Community of Practice
Upcoming Events
NAAIC’s Expansion for High School Educators: Information Session and Discussion
NAAIC has expanded its work with high school educators, and we’d like you to be part of the conversation. Join us to learn about NAAIC’s plans for teacher professional development and a new Community of Practice where educators can connect, share resources, and learn from one another.
We’ll start with a 15–20 minute overview of NAAIC’s high school work. Then we’ll invite you into a guided discussion about the AI training, classroom resources, and ongoing support that would be most useful to you. Your feedback will help shape future opportunities for high school educators.
Who should attend: High school teachers, staff and leadership interested in teaching AI or using it in their classrooms.
Join leading experts from across industry and education for an in-depth Community of Practice session focused on the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing.
Building undergraduate research experiences based on a collaborative relationship between the college, faculty, students and external partners yields student success stories full of transformation, confidence, and enhanced professional skills while contributing to real-world research. In this community of practice, we will consider the elements that guide us through a collective mentorship framework for undergraduate research.
Session Lead:
- Meha Trivedi, Faculty, Maricopa Community Colleges
Past Events
Join leading experts from across industry and education for an in-depth Community of Practice session focused on the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing.
Hosted collaboratively by three National Science Foundation (NSF) Advanced Technological Education (ATE) initiatives—the National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing (NCNGM), the National Applied AI Consortium (NAAIC), and the Advanced Manufacturing Technical Education Collaborative (AMTEC)—this interactive session explores how AI-driven technologies are reshaping the modern manufacturing workforce and technical curriculum.
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This session is designed for manufacturing and mechatronics faculty, instructors, and department chairs seeking practical strategies to embed artificial intelligence into their technical curricula. Attendees will discover actionable approaches, plus Intel's resources help align coursework with rapid industry advances, equipping students with the cutting-edge competencies modern manufacturing demands.
Featured Panelists
- Kevin Rush – Lead Artificial Intelligence Trainer, Intel® Digital Readiness Program & Sustainable Living Lab (SL2)
- Josh Jones – Artificial Intelligence Programs Specialist, Intel® Digital Readiness Program & Sustainable Living Lab (SL2)
- Erika Guerra – Program Chair of Advanced Manufacturing & Mechatronics Technology, South Texas College
Moderator
- Dr. Ann Beheler – Industry Engagement Director, Business & Industry Leadership Team (BILT)
Community of Practice with Professor Pam Schmelz from Ivy Tech Community College on a walkthrough of a course designed to use Learning-Centered Assessments and Responsible
The Community of Practice meeting led by Ivy Tech Community College Professor Pam Schmeiz will be delivered as an interactive course walk-through highlighting the shareable syllabus, weekly module organization, laboratory sequence, assessment model, AI Assessment Scale, and examples of structured metacognitive reflection prompts.
Participants will have opportunities to ask questions, discuss implementation considerations, and explore ways to adapt elements of the course to their own programs. Attendees will receive access to the shareable syllabus and selected instructional resources to support implementation at their own institutions.
Community of Practice session with the National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing and the Advanced Manufacturing Technical Education Collaborative, exploring how AI and advanced manufacturing are shaping workforce pathways.
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The National Applied AI Consortium is partnering with the National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing and the Advanced Manufacturing Technical Education Collaborative for a special Community of Practice meeting. This session will highlight how AI and advanced manufacturing intersect, and provide faculty with resources, strategies, and insights to strengthen workforce pathways in these rapidly evolving fields.
Attendees will learn about collaborative initiatives between AI and advanced manufacturing, opportunities for cross-disciplinary curriculum development, and ways to engage with national partners supporting innovation in community colleges.
Join us for a Community of Practice session on updates to the Applied AI KSA Framework, where we’ll review new competencies, discuss workforce alignment, and answer questions to support colleges in strengthening their AI programs.
NAAIC gathered for a specialized Community of Practice (CoP) session focused on the latest updates to the National Applied AI Consortium's Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA) Framework for the Applied AI associate degree. As the AI workforce continues to rapidly evolve, the KSA framework was refined to reflect new industry insights, employer feedback, and the emerging competency areas required for entry-level AI roles.
During this discussion-based session, faculty were walked through the latest updates to the framework. The session highlighted how these changes strengthen alignment with current workforce demands and provided a dedicated space for institutions to ask questions and share their own implementation experiences.
Whether participants were building a brand-new AI program or updating an existing curriculum, this CoP provided valuable, actionable guidance to ensure institutional programs remain industry-aligned and future-ready.
Watch the Recording:
Community of Practice session with the National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing and the Advanced Manufacturing Technical Education Collaborative, exploring how AI and advanced manufacturing are shaping workforce pathways.
The National Applied AI Consortium is partnering with the National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing and the Advanced Manufacturing Technical Education Collaborative for a special Community of Practice meeting. This session will highlight how AI and advanced manufacturing intersect, and provide faculty with resources, strategies, and insights to strengthen workforce pathways in these rapidly evolving fields.
