2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Scenario-based Emerging Technologies Workshop for Military Leaders

Presented at Military and Veterans Division (MVD) Technical Session 2

In January 2021, the [ XXX] university entered into a long-term agreement with the Department of the Air Force (DAF) and the Department of Defense (DoD) to design and offer a new educational research program focusing on training on Artificial Intelligence (AI). “The ultimate goal of this collaboration is to design and advance educational research activities that promote maximum learning outcomes at scale for learners with diverse roles and educational backgrounds, ranging from Air Force and DoD personnel to the general public” [authors, 2022]. This program has been running for 3 years and is offering different learning tracks addressing different groups of USAF and DoD employees, based on their unique professional needs and backgrounds, through various in-person or online learning modalities.

This paper presents the implementation and evaluation of an in-person 3 day long workshop that took place in June 2023 at the [xxx] campus. Sixty learners, leaders from the DAF, USSF (United States Space Force) and from the DoD aligned Federal agencies and uniformed personnel from key US allies and NATO partner nations, were selected by the DoD to participate in the in-person activities.

The [xxx] Innovation & Technology Workshop was a rigorous, multi-day in-person team-based program that coupled [xxx]’s approach to innovation with lectures into emerging technologies framed around an interactive scenario. Scenario-based learning was employed as the main pedagogical model followed by hands-on interactive exercises. Emerging technologies such as IoT, Big Data, AI, and Blockchain were embedded in the curriculum. Goal of the workshop was that learners come away from this program with a depth of knowledge and language for emerging technologies and innovation in specific focus areas, enhanced critical thinking skills, and clearer sense for real-world application(s). No preexisting knowledge on said topics was required for participation in the workshop.

During the workshop, learners were also invited to participate in the evaluation research study for the workshop through pre- and post- self-assessment questionnaires. All data collected focused on the workshop content and implementation, as well as relevance to the participant’s current and future work activities at their respective units and agencies. Findings of this study are currently being used to guide future iterations of the program, and inform innovative approaches to better scale up hands-on workshops both in person and online.

Authors

Dr. Aikaterini Bagiati http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4238-2185 Massachusetts Institute of Technology [biography]

Aikaterini (Katerina) Bagiati, Ph.D.: Having aquired a Diploma in Electrical Engineering and a Masters Degree in Advanced Computer and Communication Systems at the Aristotle University in Greece, and after having worked as a software engineer, and as a CS educator in both formal and informal settings for 10 years, in January 2008 I decided to leave Greece and get enrolled at the Graduate Program in the pioneer School of Engineering Education at Purdue University.

In August 2011 I acquired my Doctoral Degree in Engineering Education. After serving as a postdoctoral associate within the MIT-SUTD Collaboration for three years, and 7 years as a research scientist, I am currently appointed as a Principal Research Scientist at the MIT Open Learning Office.

My research interests reside in the areas of Early Engineering, Engineering and Technology Curriculum Development and Teacher Training, Online Education, and International Educational Development.

Specialties: Engineering and Technology Education, Instructional Design, STEM Curriculum Development, Digital/Online Education
Ms. Kathleen D Kennedy Massachusetts Institute of Technology [biography]

Senior Director, MIT Horizon; Executive Director, MIT Center for Collective Intelligence; former President, MIT Technology Review; former President, MIT Enterprise Forum
Dr. Andrés F. Salazar-Gómez Massachusetts Institute of Technology [biography]

Andrés F. Salazar-Gómez is a computational neuroscientist with multidisciplinary training and committed to reshaping higher education in developing countries. Andrés boasts 10+ years of expertise in brain-computer interfaces and human-robot interaction research, with a robust background in biomedical engineering, experimental design, data science and quantitative methods. His focus on evidence-based and policy-informed approaches to educational programs gives him a unique perspective in the field of tertiary, professional and continuing education. Andrés is focused on advocating data-driven insights to enhance educational research and assessment towards accessible high-quality education, for everyone, everywhere, with special interest on AI education.
Prof. Joshua Siegel Michigan State University
Prof. cynthia Breazeal Massachusetts Institute of Technology [biography]

Professor Media Arts and Sciences, MIT Media Lab; Director MIT RAISE Initiative (Responsible AI for Social Empowerment and Education);
MIT Dean for Digital Learning

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