To earn a certificate for 5 professional development hours, which can be submitted to your local agency with a request for CEUs, you must:

• View all four pre-recorded webinars
• Complete and submit your Companion Workbook
• Submit an artifact illustrating how you are using artificial intelligence (AI) in the classroom with your learners
• Reflect on your experience by completing a survey at the end of the module

The module is built around recordings of our four webinars originally offered in fall of 2023 through winter 2024. Each video is between 28 and 47 minutes long, and participants will have access to the webinar slides and links to all the resources, tools and surveys referred to in the sessions and session chats. The activities, reflection questions and tasks for each session are broken out into “Before You Watch” and “Activities” pages to guide you through, and we’ve provided an AI with the FI Companion Workbook document you can use to capture your explorations and reflections. If you are interested in earning a certificate for professional development hours, you will be required to submit your completed Workbook document at the end of the module.

Emma Braaten

Emma Braaten is the director of digital learning at the Friday Institute. In this role, Emma leverages her 23 years of experience as a former chief technology officer in Chatham County Schools (NC), digital learning specialist and digital learning coach with NCDPI, school librarian and classroom teacher to inform research and application in the K-12 setting and beyond. She works collaboratively with educators and stakeholders to support the effective implementation of instructional practices, content standards and technology to make learning more accessible for all students.

Kimberly Farnsworth

As a research scholar at the Friday Institute, Kimberly’s role includes fostering innovative educational research in K-12 classroom practice, identifying impactful solutions for technology-rich learning, building community partnerships to enhance research capabilities and facilitating research project management including a new AI initiative focused on the impact and possibilities of artificial intelligence in education. Kimberly has taught in K-12 classrooms as well as in post-secondary settings. She also has experience with instructional development and research in non-profit organizations, federal government employment and in private corporate settings. 

Jaclyn Stevens

Jaclyn Stevens is the interim director and senior research scholar of the Professional Learning and Leading Collaborative at the Friday Institute. In her work, she supports and coaches educators and leaders in adaptive student-centered approaches to provide concrete, quality, purposeful, reflective and on-the-ground personalized learning supported through technology to support all learners. Her mantra is to adapt, not adopt. Jaclyn is currently licensed and certified as an instructional specialist, an instructional technology facilitator, a secondary media arts educator, a secondary language arts educator and holds a special endorsement in computer education. [email protected] | @jaclynbstevens

Russell Dirgo

Russell brings with him a wealth of experience in implementing computer science (CS) across K-12. After working as a music instructor for a year in Pitt County, he came to Durham to serve as a K-8 technology facilitator at Little River. Most recently, he worked at Riverside High School, where he helped to broaden access to CS and engineering courses. His vast expertise assisted in his efforts as a steering committee member, working to write the state’s CS standards and establishing a foundational knowledge for all students across NC.

Amy Walter

Amy Walter is a lifelong learner and teacher, and her passion for education is evident in her dedication to creating a future where every teacher is a master of their craft, sparking a love of learning in every student and driving academic excellence through innovative and dynamic professional development designed and delivered with passion. She is a research scholar at the Friday Institute, part of the NC State College of Education, on the Professional Learning and Leading Collaborative.

Course Developers

• Emma Braaten
• Kimberly Farnsworth
• Brittany Miller
• Jaclyn Stevens
• Russell Dirgo
• Amy Walter