Tech Insider: AI School

A few weeks ago, a few of my ZKTeco USA colleagues and I were invited to tour a new high school here in Georgia. The Gwinnet County school district felt they had something new and revolutionary that might be of interest to our industry and its future. Well, they were right!

I visited Seckinger High School (SHS) in Gwinnet County, where building completed in August 2022 with an innovative approach to school curriculums that I myself was not aware of.

Artificial intelligence (AI): The darling buzzword of our industry for the past few years that many of us are still trying to wrap our heads around. The school’s entire K-12 program is based on technology and the future of AI. Where most of us were introduced to these types of technologies much later in our lives, perhaps in college or much later, these kids are starting in kindergarten. Students from very early on are being introduced to programming, data science, computer science and more, all based on AI.

Many may be familiar with STEM schools and programs, but nothing this unique. Many of the typical high school classes that at least I grew up with are no longer there, or at least not in the capacity that I remembered. Yes, there still are basics like math, but with a unique twist. Students are now learning to apply math with computational thinking and algebraic reasoning merged with probability statistics based on AI models. Wood shops have been replaced with robotics and mechanical engineering labs, designing, programming, manufacturing and testing advanced technological tools. This is also coupled with machine learning to use, understand and develop applications and algorithms to solve real-world problems.

Solving real-world problems is something that really stands out to me. How many of us in high school were always asking, “Where am I going to use this in the real world?” Great, I learned about the Roman Empire, did a book report on The Great Gatsby and dissected a frog. To this date, none of those have helped me solve a real-world problem. Students are now learning how to develop user experience solutions that consider a user’s needs, potential physical and emotional responses to the solution and probable interactions. Programming continuums covering logical reasoning, computer science and programming with languages such as Python/Java/C# are preparing the future developers in our industry to marry security software solutions with their accompanying hardware.

Big data is another term that is gaining more traction when it comes to security. Plenty of current AI companies and solutions implement this now on video streams, sensors and other peripherals. Seckinger High School is preparing the next wave of contributors with courses geared towards building data analysis models and algorithms to collect, analyze, and communicate bias-free data. The school offers pupils three different study paths:

• Advanced Science and Technology includes AI, mechanical engineering, environmental engineering and sustainability and computer science, preparing students to be the next wave of software/mechatronics/environmental engineers, AI researchers, computer scientists and more.
• Business and Leadership focuses on international business, civic leadership, world languages, marketing and management, with career paths including business managers and owners, international security relations and more.
• Art and Design features classes on visual and digital arts, performing arts, and AV technology, preparing future educators, designers, marketing, content creators and more.

Each of these paths involves all aspects of the type of skills and background that so many of us use in our business, security solutions, building and construction and even education.

While SHS may seem like a fully technology-driven school, which it absolutely is,  the school also made a conscious effort to still include social activities for its students such as different after-school clubs and even an athletics program including state-of-the-art basketball courts and football field, which allows students to still have the traditional high school experience of pep rallies, going to games, participating in field trips and the actual “fun stuff” of being in school.

If you ever get a chance to visit SHS, you will also notice something very refreshing. It may not hit you immediately, but you’ll realize the amount of emphasis on diversity from the student body to the staff that is employed there. Most of the staff and faculty are made up of strong female educators from all different backgrounds. The diversity of the student body is also emphasized, as every culture is represented. This diversity is something that is empowering and that they take pride in. Let’s face it: our industry has been male-dominated for a long time, and steps are being made to change it. Diversity and inclusion are something we need to embrace and cherish because the future is these kids, and the future is now.

AI, mechatronics, mechanical engineering, software development, programming, instrumentation, hydraulics and everything involved in these curricula are all integral parts of the security industry as a whole, which is something we need to embrace as our space is constantly evolving, especially when it comes to proptech, multibuilding multifamily solutions, physical and logical access control, as well as surveillance and detection. These specialties provide us flexibility, scalability and a limitless amount of integrations and solutions that will no doubt shape how we innovate.

For me, this was an amazing experience, and I would love to see more of these curricula and programs spread around the country. According to Seckinger High School and the Gwinnet County School District, this program is the only one of its kind. While I marvel at their achievement, I hope they are not the only ones for too long!

This blog was originally published as an article in RISE Together, SIA RISE‘s newsletter for young security professionals.