Artificial Intelligence in K-12
Kickstarting the Future with the AESD Network
As the world explores the implications and opportunities for Artificial Intelligence in education, our state’s nine Educational Service Districts, unified through the Association of ESDs (AESD) Network, are here to support you.
AI Innovation Summit 2025
Explore the power of artificial intelligence in K-12 education. Whether you’re new to AI or already implementing it, the Summit offers you and your team the opportunity to come together to gain knowledge and explore strategies.
Join us! February 3-5, 2025 in SeaTac!
Upcoming Statewide AI Classes
Click on a listing below to learn more and register:
Enroll Now in AI Innovators: Trainer Resources Canvas Course
The AESD is excited to partner with OSPI, NCCE, and Microsoft to launch an aligned series of AI learning opportunities designed for district trainers and educators looking to integrate AI into teaching practices! Whether you’re looking to enhance your own skills or train others, this course offers a comprehensive journey through the possibilities AI brings to education. This training can either be used to enhance your own learning or used to train your entire staff. These five modules will provide the beginnings for you or your staff.
Broken into five modules, the training begins with the understanding of AI, followed by the application and ethics, prompt engineering and finalizes by having the learner create a resource guide for staff or personal use.
Learn more about each module:
Module 1: Understanding AI
Designed to enhance participants’ awareness and understanding of artificial intelligence (AI). It will delve into specific details to establish a strong foundational understanding of AI operations. Participants will also explore the historical context and implications of AI and its future impact. The primary aim is to emphasize the significance of proficiency in essential AI skills and equipping educators and learners for the digital world that awaits them. Lastly, participants will actively engage in discussions on the importance of human-centered guidance with AI and best practices for integrating AI into educational settings.
Module 2: Exploring AI
Explore the world of generative AI in the classroom. This module will foster discussion on the current state of AI in educational practices, with participants investigating the capabilities of AI to impact teacher productivity and student needs. Participants will also explore the basics of prompt engineering and begin exploring a variety of AI tools to use in their learning design.
Module 3: Utilizing AI
Explore AI through both teacher and student perspectives. Participants will gain skills to elevate their teaching methods and propel student learning by crafting standards-aligned lessons infused with AI. This immersive module equips you with practical insights, impactful tools, and engaging strategies to harness AI’s potential, fostering deeper student understanding and enhancing classroom engagement.
Module 4: Adopting AI
Explore AI by analyzing state standards. Participants will gain skills to elevate their teaching methods and propel student learning by creating standards-aligned activities with AI assistance. This hands-on module gives practice with creating activities that are standard aligned with real-world resources to foster a deeper student understanding and enhancing classroom engagement.
Module 5: Becoming an Innovator for AI
Engage in collaborative exercises to craft a customized AI Resource Guide, targeting school leaders, communities, students, or teachers to enhance understanding and foster engagement. Additionally, the module will give participants time to collaboratively explore innovative ideas, share practical experiences, and ignite discussions on how best to use AI.
AI Innovators Materials
The AI Innovators sessions have ended but the AI Innovators materials are now posted in Canvas as free content training materials. You may use the information below to access the material.
AI Innovators: Trainer Resources Canvas Course
This course has enabled open enrollment. Students can self-enroll in the course on Canvas. Alternatively, they can register on Canvas and use the following join code: ARMEAN.
Networking and Learning for Leaders
In fall 2023 we launched a series of three statewide networking and learning sessions that bring together school and district system leaders to elevate and explore top of mind AI issues in our K-12 system together.
Each session engaged school/district leaders in:
Shared learning
District networking and sharing (breakout sessions)
Resource sharing and additional learning opportunities for educators to access
Session Materials
Session 1: Bringing AI to School Systems – Support for Leaders - October 30, 2023
This first session included a keynote from Kris Hagel, Director of Digital Learning at Peninsula School District, and several breakout sessions ranging from Ethical AI Use to an open Q&A discussion with Superintendents.
Session 2: Implementing AI for Administrative Efficiency - January 22, 2024
This second session integrated feedback from participants in our first session. Discussion and presentation room topics included:
- Breakout Session A: Beginning the AI Guidance/Process (AI Toolkit)
- Breakout Session B: Effective Prompt Strategies-Enhancing AI Prompts for Optimal Results
- Breakout Session C: Summarizing and Streamlining Communications with AI
- Breakout Session D: AI in Action: Practical Applications for Administrators
- Breakout Session E: Data-Driven Insights: Using School District Analytics with AI
- Breakout Session F: AI Integration: Engaging Tech Departments
Session 3: AI Learning Series Session 3: AI in Action - May 20, 2024
This session featured insights from seasoned district and building leaders as well as expert representatives from OSPI and WSSDA. Participants navigated key questions and shared strategies in the pursuit of pioneering educational practices:
- How have you instructed staff on the use of AI (or how do you plan to)?
- How has your district supported you in the use of AI?
- What are the visions and goals moving forward?
- What are you considering as you are moving forward?
The session concluded with learning about the current and upcoming opportunities available around the state, as well as the opportunity to share needs going forward.
Resources
Bringing AI to School: Tips for School Leaders
(AASA, ASCD, ISTE, NAESP, NASSP (2023))
Regional Coordinators
For more information, please contact your regional coordinator or Travis Rush, AESD Education Technology Lead.
ESD 101
Debbie Stewart
Educational Technology Specialist
ESD 105
Mike Batali
Educational Technology Coordinator
ESD 112
Kristina Wambold
Integrated EdTech Coordinator
Katherine Livick
Instructional Technology Coordinator
ESD 113
Shannon L. Thissen, PhD
Regional Administrator Educational Technology and Computer Science
ESD 114
Kim Weaver
STEM and EdTech Coordinator
ESD 121
Trinh Pham
Director of Education Technology
ESD 123
Molly Brinkley
Educational Technology Coordinator
ESD 171
Stefan Troutman
Education Technology Specialist
ESD 189
Vanessa Allen
Instructional Technology Specialist