AACTE’s Innovation & Technology Committee Presents: An Introduction to Using AI Tools in Education Preparation Programs

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The current generation of artificial intelligence (AI) provides an opportunity to reflect on education and special education practice. On one side, artificial intelligence caused immediate disruption with some schools banning ChatGPT’s use in education. On the other side, AI is already integrated into daily life for every person with a mobile device. Even personalized news feeds are informed by algorithms tailored to maximize engagement via personalized content moderation. However, current AI models also have the potential to compose and spread misinformation. Therefore, it is essential for the field to develop a comprehensive understanding of this technology along with the impact it will have on teaching, learning, and human development. Concurrently, the community must establish policy and ethical guidelines for the field. Join us as we discuss how Educator Preparation Programs (EPPs) can leverage AI to meet the needs of the next generation of educators. 

Moderator: 

Rachel Karchmer-Klein, Ph.D. 
Associate Professor, Literacy Education  
University of Delaware 
AACTE Innovation & Technology Committee Co-Chair 

Rachel Karchmer-Klein is an associate professor of literacy education at the University of Delaware and serves as the co-chair of the AACTE Innovation and Technology Committee. Karchmer-Klein began her career as an elementary classroom teacher and reading specialist. She earned her Ph.D. from Syracuse University, and her research agenda has mainly focused on the relationships between Internet technologies and reading and writing in digital spaces. Karchmer-Klein first taught fully online in 2003 and shares her expertise in designing online instruction in her book, Improving Online Teacher Education: Digital Tools and Evidence-Based Practices (2020). Her expertise in K-12 technology integration can be examined in her latest publication, Next Level Digital Tools and Teaching: Solving Six Major Instructional Challenges, K-12 (2022). Both books were published with Teachers College Press, Teachers College, Columbia University.    

 Speakers: 

Marie K. Heath, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor, Educational Technology
Loyola University  

Marie K. Heath (she/her/hers) is an assistant professor of educational technology at Loyola University Maryland. Prior to her work in higher education, Heath taught high school social studies in Baltimore County Public Schools. Her teaching experiences influenced her research focusing on the intersection of education, civic engagement, and technology to foster social change. Heath is the co-editor of the CITE Social Studies journal, chair of the Critical Theory in Teaching and Technology (CTTT) special interest group (SIG) for the Society for Information and Technology and Teacher Education (SITE), co-founder of the Civics of Technology project, and past chair of the Social Studies SIG for SITE. Heath is a faculty associate at the Center for Equity, Leadership, and Social Justice in Education. 

Punya Mishra, Ph.D.
Associate Dean of Scholarship
Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, Arizona State University
AACTE Innovation and Technology Committee Member

Punya Mishra is associate dean of scholarship and innovation at Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, Arizona State University, where he leads multiple initiatives, providing a future-forward, equity-driven, collaborative approach to educational research. He is internationally recognized for his work in educational technology, creativity, and the application of design to educational innovation. With $9.5 million in grants; 200+ published articles, and 5 books, he is ranked in the top 2% of scientists worldwide and the top 100 scholars with the biggest influence on educational practice and policy. He is an award-winning instructor, an engaging public speaker, and an accomplished visual artist. 

Eleazar Vasquez III 
Director and Professor
University of Central Florida 

Eleazar Vasquez III is the director of the Toni Jennings Exceptional Education Institute and professor of exceptional student education at the University of Central Florida. His research has been continuously funded since 2008 with more than $12 million from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Department of Education Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS). The goal of this research is to understand how K-12 and postsecondary students with and without disabilities can effectively learn science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) content using innovative technologies through interdisciplinary collaborations, lean startup models, and universal design for learning framework.

Vasquez currently holds a joint appointment with the Learning Science Cluster at UCF, affiliate faculty status with Lockheed Martin Academy, and SREAL synthetic reality lab. He earned his Ph.D. from Utah State University. He has practiced in the field of education as a middle school resource math teacher, technology coordinator, and school psychologist prior to becoming a professor.