Exploring AI in Education
Helios and the Arizona Institute for Education and the Economy at NAU Launch AI in Education Workshop Series
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly shaping education, influencing everything from how educators teach to the way students learn. To better understand these shifts, Helios Education Foundation is partnering with the Arizona Institute for Education and the Economy at Northern Arizona State University to host a multi-part series that explores AI’s growing influence on education.
The series, “AI in Education: What Philanthropies and Nonprofits Need to Know,” helps nonprofit leaders and philanthropic organizations learn how AI is being leveraged to strengthen learning, leadership, and organizational effectiveness. Through immersive sessions, expert panels, hands-on demonstrations, and interactive discussions, participants explore practical tools and strategies for using AI responsibly and effectively.
This first session set the tone for building a strong foundation for ongoing exploration of AI’s role in education. Future sessions will expand on these themes, diving deeper into applications in K–12 and higher education.
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Session 1 Recap: Empowering Learning and Leadership with AI
The first session, held at the Helios Education Campus in Phoenix in November 2025, featured Dr. Helen Crompton, a globally recognized expert in AI and educational innovation. Her presentation provided an overview of the current state of AI, including:
- Emerging Tools: Demonstrations of new technologies supporting teaching, learning, and workforce operations
- Ethical and Responsible Use: Insight into policies that ensure AI is used responsibly and keeps people at the center
- Real-World Applications: Examples of how AI is strengthening impact across philanthropy and the nonprofit sector.
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Session 2 Recap: Shaping the Future of K-12 Learning
The second session took a deeper dive into the current landscape and future possibilities of AI in K-12 education throughout Arizona. It brought together a diverse array of voices from both rural and urban areas, offering a comprehensive look at how AI is being used in classrooms today and what lies ahead for schools statewide. Highlights included:
- Teachers sharing how they are experimenting with AI tools to enhance instruction, boost student engagement and improve learning outcomes.
- A high school student offering firsthand insights on how students are encountering, using and contributing to AI and AI policy in their academics.
- School presentations from both rural and urban areas that showcased emerging ideas, tools, and strategies they’re exploring as AI becomes more integrated.