Projects | Publications | Software

We conduct applied research to advance theories of teaching and learning with AI and simulations. We have several projects running to explore our three areas of research.

Active Projects

SkillTree. SkillTree is an AI-based system that specializes in providing formative feedback to students by identifying evidence of learners’ skills while they participation in everyday activities and work. Inspired by modern video games where players’ characters skills are represented by a tree or network of the character’s potential abilities that can be leveled up, so too does SkillTree represent learners’ skills as a network of abilities (called a knowledge graph) that are able to be visualized and show what skills are related to each other. SkillTree assists learners by keeping track of their progress and helping them set goals for their learning to unlock new skills. SkillTree is also aimed to support teachers’ identification of students’ individualized strengths and prior knowledge. SkillTree is currently under development – coming soon! This project is supported by the Institute of Education Sciences and is conducted in partnership with the Illinois Workforce and Education Research Collaborative (IWERC).

PRAIRIE: Policy for Responsible AI Research, Innovation, and Education. The PRAIRIE Project investigates transformations caused by AI in the industries in which Illinois excels and identifies opportunities for continuing education and professional development to equip the Illinois workforce. We are developing several research-based products to support public policy and advocate for investments to educational programs to accelerate Illinois’ leadership in industries through AI readiness. The PRAIRIE project is sponsored by the Institute of Government and Public Affairs and is in partnership with the UIC College of Business.

AI Policy Atlas. The AI Policy Atlas is a non-partisan data exploration tool for AI-related laws across the 50 states in the USA, as well as legal definitions on AI-related terms across states. The data is available for researchers and the public to explore and compare the composition of AI law across the nation. The AI Policy Atlas is a part of the IGPA Data Hub and was developed in collaboration with faculty partners at the three University of Illinois System universities. TRAILblazer Lab is a developing partner of the Atlas and currently supports its maintenance and updating. Website: www.aipolicyatlas.com

AI Leaders. AI Leaders is a microcredential program for AI workforce skills that are required for computer programming and development jobs in the new AI-enabled web design landscape. AI Leaders will enable participants to learn valuable developer skills while using AI in productive and ethical ways, with skills that can be clearly communicated through the use of ePortfolios and competency-based assessments. Participants complete a microcredential that is verifiable and linked to specific evidence of the skills they have gained. TRAILblazer Lab is the lead research group investigating how people effectively learn in-demand AI skills, how AI tools can be used to provide on-demand differentiated educational materials, and how microcredentials and ePortfolios can effectively demonstrate evidence of a learner’s skills. Website: www.ai-leaders.org

AI Amabassadors. The AI Ambassadors project is in partnership with Chicago Public Schools and Discovery Partners Institute’s Pritzker Tech Talent Labs (PTTL) to develop scalable models for AI professional development occuring in individual schools, led by champion “AI Ambassadors” who advocate for responsible pedagogical use of AI across grades and subject areas. We are researching approaches to supporting educator peer learning and what makes for effective resources in learning how to use AI in teaching and learning at scale.

Educator Computational Thinking Intensives. In partnership with Discovery Partners Institute’s Pritzker Tech Talent Labs (PTTL), TRAILblazer Lab conducts summer intensive workshops for in-service teachers on computational thinking, computing fundamentals, and AI. We invite teachers from all grade levels and backgrounds, especially those who don’t have much prior experience with computing or technology. Everyone needs to be a tech person today in the classroom, and we are researching effective methods for building skills in pedagogical computing and AI for the post-AI classroom.

AI Heuristics for Students. In partnership with Chicago Public Schools and Discovery Partners Institute’s Pritzker Tech Talent Labs (PTTL), we are facilitating co-design workshops with educators in the design of heuristic tools and resources for students to use when thinking about how to use AI in their projects and assignments. Alongside working with teachers in the design of these tools, we also are investigating how teachers learn together during co-design activities with content area experts in AI.

Prior Projects

QUAILS: Qualitative AI Labeling Support. QUAILS is open-source qualitative analysis software for educational and social sciences research that seeks to create automated categorization and coding procedures for large text-based datasets. QUAILS seeks to accelerate social sciences research with low-cost, AI-enabled tools to conduct qualitative research in a transparent and rigorous way with LLMs while prioritizing researcher oversight of identifying meaning within the data. We have concluded primary development of quails, and continue to maintain the repo. This project was supported by the National AI Research Resource (NAIRR) Pilot/OpenAI. Website: www.quailsai.com

The Ready Child. The Ready Child is a website designed to give parents and caregivers the knowledge and skills they need to help every child succeed in kindergarten and in life. The site specializes in sharing activities for early childhood and kindergarten readiness, particularly in the areas of early mathematics, computational thinking, and science. TRAILblazer Lab is a partner in The Ready Child project. This project was supported by the CME Group Foundation. Website: www.readychild.org