PSU AI for Good Experiential Learning Innovation for PIT

The collaborative effort between the Law, Policy and Engineering initiative at Penn State and Penn State Outreach's Nittany AI Alliance resulted in two main initiatives, first the design and content development for the LEAP for PIT program and second, a PIT track within the existing Nittany AI ADVANCE program to foster experiential learning opportunities for students in partnership with nonprofit organizations focused on the application of artificial intelligence (AI) to help nonprofits advance the public good. As part of these two initiatives, the following activities were developed: Nittany AI Alliance completed two AI-based student led projects over the course of two semesters within the Nittany AI ADVANCE program, one with the South Eastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) and the other with Goodwill Industries. Conducted a Discovery Workshop in Philadelphia with nonprofits and student teams to uncover the challenges facing these organizations where AI could bring forth an effective solution. Hired a diverse team of 12 undergraduate and 4 graduate students providing them with a paid experiential learning experience throughout the academic semester. Students participated in the workshops and each student team engaged the nonprofits to develop the project objectives and proof-of-concepts to demonstrate how the practical application of artificial intelligence could address their real-world challenges in ways that would otherwise be impossible. Conceptualized a framework to assess nonprofit’s AI readiness and conducted an AI-readiness Workshop with group of six nonprofits in the Pittsburgh region. Curricular design for LEAP for PIT, a 4-part noncredit educational and outreach micro-credential program that provides foundational knowledge and practical skills for nonprofits and citizen innovators to explore the use of AI and embark in an AI project to advance their communities, further their organization’s mission, and serve the public good. Course outline and content development for each of the four online educational courses within LEAP for PIT: Leadership, Entrepreneurship, AI, and Policy, forming the acronym LEAP. These are self-paced noncredit micro-credentials in the format of an online 6 - 8 hour asynchronous course with multiple modules, designed to be completed in a three month period.