AI Ahead of Print: The AERA SIG ATL Speaker Series

Hosted by AERA’s Advanced Technologies for Learning SIG (SIG-ATL), this monthly virtual series provides a forum for sharing and critically examining unpublished research findings on generative AI in education. The series addresses the lag between research and publication, supporting timely discussion of evidence in a field where technologies often change before findings reach academic dissemination. Each one-hour session features two speakers—one early-career scholar and one more senior scholar. Each speaker gives a 20-minute presentation followed by 10 minutes of questions and discussion. Contact the SIG Chair for more information, to volunteer to give a talk, or to suggest a future speaker.

Our first ATL Speaker Series Talk will take place on Oct 23, from 12 PM - 1 PM CST. You can register to attend here: https://smu.zoom.us/meeting/register/gwOXCB8jSQKWGtP48a3r2g.

The two talks will be as follows:

Speaker 1: Dr. Tingting Le, Assistant Professor of Science Education, Washington State University

Talk Title: Co-Designing Responsible AI Infrastructure for Equitable Science Teaching and Learning at Scale

Abstract: As generative AI becomes increasingly embedded in educational systems, the challenge is not simply whether to adopt AI, but how to design responsible infrastructures that support equitable teaching and learning at scale. This presentation examines this challenge through science education, where decisions about standards, assessment, and evidence directly shape students’ opportunities to learn. We introduce ADAPT-AI, a teacher-centered, human-in-the-loop system designed to support the development and adaptation of standards-aligned, context-responsive science assessments while preserving professional judgment and making AI reasoning transparent.  Drawing on co-design with educators across rural and urban contexts, we highlight how teacher expertise, local knowledge, disciplinary standards, and equity considerations can be embedded into AI infrastructure. We further argue that responsible scaling requires more than technical systems: it requires local capacity, participatory governance, and sustained collaboration among educators, researchers, system leaders, and industry partners to ensure that communities actively shape how AI is adopted and used.

Speaker 2: Dr. Candace Walkington, Professor of Mathematics Education and Educational Technology, Southern Methodist University

Talk Title: Using Generative AI to Create Illustrative Diagrams to Accompany Educational Tasks

Abstract: The capabilities of generative AI for image generation and interpretation have been advancing at a rapid pace over the past two years. However, little is known about what limitations current models exhibit, how and whether these limits can be overcome by technical innovations like multi-agent architectures, the typical costs of generation of educational images in terms of time and tokens, and how teachers respond to and think about AI-generated educational images, particularly with respect to Open Educational Resources (OER). This talk will discuss two years of research conducted on an NSF project seeking to co-design AI image generation pathways for OER with K-12 mathematics teachers, college mathematics instructors, and developers of OER. We discuss both areas of substantive progress of technical systems as well as parts of the process where human intervention and expertise is essential, giving implications for human-AI collaboration.

SIG ATL Graduate Student Mentoring Program

We are excited to offer a Graduate Student Mentoring Program (GSMP) for SIG-ATL. This program offers an excellent opportunity for graduate students in the ATL and LS SIGs to engage in networking with peers and to receive mentoring from experienced scholars who share similar interests and areas of expertise. The program will be held concurrently with the AERA Annual Meeting. 

All graduate students who are members of AERA and the ATL or LS SIGs are encouraged to apply for this mentoring program. Regardless of whether you are a junior (1st or 2nd year student) or a more senior student (3rd year and beyond) and whether you have started your dissertation, the program welcomes applications from all ATL and LS SIG graduate students. Please note that even if you participate in other AERA mentoring programs (e.g., Division C), you are still eligible to participate in the ATL+LS SIG mentoring program.

What opportunities and benefits will I receive as part of the GSMP?

Admittance into the GSMP includes a GSMP-sponsored lunch/dinner during AERA with the full cohort of accepted participants, recognition in a GSMP spotlight at the ATL+LS SIG business meeting during AERA, and coverage of your AERA registration fee.

Applications will be due in December of each year.