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David Marshall talks with a teacher while sitting at a table.

Auburn University College of Education Associate Professor David Marshall (right) talks with an Auburn City Schools teacher during a recent AI workshop offered through Auburn's Biggio Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning.

Hundreds of Alabama teachers will benefit from a new online course about artificial intelligence in the classroom thanks to Auburn University’s Biggio Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning and two Auburn College of Education partners. 

The course is the result of a recent $12,000 Auburn University Competitive Outreach Scholarship Grant program awarded to Biggio Center Executive Director Asim Ali and College of Education Associate Professor David Marshall. Through the grant, teachers at charter and city schools in Birmingham, Lochapoaka High School and various schools in Alabama's Black Belt, will receive free teacher licenses for a K-12 AI Professional Development course created by the Biggio Center. 

“We designed this course to meet teachers where they are—curious, concerned and eager to do right by their students,” Ali said. “This grant allows us to bring high-quality, practical AI training to educators across Alabama, especially in places that are too often left out of the innovation conversation. Our goal is to empower teachers as they navigate this pivotal moment in education."

In total, Marshall said the grant opens the course to more than 200 Alabama teachers at no cost. 

"The grant we received from the Office of Faculty Engagement is allowing us to connect with teachers across the state of Alabama to ensure that they are equipped to teach in the age of AI,” Marshall said. "We believe that it is important that teachers and students alike learn to use these emerging tools in ways that enhance, and not replace, how they teach and learn.”

Also involved in the effort is recent College of Education doctoral graduate Katelyn Nelson, who has worked as a graduate assistant for the Biggio Center and was asked this past year to lead the first student M365 Copilot Beta Program in the United States. This past week, Ali, Marshall, and Nelson offered an AI workshop for Auburn City Schools teachers, also as part of the Competitive Outreach Scholarship Grant. 

"The Competitive Outreach Scholarship Grant program has helped us connect with local schools like Auburn City Schools and provide K-12 teachers with the support and resources they need to explore how AI can be used in the classroom and get ready for a successful school year,” Nelson said. 

Last week’s session with Auburn City Schools teachers in the Biggio Center focused on how AI is being used in K–12 education, and it highlighted how the recent grant is being used to support real-world classroom impact. Educators explored practical strategies for developing Al policies at both the school and district levels, shared ideas for using Al to save time on tasks and discussed ways to help various stakeholders understand the responsible use of Al in education. Over lunch, participants then discussed takeaways from the online course developed by the Biggio Center for K12 school teachers and administrators.

Drew Morgan, coordinator of Secondary Curriculum and Professional Development for Auburn City Schools, said the training was invaluable.  

"There’s so much to learn and think about in regard to AI in education, and as a district, we’re really just beginning this journey,” he said. "To get started, we formed PAVE (Providing AI Vision for Educators). PAVE is a special group of teachers who are lead learners for our other 6-12 teachers. One of our goals was to learn together and develop common understandings and paradigms around AI in the classroom and provide guidance and PD support to schools. The Biggio Center has been a huge supporter of that effort through their online course and hosting us for a workshop. It’s truly developed into the kind of community partnership that we seek to establish here in Auburn.”