Dear colleagues and partners,
Greetings.
In May 2024, I was invited to Capitol Hill by the U.S. Senate AI Caucus to share perspectives on AI and education. The room was full. The conversation addressed a wide range of topics from equity and efficiency to innovation and our dynamic future of learning. I was joined by colleagues from Harvard, Vanderbilt, and the University of New Mexico. When I joined the Stanford Accelerator for Learning two years ago this month, the effort was just getting off the ground. Now, we’re contributing our insights and ideas on one of the most pressing issues in education to the national discourse. This is only one example of our journey, marked by innovative strides and collaborative efforts, to transform education by bringing evidence-based ideas, insights, and solutions out of Stanford and into the world.
Research with impact
Our work in AI+Education, led by Faculty Lead Victor Lee, has gained significant momentum. Through seed grants, research funding, new classes and seminars, convenings, and collaborations with teachers, school districts, tech, and edtech organizations, we have achieved remarkable progress. Over 30 faculty members and countless students are now actively engaged in AI+education research to advance learning and teaching in a safe, effective, ethical, and equitable manner. Our work has influenced AI literacy, academic integrity, feedback mechanisms, AI-enhanced teaching, writing and math, AI tutors, classroom collaboration with AI tools, accessibility, inclusion, mental wellbeing, and more. We have fully embraced Dean Dan Schwartz’s vision that “generative AI is the most exciting and important development that has happened in education in generations.”
Our impact extends beyond AI. We have catalyzed 33 new research projects across diverse areas. Over the past 12 months, we launched two promising seed grants on ethnic studies and in adult learning for rapid training for “people who help other people learn”. Our RAPID family surveys, led by Stanford Center on Early Childhood Faculty Director Philip Fisher, have become essential resources for policymakers and communities to understand and support families with young children. Our high-impact tutoring work, led by SCALE Faculty Director Susanna Loeb, has influenced school practices in 26 states, driving student engagement and outcomes at scale. In partnership with Santa Clara Unified School District and under the leadership of Learning Differences Initiative Faculty Director Elizabeth Kozleski, we are building a lighthouse model of inclusive education through interdisciplinary, collaborative, research-anchored interventions like the Para Pro Academy and Rapid Online Assessment of Reading (ROAR). Six Stanford Accelerator for Learning projects have won Tools Competition awards.
Accelerating community
Through high-profile convenings and their insights, we have reached over 40,000 educators, researchers, and community members, fostering a culture of continuous learning. Our professional development programs have empowered over 1,000 educators, enhancing teaching practices.
Students continue to be a beacon of energy for the Stanford Accelerator for Learning. We have launched new classes on design and global innovative practices, amplified student voices by partnering with our student EdClub for the 2023 Accelerate Edtech Impact Summit, and invited a cohort of over 30 students to ASU+GSV 2024 in San Diego. Eight teams were awarded Learning Design Challenge awards for their innovative projects in 2024. These experiences have often been transformational for our students.
We are also proud to welcome Maisha T. Winn to our faculty, who will lead the Equity in Learning initiative, bringing esteemed scholarly recognition and a community-centered approach to drive meaningful change.
What’s to come
Looking ahead, we are thrilled to announce new efforts that will further extend our reach and impact. The Education Entrepreneurship Hub will build a thriving community of innovators, providing resources, mentorship, and funding to students and young alumni developing cutting-edge educational ideas. The AI Tinkery, a new physical space, will welcome scholars, educators, and community members to experiment with AI technology through workshops and experiential learning opportunities.
In so many ways, we are just getting started, and are humbly joining many other collaborators on a quest for a bright future of learning for all. Throughout, our goal remains steadfast: to transform learning through cutting-edge research, interdisciplinary partnerships, and active community involvement. I look forward to our continued collaboration and shared success to unlock human potential through learning for all.
With deep gratitude and endless inspiration,
Isabelle Hau
Executive Director
Stanford Accelerator for Learning
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