AIMS Collaboratory: Research-Based AI in Education

AI is one of the most powerful tools we have to transform the education landscape. We can control the narrative if we know how to augment learning opportunities with AI as a tool. https://lnkd.in/eKU8cZh4

The rapid rise of AI in our classrooms cannot be left to chance, nor can it be managed through fragmented, district-by-district policies. If we want to prepare our young people for an unpredictable future workforce, we need a cohesive, national strategy. In my latest piece for Fast Company's Impact Council, I outline why we must move past the "novelty era" of artificial intelligence and treat it as core educational infrastructure. We need intentional design, safe governance, and a unified approach that ensures AI is used to close learning gaps—not widen them. Ultimately, navigating the age of AI requires us to double down on "human intelligence" and build systems that foster true economic mobility and agency for all learners. Read my full thoughts in Fast Company here: https://lnkd.in/ginWwY5G #ArtificialIntelligence #FutureOfLearning #EdTech #EducationPolicy #DigitalPromise #FastCompany

Terrific read from my fellow Teach For America Bay Area board member, Jean-Claude Brizard who leads Digital Promise. Jean-Claude shares insights and observations from a recent trip to Shanghai and accurately points to the level of investment and collective will that is leading to huge leaps in AI and ed tech advancement there, and he shares a call to action for those of us here in the US: "The question isn’t whether we can catch up technologically, but whether we can develop the political will and strategic coherence to build an American version of this future—one that reflects our values of local control, individual liberty, and democratic participation." To read the full article, click here: https://lnkd.in/gFZQXWMH

Great perspective and insight from Jean-Claude Brizard on why AI in education requires a national strategy. Across the country, many states, districts, and schools are engaged in the essential work of strengthening system and instructional coherence—aligning curriculum, instruction, professional learning, and leadership so students experience a consistent, high-quality learning journey. That work matters deeply. And it also presents a unique moment of opportunity. As systems clarify what great teaching and learning should look like, AI can serve as an accelerant—helping educators strengthen instruction, personalize learning for students, and remove barriers that often get in the way of great teaching. If we approach this thoughtfully, AI doesn't compete with coherence efforts—it amplifies them, helping ensure every student experiences rigorous, aligned instruction. #AIinEducation #InstructionalCoherence #EducationLeadership

Very important perspective! One of the biggest gaps right now is the lack of cohesive guidance for districts trying to implement AI responsibly. When policy, infrastructure, and instructional practice aren't aligned, schools are left to figure it out on their own. Treating AI as core educational infrastructure rather than a novelty is exactly the shift the field needs.

This is an important conversation. As AI rapidly enters education, one of the biggest risks we face isn’t the technology itself — it’s the lack of a coordinated strategy. Right now, adoption is happening in pockets. School districts experimenting. Teachers figuring things out on their own. States moving at different speeds. The result is inconsistency. When something as transformative as AI enters a system that impacts every young person in the country, there is real value in having a national framework that provides: • Clear standards • Consistent guidance • Ethical guardrails • Predictable learning outcomes • Equal access to opportunity Without some form of top-down strategy, we risk creating an uneven landscape where some students are AI-literate and future-ready, while others are left behind. At the same time, national leadership doesn’t have to mean rigid control. The best approach is likely a hybrid model: A national strategy that establishes the foundation and direction, while allowing states, districts, and educators the flexibility to innovate and adapt locally. AI is not just another tool entering the classroom. It will fundamentally reshape how students learn, think, create, and work. Which means the conversation can’t just be about technology. It has to be about how we prepare young people to think, lead, and navigate a world where AI is everywhere. That’s a much bigger conversation — and one we should be having now. Nice article: Jean-Claude Brizard #AIinEducation #FutureOfEducation #EdTech #AI #EducationLeadership #FutureReadyStudents #BuildYourBestLife #ProjectOTY

The integration of AI in classrooms is moving faster than policy. A recent Fast Company article highlights why moving beyond fragmented, local rules toward a national strategy is now a necessity for the education sector. The core arguments for a unified approach: • Equity: Preventing an "AI divide" by ensuring all students, regardless of location, have access to the same tools. • Safety: Establishing consistent national standards for data privacy and ethical guardrails. • Support: Providing teachers with a clear, universal roadmap for professional development and classroom integration. • Readiness: Aligning the K-12 and higher-ed pipeline with the demands of an AI-driven workforce. We are at a crossroads: we can continue with a patchwork of policies, or build a cohesive framework that scales innovation responsibly. Does a national strategy provide much-needed clarity, or would it stifle local innovation? https://lnkd.in/esVhZBp6 #Education #AI #EdTech #PublicPolicy #DigitalEquity

AI has found a place in our classrooms, and now it's time to learn how to navigate the changing learning environment. T.J. McKenna shares more on how to better approach the idea of embracing AI in classrooms. Full story here: https://lnkd.in/ebQjUaSi

Educators aren't afraid of change. They're tired of trends that overpromise and underdeliver. 💡 We explored a grounded look at what's realistic in our latest blog: Where AI Fits in the Classroom. Inside, we cover: → Why the teacher's role is not going away → The AI use cases most likely to stick → What schools should avoid → What teacher-AI collaboration actually looks like day to day 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gWEPmhSG #AIinEducation #K12Education #EdTech #TeacherLife #FutureOfLearning #InstructionalDesign #YourwayLearning

🔍 As AI becomes ubiquitous in K-12 classrooms, a key question is emerging: Do teachers have the skills to use it well? The Educational Testing Service (ETS) just rolled out a new AI skills assessment designed to gauge educators’ ability to recognize, use, evaluate, and ethically integrate AI tools in teaching. The 30-minute test isn’t a licensure requirement yet, but it offers school leaders data to tailor professional development and support. Interestingly, most teachers (about 80%) report using AI already — from lesson planning to spotting AI-assisted cheating — yet many lack structured guidance and formal training. This signals a broader shift: AI literacy is fast becoming an essential competency for educators, not just a nice-to-have. #AIinEducation #TeacherTraining #EdTech #ProfessionalDevelopment https://lnkd.in/e3S5NVd5