Overview
What opportunities are there to bring data science and AI education into K-12 classrooms, schools, and districts? This event highlights models, curricula, and innovative projects that are making K-12 data and AI education a reality.
Beginning with an overview of existing curricular models and resources that educators can implement tomorrow, the event then showcases ongoing initiatives in policy development, youth-centered data projects, and community-based AI applications. From district AI policies to student-led data visualization to environmental monitoring with Edge AI, these examples illustrate multiple entry points for schools and districts at different stages of their data science and AI education journey.
Featured Speakers
Mahmoud Harding
Data Science 4 Everyone (DS4E)
Instructional Design Director
Mahmoud Harding is the Instructional Design Director at Data Science 4 Everyone (DS4E), a national initiative based at the University of Chicago. He previously co-developed the data science program at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) and has taught introductory data science at the North Carolina State University Data Science and AI Academy (DSA).
Dr. Lynn Hodge
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Professor and Head, Department of Theory & Practice in Teacher Education
Lynn Hodge is department head and professor of STEM (mathematics) education in the Department of Theory and Practice in Teacher Education at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She is also the Director of the Center for Enhancing Education in Mathematics and Sciences (CEEMS).
A frequent recipient of external funding focusing on STEM topics and teaching, Hodge provides guidance for STEM teachers and students locally, and at state and national levels.
Dr. Rachel Wong
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Assistant Professor, Department of Theory & Practice in Teacher Education
Rachel Wong is an assistant professor in learning, design, and technology/STEM education in the Department of Theory and Practice in Teacher Education at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She is also the coordinator of the instructional technology master's program. Her research centers on identifying barriers to artificial intelligence integration in K–12 education by establishing research partnerships with schools in rural East Tennessee. She recently completed an NSF-funded project that investigated community perceptions of AI, and also partnered with Dr. Yukyeong Song in supporting teachers as their co-designed an AI tool to support student learning.
Dr. Kelly Boles
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Assistant Professor, Department of Theory & Practice in Teacher Education
Kelly L. Boles is an assistant professor of educational data science in the Department of Theory and Practice in Teacher Education at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Motivated by her K-12 mathematics, computer science, and engineering teaching career in rural Central Appalachia, her work attends to geographic differences in students' and teachers’ learning opportunities, particularly within STEM. Current projects include the development of Community Data Libraries, an effort to centralize data about communities and make it easily accessible to teachers, students, and community members within them. Additionally, in collaboration with Dr. Sukanya Moudgalya and Dr. Sai Swaminathan, she is developing curricula to introduce data science and AI topics in secondary agriculture and environmental science classrooms.
Who Should Attend
This event is designed for:
- K-12 teachers across all subject areas
- School administrators and principals
- District curriculum coordinators and instructional leaders
- Anyone supporting K-12 data science and AI education
Event Flyer
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