Artificial Intelligence Education for Virtual Schools

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming our world, making it essential for students to understand and engage with AI technologies. However, quality and accessible AI learning resources are limited—especially for rural schools—because most existing AI-related curricula are tied to computer science electives, assume in-person instruction, and require specialized teachers.

Purpose

Partners from Concord Consortium, University of Florida, Texas Tech University, and WestEd are developing and evaluating AI Across the Curriculum, a promising strategy to promote AI literacy and interest in AI-related careers at the middle school and high school levels. As AI relies on mathematical concepts and tools, math classrooms offer rich opportunities for integration.

Leveraging virtual learning, the project expands access and highlights real-world applications of math in AI. Students explore functions through sentiment analysis, build models with real data, and deepen their understanding of machine learning by extending linear regression into higher dimensional spaces where AI operates.

Audiences Served

AI Across the Curriculum offers digital, self-paced learning for students to explore AI concepts, discover related careers, and understand math behind AI innovations.

The project will provide valuable insights for practitioners, administrators, developers, and researchers on integrating AI literacy into instruction and informing future curriculum design and implementation strategies.

Project Activities

WestEd and its partners will work with virtual school instructors to develop and refine a self-paced, multimodule AI Across the Curriculum supplemental certificate program by conducting usability and feasibility testing in virtual schools.

The randomized-controlled trial will examine the impact of the intervention on middle and high school students’ AI literacy and self-efficacy in learning and applying AI and its simultaneous effect on math learning and attitudes toward math.

Learn more about this project on Concord Consortium’s website.

Project Director

Linlin Li

Linlin Li is a Research Director on the Learning and Technology team. Li develops and directs research and evaluations with local, statewide, and national agencies.

Funder

The project is funded in full by the Education Innovation and Research Program at the U.S. Department of Education through award number S411C230070.

Project Duration

5 years (1/1/2024–12/31/2028)