“North Dakota has the highest broadband density in the country, but sovereign territories still have gaps. These gaps can be filled if communities speak up and push for the resources they need.” – Shawn Riley, BisBlox
In an era where artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming every aspect of our lives, TIES, in partnership with aiEDU.org, North Dakota STEM Ecosystem, and other field leaders, has taken a proactive approach to ensure that AI is thoughtfully integrated into communities and systems. Together we are ensuring that education not only keeps pace but leads the way. AI Summits have become important gatherings for shaping the future of AI in education.
“Why will the AI revolution be different from the first internet boom? This time, there’s a bigger focus on making sure underrepresented communities don’t get left behind.” – Jeremy Shorr, TIES
Leaders from the North Dakota STEM Ecosystem were instrumental in collaboratively planning an AI Summit that took place on September 17, 2024 at New Town Schools on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota. Beth Demke—Executive Director of the Gateway to Science Museum and leader of the state’s STEM Learning Ecosystem—provided crucial local and state-level connections to advance AI initiatives.
The AI Summit brought together educators, community leaders, and AI experts to explore how artificial intelligence can be leveraged to support student success, empower educators, foster collaboration, and lead to a more empowered workforce. With over 150 attendees and a focus on Indigenous communities, the summit fostered lively discussions on AI’s potential to transform learning, foster creativity, and equip students with critical skills for tomorrow’s workforce. Together leaders learned:
Building Your Why with Wren Hoffman, aiEDU.org, gave K-12 educators a foundational understanding of AI guiding them through a series of activities that shed light on the ‘why’ behind AI readiness and its significance in educational contexts.
“We’re actually starting to have to learn to communicate. I love that we are getting back to talking human. That’s what it’s all about.” – Shawn Riley, Bisblox
Integration of AI into the Classroom with Alisha Kelim, ND Gateway to Science and Paul Keidel, North Dakota STEM Ecosystem, gave participants a ready to implement roadmap for creating a fully integrated digital classroom, ideas for maximizing educator time and ideas for professional development.
AI in Elementary with Dr. Jeremiah Okal-Frink, ISTE to learn opportunities for use in elementary grades while mitigating risk and Middle & High School AI implementation with Matt Plunkett, Project Leo to create personalized, career-connected projects without adding to educator burnout.
“There’s a huge disconnect between technical and non-technical communities. It’s not just the engineers who need technical knowledge—doctors, educators, everyone needs to understand how AI is applied.” – Angelique Membrido, The Coding School
Understanding Quantum Computing with Angelique Membrido, The Coding School by exploring the fundamentals of the technology and its application in the classroom to make complex topics engaging experiments.
AI Ethical Considerations with Dr. Lynette Borjeson Painter, Dr. Karen Arlien, and students of Bismarck State College, to fully prepare educators and community leaders for the possible AI pitfalls ahead.
“If you aren’t paying for the product, you are the product. People don’t realize how much of their data is being collected by these companies, and it’s time we start understanding what’s happening behind the scenes.” – Angelique Membrido, The Coding School
AI Summits are more than just conferences; they are spaces for community leaders to come together and thoughtfully chart the future of technology, learning and work in their region. From educators and policymakers to tech innovators and industry leaders – AI Summits create a unique ecosystem for collaboration and innovation.
The event demonstrated the vast potential for AI to transform both education and the workforce in the region. While challenges such as lack of resources, limited access to technology, and the need for extensive training for both educators and students were recognized, participants saw AI as a key tool in preparing students for future employment opportunities.
“AI will change how things are taught and the jobs around us. We just need to embrace the change and ensure every classroom has access to the technology and knowledge needed to succeed.” – Summit Participant
In the rapidly evolving landscape of AI and education, AI Summits stand as beacons of collaborative innovation, working toward a future where technology and human potential work hand in hand to create better learning outcomes for all.
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aiEDU.org
The AI Education Project is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that creates equitable learning experiences that excite and empower students everywhere with AI literacy. We believe that everyone – especially those who are likely to be disproportionately impacted by AI systems – should have access to the conceptual knowledge and skills they need to thrive as workers, creators, consumers, and citizens.
TIES | Teaching Institute for Excellence in STEM
The vision of a veteran educator, now a global organization, united partners to drive gains for learners, families, communities and the economy at large. TIES is dedicated to making STEM – a powerful force for economic mobility – accessible to everyone, especially underserved and underrepresented learners. TIES provides lead support to the STEM Learning Ecosystems Community of Practice as the backbone organization. TIES mission is to enhance education and employment outcomes, fostering a more preposterous and equitable society.
North Dakota STEM Ecosystem
The North Dakota STEM Ecosystem is the statewide resource to improve STEM access for all North Dakotans, engaging industry, community and education systems to address workforce challenges and STEM literacy. We support initiatives that promote a lifelong learning environment to develop employability and life skills and connect passion with opportunity.
