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William & Ida Friday Institute for Educational Innovation

Engage Educational Stakeholders

We convene and connect educational stakeholders to catalyze change and innovation in education.

Current Programs

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LASER Institute

The Learning Analytics in STEM Education Research (LASER) Institute is a professional development program for early and mid-career researchers to leverage new data sources and apply computational methods (e.g., network analysis, text mining and machine learning) to support their existing research and develop new lines of inquiry.

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Two teachers converse in a room. One wears a mask and holds a laptop. The other is smiling. Both wear blue polo shirts.

Virtual Schools Network

The Virtual Schools Network (VSN) is a partnership between the Friday Institute and North Carolina Virtual Public School that supports and connects traditional virtual public schools.

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PLLC Team members at METRIC

Making Computer Science (CS) STICK: Systemic Change for Teachers

The Friday Institute, in partnership with the Wake County Public School System, is developing a sustainable community of elementary teachers to support ongoing integration of computer science (CS) concepts into core content areas. By implementing a scalable professional development program and co-creating locally relevant curricular materials with teachers, the project team aims to increase access to computing education in elementary schools, ensuring that every student in North Carolina has the opportunity to experience CS regardless of historical stereotypes and institutional barriers.

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CS4NC

CS4NC is the North Carolina chapter of the Expanding Computing Education Pathways Alliance — a consortium of states taking the lead to innovate with coordinated statewide computing education initiatives. CS4NC is focused on increasing awareness of computing education and coordinating activities and initiatives that will help us grow our computing education networks of educators and computing industry professionals alike.

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AI with the FI Convenings

The Friday Institute is focused on innovation and technologies that are transforming education. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing the landscape of K-12 education in every district, school and classroom. At the Friday Institute, we convene educators, ed tech leaders, researchers and educational leaders to discuss how AI is incorporated into education.

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North Carolina Computer Science Professional Development

These free Code.org professional learning trainings are intensive, highly supportive programs designed to prepare educators who have not necessarily taught or studied computer science previously. Educators across the state can now register at a training site nearest them to complete the computer science professional development that best suits their instructional needs.

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past programs

Exploring Next Generation Education Webinar Series

Watch these cross-sector discussions on how we can work collectively to explore next-generation education systems.

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The Innovation Project Early Learning Network (TIP ELN)

With a generous three-year grant from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, The Innovation Project (TIP) and its partners have developed and supported an inter-district network focused on redesigning learning environments to better address the early learning needs of vulnerable children. In its first two years, the Early Learning Network (ELN) engaged school design teams and principals from 36 schools in 12 North Carolina districts.

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NC Digital Leaders Coaching Network

Grounded in research on effective professional learning, this program provided access to personalized and sustainable opportunities centered around pedagogy and digital learning with a significant emphasis on strategies that allowed participants to apply that knowledge to build capacity among educators, administrators and students in the school.

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NC Conference for Educational Equity

The 2nd Annual North Carolina Conference for Educational Equity focused on the district-wide practices, community-based programs, school policies and classroom procedures that have created more equitable learning and life outcomes for students. This free two-day virtual conference brought educators together to transform their approaches to teaching and learning guided by a vision of hope, opportunity and liberation for all learners.

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AI in K-12 Convening Gathers Key Stakeholders in Implementing AI in North Carolina Classrooms

To address AI integration in classes, schools and districts, the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation hosted an AI in K-12 Convening of key partners Nov. 15 to empower educators, address ethical considerations of AI, collaborate with state leaders on the critical guidelines and guardrails for responsible AI integration and ensure equitable access to AI-enhanced learning.

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