Carnegie Mellon University
NSF AI Institute for Societal Decision Making  ›  Education

Education

The impact of our research efforts can only be sustained by a workforce trained at the intersection of AI and human decision science. To achieve this, we are reforming training and upskilling through interdisciplinary curricula and experiential learning experiences.  We are actively shaping the next generation of leaders and innovators through strategic educational initiatives spanning K-12 schools, community colleges, universities, and professional development. By fostering interdisciplinary curricula at the intersection of AI and liberal arts, providing enriching experiences for students, and creating upskilling opportunities for the existing workforce, the Institute is committed to building broad expertise at the critical intersection of AI and society.

Our Approach

To both broaden and deepen our educational impact, we employ a multi-faceted approach that fosters engagement across educational levels. This includes designing new interdisciplinary degree programs at the bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D. levels to cultivate the next generation of AI-literate leaders. We empower student voices through our active Student Leadership Council, providing a platform for feedback and direct influence on the Institute's direction. Furthermore, we offer diverse opportunities for student growth, such as collaborative brainstorming sessions and targeted professional development activities. Our focus on experiential learning extends to K-12 education through initiatives like our national high school citizen science effort, providing hands-on exposure to AI and data science while contributing to critical Institute research.


High school students at Winchester Thurston engage with Michael Naragon and David Nassar. Photo credit: Jason Cohn.

K-12

We believe that foundational understanding of AI and its societal implications starts early. Our K-12 initiatives are designed to spark curiosity and build essential skills in young learners and educators alike. Through engaging educator workshops and hands-on experiential learning opportunities, such as our national citizen science project involving real-world AI applications in disaster assessment, we aim to empower the next generation to become informed and responsible AI leaders and thinkers.

Community College

We are committed to fostering broad AI literacy through strategic engagement with community colleges. The Technology for Effective and Efficient Learning (TEEL) Lab is leading the development of a comprehensive AI User course utilizing the Sail() platform that features interactive projects based on real-world scenarios to equip students with practical knowledge of AI capabilities and limitations in societal contexts. This initiative represents the culmination of our work to empower community college students with the foundational knowledge and skills to effectively navigate and utilize AI technologies in their academic and professional lives.

Undergraduate

For undergraduate students, we offer a range of enriching opportunities to dive into the intersection of artificial intelligence and society. This includes our interdisciplinary Data Science in Society minor, designed to provide a strong foundation in data analysis and its ethical implications. Students can also gain valuable hands-on experience through research opportunities and experiential learning. Furthermore, we foster a vibrant student community through brainstorming sessions and offer professional development and networking events to prepare future leaders in this rapidly evolving field.

Graduate

At the graduate level, we are developing new courses and degrees at the intersection of AI, Data Science, and Human Decision Science. We are also working towards developing joint courses and degrees co-taught by faculty across multiple institutions. Our graduate programs offer rigorous training and significant experiential learning opportunities, allowing students to collaborate with nonprofits and practitioners to apply their knowledge to real-world challenges. We also foster a collaborative environment through brainstorming sessions and professional development programs.

Workforce Development

We dedicated to equipping the existing workforce with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate and contribute to an AI-driven world. Our initiatives in this area include active engagement with industry through listen/learn sessions as well as focus groups with agencies and nonprofits that collaborate on Institute research.  Looking ahead, we are building out targeted tutorial modules for executives and managers in a "train the trainer" model to maximize our reach and impact across organizations while we build modular certificate programs to provide professionals with recognized credentials in specific areas of AI and its societal implications.