Attendees will learn about collaborative initiatives between AI and advanced manufacturing, opportunities for cross-disciplinary curriculum development, and ways to engage with national partners supporting innovation in community colleges.
Join us for a Community of Practice session on AI in Business to build on insights from our recent webinar. We’ll explore real-world use cases, answer questions, and share strategies for incorporating AI-driven business concepts into teaching.
Join us for a follow-up Community of Practice session on AI in Business, where we’ll continue the conversation from the recent Microsoft-sponsored webinar delivered by Black Dog Black Cat. This session builds on the foundations introduced in the training, including how AI is reshaping business functions such as decision-making, customer engagement, marketing, finance, and supply chain operations.
Faculty will have the opportunity to ask questions, share insights, and discuss practical approaches for integrating AI-driven business concepts into their courses. Whether you teach management, entrepreneurship, accounting, or marketing, this collaborative discussion will help you explore how to prepare students for AI-enabled business roles and strengthen workforce-aligned curriculum across disciplines.
Join us for a Community of Practice session on AI in Healthcare to continue the conversation from our recent training. We’ll discuss applications, share ideas, and explore ways faculty can integrate healthcare-focused AI concepts into their programs.
Join us for a follow-up Community of Practice session on AI in Healthcare, where we’ll continue the conversation from our recent Microsoft-sponsored training. This session creates space for faculty to revisit key insights from the introductory webinar and reflect on how AI is transforming care delivery, patient outcomes, and the healthcare workforce.
Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions, share ideas, and explore practical approaches for integrating healthcare-focused AI concepts into their programs. Whether you teach health sciences, IT, or general education courses, this discussion is designed to support collaborative learning and help colleges strengthen AI-related pathways in healthcare.
Community of Practice session with the National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing, exploring how AI and advanced manufacturing are shaping workforce pathways.
The National Applied AI Consortium is partnering with the National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing for a special Community of Practice meeting. This session will highlight how AI and advanced manufacturing intersect, and provide faculty with resources, strategies, and insights to strengthen workforce pathways in these rapidly evolving fields.
Attendees will learn about collaborative initiatives between AI and advanced manufacturing, opportunities for cross-disciplinary curriculum development, and ways to engage with national partners supporting innovation in community colleges.
Community of Practice session focused on unveiling the first-ever national Knowledge and Skills framework for an Associate degree in Applied AI.
Community of Practice session presenting the first-ever national Knowledge and Skills framework for an Associate degree in Applied AI. Developed with direct input from our Business Industry Leadership Team, this framework outlines the core competencies needed to prepare students for AI careers with a 2-year associate’s degree.
Learn how to apply the Knowledge and Skills framework at your institution, align your curriculum with workforce needs, and collaborate with peers leading AI program development across the country.
Access the Applied AI Knowledge and Skills for AI Associate Degree here:
Meeting Recording:
This lightning round featured faculty sharing strategies on AI adoption, policy, cross-discipline integration, curriculum resources, and mentorship updates. Attendees gained practical ideas for strengthening AI programs.
The National Applied AI Consortium (NAAIC) hosted a Community of Practice lightning round session where faculty shared practical strategies, resources, and program updates to support AI integration in community colleges. The session highlighted diverse approaches to AI education, policy, and curriculum development.
The presentations included:
- Getting Faculty Onboard with AI – Jerry Hensel
- AI Policy & Institutional Guidelines – Dr. Mohamed A. Khairi
- Incorporating AI in Other Disciplines – Stephanie Jackson
- Free and Low-Cost AI Curriculum – Dr. Kollin Napier
- Mentorship Update – Dr. Eduardo Salcedo
This session provided attendees with actionable ideas and peer insights for strengthening AI programs and expanding faculty engagement.
Recorded Video
Link to watch: https://youtu.be/JRyGQIoKRFU?si=qcQxVJAwzp98fhbN
Microsoft’s Rachel Wortman Morris presented the Microsoft Learn for Educators program, offering faculty official courseware, labs, and credentials. The session explained how MSLE can enhance curriculum and prepare students for AI careers.
The National Applied AI Consortium (NAAIC) hosted a Community of Practice meeting featuring Dr. Rachel Wortman Morris from Microsoft, who presented on the Microsoft Learn for Educators (MSLE) program. This initiative equips higher education faculty with AI skills, technical expertise, and industry-recognized Microsoft credentials to integrate into their courses.
The session covered how MSLE provides access to Microsoft Official Courseware, training resources, labs, and tools that help faculty enhance their teaching and better prepare students for workforce success in the AI era. Attendees learned how to join the program and incorporate its offerings to strengthen their curriculum and expand student opportunities.
Initial launch of NAAIC's faculty Community of Practice—setting the stage for collaboration and resource sharing.
Intro and Kick off Meeting
