AI Institute for Teaching and Learning

VCSU will offer comprehensive AI training programs for K-12 educators and VCSU faculty, ensuring they are equipped with the necessary skills to navigate the AI-driven future of education. Through collaboration with other agencies, we will:

• Provide online, adaptive learning opportunities at the basic, intermediate, and advanced levels for K-12 teachers.
• Host two or more summer AI workshops for K-12 teachers lasting 2-3 days.
• Provide multiple training opportunities for VCSU faculty.

We will provide all graduates with the expertise needed to thrive in an AI-centric world, fostering innovation and adaptability. 

• Focus will be put on systematically infusing AI across the curriculum – each discipline, including faculty research and student needs, will utilize AI as it relates to their field of study.
• Utilizing AI in experiential learning to provide even more opportunities for students. The institute will create a partnership between Information Technology (IT) and academic departments to provide students with professionally guided, hands-on experience for academic credit. VCSU has established an AI policy and an AI Review Board to oversee and manage AI system deployment and AI development.

VCSU will spearhead research initiatives to develop and implement  new educational paradigms empowered by AI and learning science to enhance student learning outcomes and teaching effectiveness. 

• The institute will harness AI and combine it with teaching and learning best practices to explore new educational paradigms that personalize learning. The goal is to create a more individualized appropriate learning experience that increases engagement and maximizes the potential of each learner. Local AI development and AI systems management is needed to combine the power of Large Language Model (LLM) chatbots with an individual’s private data while maintaining user data privacy.
• AI-powered tutors like chatbots will provide students with on-demand, personalized support. Chatbots can answer questions, identify areas needing improvement, and offer targeted explanations and practice exercises. AI can also provide real-time feedback while creating new content to help users refine their work.
• AI emotional intelligence assistance could be combined with AI Tutor capabilities, taking care to keep these conversations private and not used by the LLM.
• Develop hardware and software to support local AI development and require AI systems management.
• VCSU will continue grant writing focused on continued AI research related to teaching and learning to ensure continued funding and exploration of new educational paradigms.

Incentivizing AI engagement among educators, staff and students, fostering a culture of inclusion and excellence in AI education. 

• The institute will provide stipends and/or tuition scholarships for VCSU employees and K-12 teachers engaging in AI training opportunities.
• The institute will provide AI excellence awards for various categories and a published case study will accompany each award so others can gain insight and inspiration.
• The institute will create AI certificates available as additional coursework for students. It will also provide full or partial tuition scholarships for learners pursuing these certificates.
• The institute will create new academic programs or tracks with significant AI components and provide full or partial tuition scholarships for learners pursuing these new degrees.

Ensuring widespread access to AI tools and resources for employees and students, leveling the playing field and promoting inclusivity in AI education. 

• The institute will acquire software to allow for development of generative AI LLM Applications for general work. This software will allow the LLM to combine with student private data while keeping VCSU private data private.
• The institute will use existing resources and systems to develop and maintain local AI development and AI systems management, as well as purchasing outside resources and software. This will include discipline specific AI applications.
• The institute will increase accessibility through language translation, dictation, captioning and conversion of content to user preferences.
• The institute will also provide support documentation and training for VCSU standard AI tool(s).

VCSU will provide AI expertise for North Dakota employees by creating a model institution for the responsible and effective deployment of AI across the entire organization, setting standards for AI integration and ethical usage.