(Source: LTs4AI Blurb)

New Mexico State University (NMSU) in collaboration with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Boston College (BC) will be researching and developing learning trajectories for middle and high school age students’ understanding of Artificial Intelligence Concepts. The project will run over 3 years (2024-2027) with funding from the National Science Foundation’s Discovery Research in K-12 Learning program (DRK-12) (Award #2405574, Developing Learning Trajectories Supporting Middle School Student Understanding of Artificial Intelligence Concepts). Learning trajectories (LTs) are developmental paths that capture how students learn new concepts and develop specific understandings of content over time. The LTs4AI team will develop LTs that illustrate pathways for the learning of key AI concepts then design and pilot test learning activities and assessments targeting these concepts based on the LTs, offer teacher professional development (PD) on the LTs and related activities, and research the effectiveness of the LT-based activities when implemented by teachers during the regular school day. Our goal is to significantly enhance the learning and teaching of AI so students can become critical consumers aware of how AI was created and how it works, informed citizens who can discuss privacy and security issues related to AI, as well as thoughtful stakeholders who participate in deciding when, how, and why AI should be integrated into our lives or not” said Irene Lee, the principal investigator of the project.