• Teach Appreciative Inquiry in high schools and colleges

• Engage youth in community-based AI projects

• Redesign education to be strengths-based and curiosity-driven

• Reimagine neighborhoods as hubs of connection using AI

• Launch community AI summits as common civic practices

• Strengthen intergenerational bonds and cultural bridges

• Creating toolkits that introduce AI

• Create fellowships, pathways, and shadowing programs

• Develop certifications or credentials for organizational adoption

• Capturing and sharing case examples

• Supporting grassroots and systemic efforts 

• Funding models

• Build digital spaces (e.g., Discord, learning hubs) for connection and innovation

• Establish shared language and a compelling identity (e.g., rebranding away from confusion with Artificial Intelligence)

• In person gatherings

Grassroots and policy influence

Research and advocay

cultural adaptation

invite disabled community to participate in meaningful ways

This theme focuses on embedding the principles and practices of Appreciative Inquiry—a strengths-based approach—into various aspects of the educational experience.

Action Steps:

Student Advising & Development:

Use App Inq for student advising: Students experience AI firsthand rather than just being taught about it.

Consider positive education model that utilizes VIA for students and success plans for students around those identified strengths: Leverage individual strengths for student growth.

Design IEPs (individualized education program) for special needs students so that it is more focused on students' strengths rather than students' "DIS"ability: Shift the focus from deficits to strengths in special education.

Integrate AI principles in our SEL curriculum called, "Purpose Learning" and have them use AI in the design of their purpose map and purpose statement: Apply AI to social-emotional learning for self-discovery.

Use it for career advising: Guide students in career exploration through a strengths-based lens.

Appreciative Inquiry Connection Circles (instead of restorative connection Circles): Foster positive communication and relationships.

Introduce pauses: Encourage reflection and deeper understanding.

Teach dialogue (beyond debate and position taking): Cultivate constructive conversations.

Teacher & Faculty Development:

Teach teachers & faculty how to use appreciative questions for class facilitation: Equip educators with tools for positive classroom engagement.

Build several "basic" models so interested teachers can easily pull tools: Provide accessible resources for teachers.

Offer Powerful Questions or other practical tools to libraries and teacher training: Disseminate AI tools broadly.

SOAR teacher and parents design school meetings: Foster collaborative meeting design.

Curriculum & Research:

Create App Inq research centers at more universities: Expand the academic study and application of AI.

Institutional Case Study competition: Encourage practical application and sharing of AI successes.

Rewrite learning objectives with an AI focus: Align learning goals with AI principles.

Community & Family Engagement:

Parents Appreciative Retreat: Provide positive experiences for parents.

Family Appreciative Trips / Camps: Create shared positive experiences for families.

Kids city appreciative walking experiences: Engage children in appreciative exploration of their environment.

What family give life home works: Encourage family-based appreciative activities.

2. AI in Education (Artificial Intelligence)

This category focuses on the integration and implications of Artificial Intelligence within educational settings, from curriculum to policy.

Action Steps:

Curriculum & Instruction:

Design AI into teacher training colleges: Prepare future educators for AI integration.

Add AI to syllabi and class activities: Incorporate AI concepts into existing courses.

Focus on AI principles in addition to AI process: Emphasize ethical and foundational understanding of AI.

Rewrite learning objectives with an AI focus: Design learning outcomes with AI in mind.

Create K-12 project based AI coursework: Develop hands-on AI learning opportunities for younger students.

Curriculum summit to explore AI across the curriculum: Facilitate cross-disciplinary integration of AI.

Create an AI game: Develop interactive and engaging AI learning tools.

Leadership & Policy:

Educate legislators: Inform policymakers about the potential and needs of AI in education.

Educate leaders & educators: Equip educational leaders with AI knowledge.

Design AI into teacher training colleges: Ensure new teachers are prepared for AI.

Establish AI champion/leadership program: Identify and support individuals driving AI initiatives.

Redesign teacher evaluation: Incorporate AI readiness and use into teacher assessments.

Reframe early childhood socialization norms in terms of languaging and expectations: Address the impact of AI on early learning and development.

Introduce international stakeholders - teaching students how to develop international partners in AI work early on: Foster global collaboration in AI.

Imitate some of the teaching initiatives underway at UN on SDGs: Learn from global efforts in integrating technology and sustainable development goals.

Community & Engagement:

AI Summits at schools: Host events to educate the school community about AI.

