their stories and transform themselves into characters of power and possibility. It's a collision of curriculum and creativity, where students can visualize their potential, no cape required.
