Educator Preparation

From Local Problems to Community Solutions: Join the Fall 2026 CIDDL AI Community Challenge

What could students improve in their community if artificial intelligence became a thought partner rather than an answer machine?
The Center for Innovation, Design, and Digital Learning (CIDDL) invites students and teachers in Grades 7–12 to answer this question through the Fall 2026 AI Community Challenge. Teams across the nation will identify a consequential local issue, investigate its causes, and design an evidence-informed solution with support from artificial intelligence (AI). The challenge places human reasoning at the center of every submission.

Virtual Classrooms, Real Skills: Utilizing Mixed-Reality Simulations in Special Education Teacher Prep

Many teacher preparation programs are constantly seeking innovative methods to equip preservice teachers with the real-world skills they need before stepping into a physical classroom. One of the most promising emerging technologies doing just that is Mixed-Reality Simulation (MRS).

Designing AI-Integrated Learning Experiences for Pre-Service Teachers: A Real-Classroom Example

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic concept but a present reality that is reshaping how we teach and learn. Dr. James Basham, Yerin Seung, and I recognized that for pre-service teachers, developing a proactive attitude and the ability to leverage AI are fundamental competencies they must possess before entering the field. We designed our course to move beyond mere tool usage, aiming to foster a deep-seated AI literacy that balances technological benefits with pedagogical integrity. This post explores how we integrated AI into our curriculum to prepare the next generation of educators for a tech-driven classroom.

Signal or Noise? Sorting Through AI at ISTELive and ASCD Annual 2026

I went into ISTELive and ASCD Annual 26 expecting AI to show up often. I did not expect it to show up everywhere I turned, in the session catalog and on the expo floor alike. As a Graduate Research Assistant supporting CIDDL, the Center on Inclusive Design and Innovation in Learning, I work on AI and assistive technology research daily. I am not AI averse. Even so, the sheer volume at this conference gave me pause. This post is not an argument for or against AI in schools. It is simply a look at the numbers, drawn from the conference’s own program search, with a few observations as an attendee.

Vibe Coding for Special Educators: Building Custom Classroom Tools Without Code

What if the most powerful assistive technology tool for your classroom was not something you ordered from a catalog but something you built yourself, in an afternoon, without writing a single line of code?

CIDDL AI Studio poster: 'Humans, Machines, and the Mess In Between' with a network background, promoting a six-week study on AI in education.

CIDDL Office Hours: Introducing CIDDL AI Studio: A Space to Build, Think, and Solve Together

The May 19 CIDDL Office Hour highlighted the CIDDL AI Studio, a free six-week collaborative experience designed to deepen AI literacy.

Is AI Helping Students Think, or Doing It for Them?

Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming part of students’ everyday learning routines. They use it to generate ideas, summarize texts, solve problems, and even draft full assignments. But as AI becomes more embedded in classroom workflows, an important question often goes unasked: Is AI helping students think, or doing the thinking for them? This question matters because not all uses of AI support learning in the same way. In some cases, AI can extend students’ thinking, provide meaningful feedback, and open new possibilities for learning. In others, it can unintentionally reduce effort, bypass critical thinking, and limit opportunities for growth. The difference is not always obvious, but it is crucial for instructional decision-making.

Group of individuals standing around a conference table

Students Are Already Using AI: What Educators Should Understand About AI Guidance and Support

Recent research highlights an important shift. Students are not waiting for schools to introduce artificial intelligence. They are already experimenting with these tools independently. Understanding how students perceive and use AI helps educators respond thoughtfully and guide responsible use of technology.

Let's Talk AI and Special Education with Host Joe Sabado.

CIDDL Office Hours: The Future of AI Integration

CIDDL’s most recent Office Hours featured Joe Sabado, Deputy CIO at UC Santa Barbara and an influential practitioner-scholar in AI governance and digital leadership (Please check his website, Campus AI Exchange, and our blog post about it). With more than 30 years of experience supporting students and building institutional systems, he offered a powerful and human-centered perspective on the future of AI adoption in higher education, emphasizing responsibility and stakeholder engagement.

Future of Teacher Preparation in the Age of AI: CIDDL at TED 2025

This past week, the CIDDL team joined teacher educators from across the country at the Council for Exceptional Children’s Teacher Education Division (CEC TED) conference in Kansas City, MO. Even in the conference’s main keynote by Dr. Mary Brownell, focusing on the history and future of teacher preparation, AI surfaced as a central theme shaping how we prepare tomorrow’s educators. Across sessions, conversations made clear that AI is not a distant horizon but a present reality reshaping instructional design, professional learning, and the broader education landscape. CIDDL contributed to this conversation through three presentations and a keynote panel discussion where CIDDL PI Dr. James Basham served as a panelist on how to prepare special educators in a time of rapid technological change. Here are some key themes that emerged from the CIDDL sessions.

Tag: Educator Preparation