Wright State leads $2.5 million effort to teach AI in rural schools
Wright State University received a $2.5 million federal grant to develop AI curriculum and train educators in rural Ohio and Kansas, where access to artificial intelligence education has lagged behind urban areas.
The four-year award from the U.S. Department of Education will fund a project called "Strengthening American Competitiveness with AI Education." It targets underserved communities where students and teachers have limited opportunities to learn AI skills.
The project creates a pathway from high school through college to the workforce. Students will build AI literacy earlier in their education, deepen those skills in college, and graduate better prepared for careers shaped by artificial intelligence.
Two colleges, two expertise areas
Wright State's College of Engineering and Computer Science will provide technical expertise and teaching experience with AI. The College of Health, Education and Human Services will focus on how to teach these skills effectively and prepare educators to deliver the curriculum.
Cogan Shimizu, assistant professor of computer science, leads the project. "This grant is designed to address the rapid rise of AI across industries by helping learners understand both its benefits and risks, while equipping them with the skills to use these tools to stay competitive in the national and global workforce," Shimizu said.
Kansas State University and the University of Florida are collaborating on the effort. Kansas State brings expertise in rural outreach and AI education. The University of Florida will evaluate the curriculum's effectiveness and develop metrics for success.
Teacher training starts this summer
The project will train educators to use AI tools in classrooms while building their understanding of core AI concepts. Professional development sessions begin this summer.
Sheri Stover, professor and program director of instructional design and learning technologies, and Valerie Shalin, professor of psychology, are leading the design of these training opportunities. They focus on helping teachers integrate AI tools into existing coursework.
Educators will learn not just how to use AI, but how AI systems work, when they can be trusted, and when they are the best tools for a job.
A distinctive technical approach
The project uses neurosymbolic AI, which combines neural systems like large language models with symbolic systems such as knowledge graphs. This approach reduces the risk of AI-generated errors, making the tools more reliable for educational settings.
Shimizu noted that rural communities in Ohio and Kansas have entrepreneurial spirit and potential, despite limited AI education opportunities. "Rural communities are impacted by a growing dearth of opportunity in the AI space," he said.
Student involvement and pathways
Three Wright State students will be selected each year to help develop curriculum, create AI tools, and gain hands-on teaching experience. The program creates a direct pathway for students into AI education work.
Provost Jim Denniston said the award reflects Wright State's commitment to workforce-driven education. "Through this project, we will expand access to artificial intelligence education, prepare students for high-demand careers, and strengthen the region's, and the nation's, capacity to compete in a rapidly evolving technological economy," he said.
For educators looking to build skills in this area, resources like the AI Learning Path for Teachers and broader AI for Education programs offer structured pathways to develop competency in teaching with artificial intelligence.
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