developing
AI
expertise

The Need. The rapid rise of artificial intelligence in education has created a pressing demand for professionals and educators to understand its potentials, applications, and ethical implications. AI's transformative power comes with significant challenges, including ensuring transparency, safeguarding data privacy, promoting equity, and preventing bias. At WGU Labs, internal teams needed guidance on integrating AI into educational products to align with organizational values and serve diverse learners. At Alder Graduate School of Education, teachers required training on how to thoughtfully leverage AI tools in K-12 classrooms while addressing issues like equitable access and ethical use in teaching and learning.

The Solution. To address these needs, I designed comprehensive AI Trainings tailored to each audience. For WGU Labs, the program focused on responsible AI integration in educational products and processes, with an emphasis on fairness, transparency, and accessibility. At Alder, the training prepared future educators to thoughtfully use AI in classrooms, emphasizing practical strategies for maintaining data privacy, addressing biases, and supporting all students equitably. Across both settings, the solution included interactive workshops, real-world case studies, and actionable frameworks to build confidence and ethical awareness in AI applications. 

Implementation. At WGU Labs, I facilitated workshops for internal teams that combined theoretical insights with hands-on exercises, enabling participants to explore the ethical dimensions of AI in their projects. These sessions served as a critical precursor to an AI-focused hackathon, where participants applied their newfound understanding of ethical principles to design innovative and responsible AI solutions. By establishing a strong ethical foundation before the hackathon, the training ensured that all projects prioritized transparency, fairness, and accessibility from the outset.

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At Alder Graduate School of Education, I delivered training sessions for teachers, focusing on how AI tools could enhance teaching practices while addressing ethical challenges. The sessions incorporated discussions on equitable access to AI-driven tools, strategies for fostering inclusive learning environments, and actionable frameworks for maintaining student data privacy and minimizing bias. Both programs were designed to empower participants to integrate AI thoughtfully and responsibly, fostering a culture of ethical innovation and impactful teaching practices.

Results. The AI Ethics Training yielded significant positive outcomes in both contexts. At WGU Labs, the program not only provided participants with a strong ethical framework but also directly informed the success of the subsequent AI-focused hackathon. Teams demonstrated an enhanced ability to design AI solutions that prioritized equity, transparency, and accessibility, with several projects earning recognition for their innovative and ethical approach to addressing real-world educational challenges.

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At Alder Graduate School of Education, teacher candidates reported increased confidence in using AI tools responsibly in their classrooms. They developed actionable strategies to safeguard student data, promote equity in access, and mitigate bias in technology use. Feedback from participants highlighted how the training bridged the gap between AI's potential and its practical, ethical application in K-12 education. Across both initiatives, the training fostered a deeper understanding of ethical AI, equipping educators and professionals to implement solutions that align with organizational values and support diverse learner needs.