How is one teacher able to meet all the individual needs of students? The answer is where artificial intelligence comes in.

“AI is here to stay,” said Dean Rick Ginsberg. “This is a technology that’s more transformative than anything in my lifetime. It’s important for schools not to push this to the side or not have it at the core of what you do, but indeed, to dramatically change what you’re doing in teaching and learning.”

Investigating new technologies and innovation has been a focus of the University of Kansas School of Education & Human Sciences for decades, and some of the leading research into the use of artificial intelligence in classrooms, especially in the field of special education, is being done by faculty in partnership with school districts across the state. 

“We have some of the world’s leading experts in this area connected with the special education department,” said Ginsberg. “Many times, when you’re working with kids who have the greatest needs, you develop opportunities that then can be expanded to the fuller population.”

Special education professor James Basham has been working with AI the past 10 years, starting with how machine learning can be used to create personalized learning plans for students. Currently, through the Center for Innovation, Design, and Digital Learning, Basham examines personnel and personnel preparations and how we can better serve students with disabilities through a more modernized take on education for all students. 

“The School of Education & Human Sciences at KU has been a tremendous foundation for bringing the right people together to have these discussions and to do this type of research,” said Basham. “Overall, it’s provided us the flexibility to be able to expand our work in our research centers, and actually being able to work with school districts, both regionally and beyond, in looking at how AI is being used and looking at the implications of AI.”

For special education professor Sean Smith, this technology is more than academic research – it’s personal. His son, Nolan, has Down syndrome, and Smith says access to technology was crucial to his academic success. 

“Technology was a critical friend to him,” Smith said. “Nolan used word prediction, he used speech to text, text to speech and so many other tools on his laptop. He was fully included, but that wouldn’t have been possible without the technology today.”

Smith’s current research investigates how technology can be used in the classroom in three areas – virtual reality scenarios that explore social-emotional learning, a writing program that gives students immediate feedback on their responses and different frameworks in which teachers can use AI to support their current curriculum. 

Ginsberg, who also leads research in this area in his work through the Center for Reimagining Education, only sees the school’s focus on new technology growing as they work to prepare teachers and practitioners to be in the classrooms of the future.

“We’re creating tomorrow’s teachers,” said Ginsberg. “Teachers are going to have to use the technology. Where do they learn? It should be us. If we’re not preparing our students for their careers, then they’re going to be a step behind when they get out there. It’s a huge priority for us in terms of workforce development and putting our graduates in the position to be most successful when they get to the workplace.”

Fueling entrepreneurship and innovation is one of the School of Education & Human Sciences’ priorities in the current campus fundraising campaign with KU Endowment. For information on how you can help support the School of Education, please contact Laura Meyer, Education & Human Sciences Development, at KU Endowment at 785-832-7372.