As artificial intelligence evolves at warp speed, Maui educators, students working to ‘stay on top of things’ : Maui Now
Publish Date: 2026-02-11 11:00:00
Source Domain: mauinow.com
- More than 100 elementary and intermediate students participated in a robotics competition at Maui High School’s STEM Center, showcasing the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence.
- Student Dominic Guiwa noted that AI has revolutionized his capability to engage with complex projects and provides feedback he couldn’t find on his own.
- Keith Imada, a teacher at Maui High, highlighted the transformative impact of AI in education, on teaching methods, and on the learning process for both teachers and students.
- The VEXIQ Valley Isle Mixed League, which engages students in grades 4 through 8, culminates in an annual robotics championship which integrates AI tools to aid in development and research.
- Students like Dominique Guiwa, Alaina Hook, and Aleizay Angel, who are now high school seniors and have been involved in robotics from early ages, expressed their future ambitions in STEM areas and acknowledged the role AI will play.
- The competition included multiple scoring elements such as interviews, robot documentation notebooks, and teamwork sessions, demonstrating the serious involvement and impressive outcomes of the students’ projects.
- Teams like “Team 10698D” from Maui Waena Intermediate School won awards and qualified for further championships, emphasizing the impact of robotics education.
- The integration of AI in various educational roles, such as helping with research, assisting in writing, and aiding in precise machining, was noted by several participants.
- Teachers remain vigilant regarding AI’s ethical use in education, balancing its benefits against the potential decrease in critical thinking skills among students.
