Indian Hill Schools released a new Master Class episode Tuesday, Sept. 29, focused on AI's role in the classroom.

The 21-minute video features Mark Richardson, the district's director of innovation and technology, alongside instructional coaches discussing how artificial intelligence is shaping teaching and learning. The district posted the episode to its social media accounts and YouTube.

The release doubles as a lead-in to a community event Thursday, Oct. 1, at Indian Hill Middle School. "Learning with Purpose: Technology and AI at Indian Hill Schools" runs from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and is open to all K–12 parents.

The event will cover three topics: screen time and effective technology use, the district's new K–12 AI scope and sequence, and AI literacy. That scope and sequence lays out how AI instruction changes by grade level, with concepts introduced at what the district calls "developmentally appropriate stages."

Richardson, in the district's published invitation for the event, wrote that the district's focus is not on whether students use technology but on how they use it with purpose. He added that the district wants students prepared to understand when and how to use AI tools responsibly while maintaining the creativity, communication and critical thinking that technology cannot replace.

Richardson's interest in student-driven tech learning is not new. In an August article in Living Magazines about sophomore Kyler Zheng's paid summer internship with the district's technology team, Richardson said: "… He showed me AI tools and ways of thinking about technology that gave me some new ideas for my own work."

Master Class is an annual Indian Hill video series. Earlier episodes this school year featured Interim Superintendent Dr. Melissa Stewart spotlighting individual educators and coaches.

The AI-focused installment marks a shift toward a district-wide topic rather than a single staff member.

The district's Instruction and Technology Committee, chaired by board member Niki Singh, held a work session April 9 that included discussion of future technology resources and potential enhancements, according to signed meeting minutes.

Indian Hill serves 2,222 students across four schools. Families can attend the Learning with Purpose event at Indian Hill Middle School starting at 6:30 p.m.