Iowa’s College Community School District hosted professional development sessions for educators this week, featuring speakers from Google and the University of Iowa to help teachers understand how artificial intelligence will reshape the workforce their students will enter. The training comes as Cedar Rapids prepares for two major data center projects from Google and QTS, highlighting the growing intersection between AI infrastructure and educational preparation.
What you should know: The professional learning sessions were designed to bridge the gap between current education practices and future workforce demands in an AI-driven economy.
- Superintendent Doug Wheeler emphasized that educators need to prepare students “for a future that we don’t know what will look like,” requiring collaboration with workforce leaders.
- The event was organized in partnership with the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, a regional economic development organization, focusing specifically on technology and AI workforce trends.
- Teachers toured local businesses and participated in presentations about AI implementation in both educational and professional settings.
The big picture: Cedar Rapids is positioning itself as a data center hub, with Google and QTS building facilities that will house computer servers and data storage equipment for AI and cloud computing demands.
- Google’s data center facility manager Tieg Weathers told educators that demand for these centers is “fast and furious” because “the world wants this.”
- Google chose Cedar Rapids because “there’s a lot of talent in this town,” according to Weathers, who highlighted the company’s rigorous hiring process that averages seven interviews per employee.
- Data center positions require diverse skills, from electricians and mechanics to pipe fitters, with military veterans particularly valued for their “extensive training.”
AI in the classroom: University of Iowa’s AI support team manager Manda Marshall outlined how educators should integrate artificial intelligence as a teaching tool rather than viewing it as a threat.
- “AI is something we want to utilize — not to create things for you or do your work — but to amplify what you already do,” Marshall explained.
- Teachers now need to teach AI literacy alongside digital literacy, with a focus on ethical use and transparency about when AI tools are being employed.
- Instead of policing student AI use, the University of Iowa is “embedding AI in the entire process,” such as having students compare their essays with AI-generated versions.
What they’re saying: Industry leaders shared practical examples of AI implementation in their businesses during a panel discussion.
- “I think the scariest part of AI is you put something into AI and that’s now accessible to everyone. We’re really worried about that, but we’ve got to hurry up and figure it out because everyone else is going to too,” said Danielle Monthei from Van Meter Inc., an electrical and technology solutions company.
- Jillian Walsh from Travero, a logistics company, explained their AI use for after-hours customer pricing: “If we’re not in the office to provide a price, you can lose that bid in a matter of minutes or seconds.”
- Marshall encouraged teachers to “be that human in the loop” when using AI for tasks like providing student feedback, emphasizing the importance of reviewing and personalizing AI-generated content.
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