AI Summits for PTO/PTAs: Engage parent-teacher organizations in AI discussions.

AI community summits focused on childcare and preschool: Address AI's impact on early childhood education.

Engaging business community through AI summits around workforce training: Connect schools with industry for AI-related workforce development.

Provide AI Training Workshops for Parents: Empower parents to understand and support AI learning.

Student Opportunities:

Create AI Student Leadership Opportunities: Develop student leaders in AI.

AI scholarships to practitioner trainings for college/grad students: Support student access to advanced AI training.

Recruit employers who do AI to brag to students and teachers who are doing it WHILE they do (social) innovation camps of some kind: Connect students with real-world AI applications and mentors.

Collaborate with summer programs to incorporate AI: Extend AI learning opportunities beyond the regular school year.

3. Systemic Change & Collaboration

This theme addresses broader initiatives aimed at transforming educational systems and fostering collaboration among various stakeholders.

Action Steps:

Policy & Advocacy:

Educate legislators: Influence policy for educational advancements.

Educate leaders & educators: Promote informed leadership throughout the education system.

Share the concepts with school associations (at any level): Disseminate ideas and best practices broadly.

Leverage town hall concepts to infuse the ideas: Facilitate community-wide discussions and input.

Flip evaluation to valuation, as mentioned in an earlier session: Shift from a deficit-based evaluation model to a strengths-based valuation approach.

Community Partnerships:

Community summits that bring down the walls of schools and redefine who owns knowledge and who can be a teacher - leveraging community knowledge for student learning and growth: Foster a more inclusive and collaborative learning environment.

K-12 to university partnerships where college inquiry informs K-12 growth: Create seamless transitions and shared learning between educational levels.

Every AI consultant does pro bono work for one school/education institution per year: Encourage professional contribution to educational improvement.

Culture & Well-being:

Trauma/well-being intervention workshops: Address the social and emotional needs of students and staff.

General Practices:

Responsible Barracuda: This phrase likely represents a commitment to ethical and responsible action.

Scholar program: Develop initiatives to support and recognize academic achievement.

Involve students: Empower students to be active participants in shaping their education.

Bring kids together and ask them how! Solicit direct input from students.

Bring teachers together and ask them what would help: Gather direct input from educators.

Share what we already know/do: Promote knowledge sharing and best practices within the community.

• Use it for career advising

• Reframe early childhood socialization norms in terms of languaging and expectations

• Integrate AI principles in SEL curriculum called "Purpose Learning"

• Design IEPs for special needs students focused on students' strengths rather than "DIS"ability

• Create K-12 project based AI coursework

• K-12 to university partnerships where college inquiry informs K-12 growth

• curriculum summit to explore ai across the curriculum

• teach dialogue (beyond debate and position taking)

• introduce pauses

• Teach teachers & faculty how to use appreciative questions for class facilitation

• design AI into teacher training colleges

• Build several "basic" models so interested teachers can easily pull tools

• redesign teacher evaluation

• Add AI to syllabi and class activities

• Rewrite learning objectives with an AI focus

• Offer Powerful Questions or other practical tools to libraries and teacher training

• bring teachers together and ask them what would help

• Flip evaluation to valuation

Collaborate with summer programs to incorporate AI

AI scholarships to practitioner trainings for college/grad student

Appreciative Inquiry Connection Circles (instead of restorative connection Circles)

• Parents Appreciative Retreat

• Family Appreciative Trips / Camps

• community summits that bring down the walls of schools and redefine who owns knowledge

• Kids city appreciative walking experiences

• AI community summits focused on childcare and preschool

• Provide AI Training Workshops for Parents

• SOAR teacher and parents design school meetings

• Engaging business community through AI summits around workforce training

• Educate legislators

• educate leaders & educators

• establish AI champion/leadership program

• Create AI Student Leadership Opportunities

• Involve students

• bring kids together and ask them how!

• AI Summits at schools

• AI Summits for PTO/PTAs

• leverage town hall concepts to infuse the ideas

• Institutional Case Study competition

• Create App Inq research centers at more universities

• share the concepts with school associations (at any level)

• introduce international stakeholders - teaching students how to develop international partners

• recruit employers who do AI to brag to students and teachers

• Every AI consultant does pro bono work for one school/education institution per year

• imitate some of the teaching initiatives underway at UN on SDGs