innovation

Mar 10, 2025

Harnessing AI Prompts to Build Critical Thinking in Classrooms

As an instructional designer and educational coach at the Friday Institute, I work with educators navigating both the possibilities and challenges of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the classroom. The…

A man stands at a podium in a suit and tie talking to a crowd. The podium is decorated with a lei and fishing net.

Aug 14, 2024

It’s Summer—Do Teachers Really Take a Break?

As teachers and students around NC are preparing to return to classrooms, inevitably the question will be asked, “What did you do over the summer?” Although schools are not in…

Jul 19, 2024

Four tips about how to use AI in NC classrooms, according to experts

Read the story here.

A group of students sit around a table of laptops in a library

Dec 20, 2023

New Literacies Collaborative Celebrates 10-Year Partnership, Anniversary for Suzhou North America High School During Recent Trip to China

After four years of connecting remotely through virtual trainings, virtual meetings and cross-cultural virtual exchange programs, the New Literacies Collaborative (NLC) at the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation visited Suzhou…

Jul 7, 2023

LASER Institute Summer Workshop

This in-person summer workshop is an intensive five-day program consisting of learning labs, guest speakers, community building activities and research planning sessions.

Apr 27, 2023

AERA Workshop on Learning Analytics Graduate Programs Highlights Need for Curriculum Sharing

During the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting on April 13, faculty from learning analytics graduate programs across the country convened in a working group roundtable to discuss student competencies, curriculum and instructional approaches in order to improve existing programs and guide the increasing number of programs in development.

Mar 29, 2023

Collaborative Team at Friday Institute, College of Education to Assess ATR Program Impact on Teaching and Learning in North Carolina with New NCDPI Grant

A recently funded one-year, $249,909 North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) grant will allow a collaborative team from the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation and the NC State College of Education to assess the impact of the teacher compensation models and advanced teaching roles (ATR) program on teaching and learning in North Carolina.

Feb 22, 2023

Serious Fun

Three staffers almost went viral in 2007 with a catchy music video promoting the benefits of VMware’s virtualization software. It turns out that the educational innovation behind the one-hit wonder improved computer access for K-12 students across the state.

Dec 13, 2022

New Research on Literacy Teaching Innovations During the COVID-19 Pandemic Highlights Model for Broadcast Pedagogy

A recent research study published by Friday Institute Research Scholar Sarah Bausell, New Literacies Collaborative Director Marie Himes, Associate Director of the Program Evaluation and Education Research (PEER) Group Erin Huggins and Executive Director…

Oct 12, 2022

Catalyst Grants Support K-12 Students and Teachers For More Personalized, Equitable and Engaged Learning

Researchers presented their work during the fourth annual Catalyst Grant Research Symposium, hosted Sept. 27.