Informing & Inspiring

Digital Humanities & Public History Convening

Digital Humanities & Public History Convening which brought together stakeholders from NC DCNR, the NC State Library, Griot and Grits, content providers, K-12 and higher education faculty from across the state, all around the goal of leveraging emerging technologies, including AI, to bring about a greater impact on our communities.

The honest case for AI in school

For higher ed: #AIreadiness is more than just knowing how AI tools work, it is also about taking a new approach to our work For ed tech founders: Create #actionresearch systems to learn from your stakeholders to build with them, not just for them Thank you Jennifer Womble, Jacob Kantor, and Jeff Piontek for the connection. And thank you Reilly Martin and Justin Wenig for a great conference! Looking forward to 2027

Patrick Gittisriboongul, Dr. Justin H. Lonon, Dewayne J. McClary, EML

Preparing for What's Next: AI & The Future of Opportunity

Sam Whitaker, Melina Uncapher, and Meghan Manfra discuss how emerging technologies are reshaping workforce development and creating new pathways to economic mobility, including for justice-impacted individuals.

Sam Whitaker, Melina Uncapher

Navigating AI in Education: A Media Literacy Approach for Today's Educators

Dr. Manfra explores how media literacy frameworks can help educators thoughtfully integrate AI tools into their practice while maintaining critical pedagogical values.

How will AI shape education? Preparing to lead with participatory approaches

A forward-looking discussion on participatory approaches to AI integration in education, drawing on action research methodologies.

AI & Impact: Essential Skills for Interdisciplinary Teams - Interdisciplinary Connections to Careers

Dr. Manfra presented on the essential skills interdisciplinary teams need to navigate AI's impact on career pathways and workforce development.

Maintaining Ethical Creativity through AI Implementation

What do we mean by "AI Literacy"?

As AI tools rapidly enter professional and educational spaces, this interactive brown bag explores what AI literacy entails, beyond technical skills to include critical judgement and ethical awareness.

Teaching with Primary Sources: Developing Learning Trajectories

Presenting my research at the Library of Congress TPS meeting in the historic John Adams building at the Library.

Action research methods + data tools = impact

Sharing strategies for non-profits to measure and share their impact. AI driven tools to: Assess impact intentionally Engage teams in reflective learning Refine program strategies in real time

The Data Bull

Assessing Student Use of AI to Improve Computational Thinking in the Social Studies

Although computational thinking has most often been associated with the STEM Education fields, our research takes a first step toward documenting student outcomes associated with integrating and assessing computational thinking in the social studies.

Dr. Robert Coven