Digital Promise’s portfolio of work on AI and emerging technologies in education spans research, policy development, capacity building, consulting, and edtech infrastructure and design. Our work explores how AI tools can enable powerful learning experiences that make education more effective for every learner.
Digital Promise, alongside core partners Learning Data Insights, DrivenData, Massive Data Institute at Georgetown University, and Catalyst @ Penn GSE, has launched of the K-12 AI Infrastructure Program, a multi-year initiative aiming to close the gap between scientific principles of teaching and learning and the promise of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI). The $26 million program will issue grants to develop openly-shared datasets, models, benchmarks, and other digital public goods to advance the accuracy and relevance of AI in education.
In September 2024, Digital Promise was awarded a grant by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) to launch and lead the Using Generative Artificial Intelligence for Reading R&D Center (U-GAIN Reading), a national research and development institute to investigate how to use generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) to improve elementary school reading instruction. U-GAIN Reading will partner with school districts from across the U.S. to understand how GenAI and the Science of Reading can be used to individualize reading supports to meet the needs of each individual student in U.S. elementary schools. Learn more
As one of five NSF-funded institutes that connect AI and education, the AI Institute for Engaged Learning (EngageAI)—a coalition of four universities and Digital Promise—is working across disciplines and with practitioners to create more engaging experiences for students through AI-powered, story-driven learning environments, while also strengthening the opportunities for students to learn science more deeply. Acting as the nexus for the EngageAI Institute, Digital Promise facilitates activities and communication to tackle the challenges associated with narrative-based learning using AI.
Led by Digital Promise from 2017-2024, the Center for Integrative Research in Computing and Learning Sciences (CIRCLS) was a community-based hub of researchers exploring and investigating technologies that will be available to learners in five to 10 years—specifically examining the connected issues of emerging technologies, learning sciences, and designing for students from low-income and rural backgrounds, and other students needing specific supports.
AI literacy is the knowledge and skills that enable humans to critically understand, evaluate, and use AI systems and tools to safely and ethically participate in an increasingly digital world. Digital Promise’s AI Literacy: A Framework to Understand, Evaluate, and Use Emerging Technology describes a framework to leverage AI systems and tools for powerful learning and strategies for education leaders to design and implement a clear approach to AI literacy for their specific communities. Learn more
Digital Promise’s Framework for Powerful Learning with Emerging Technology, with funding from Google, shares a vision for the role of AI and emerging technology-enabled tools within learning environments. The framework offers research-based insights and practical strategies for designing and implementing emerging technologies to promote powerful learning by ensuring tools are evidence-based, learner-centered, and skill-building.
Digital Promise works with education leaders to implement a systems change approach to both AI and digital equity. Our Digital Equity Framework outlines five factors that must be simultaneously addressed to ensure the use of AI is fair and equitable for all learners. Learn more
AI-powered edtech must be designed responsibly to benefit all learners. Digital Promise’s Responsibly Designed AI product certification recognizes products that reduce algorithmic bias, label generative AI content, protect data privacy, and support educator agency.
Digital Promise has partnered with seven leading edtech organizations to help school systems to identify quality digital learning tools.
