CPS LEARN Lab and Graduate School of Education Pioneer AI-Enhanced Teaching, Learning, and Research
Northeastern University’s College of Professional Studies is breaking new ground in artificial intelligence research through its LEARN Lab, where faculty and students are exploring innovative ways to integrate AI into teaching, learning, and qualitative research.
Led by Allison Ruda, associate dean of use-Inspired research & development and Chris Unger, teaching professor in the Graduate School of Education, the LEARN Lab has created a collaborative space for the CPS community to experiment with AI tools in response to real-world educational challenges. “This is an extension of use-inspired research,” explains Ruda. “We’re looking at what’s happening in the world around us and testing whether AI can help us address or solve these challenges.”
The lab’s recent work includes a newly published hands-on guide for using AI responsibly in qualitative research. The guide emerged from 22 doctoral students’ cumulative reflections after engaging with AI tools throughout the course. The lab was also involved in the recent AI Literacy initiative at CPS. Rather than relying on traditional survey tools like Qualtrics, researchers conducted voice-based, AI-powered interviews to assess AI literacy across the college. The approach yielded rich data and enabled the team to develop detailed personas representing different levels of AI understanding. It also sparked a new question: could AI assist in analyzing the large volumes of qualitative data generated? The Lab assembled an interdisciplinary team of faculty from Analytics, NU Global, and Education, along with an EI/AI graduate student, to evaluate how different data preparation methods influence the effectiveness of human-AI collaboration during qualitative coding.
The Lab assembled an interdisciplinary team of faculty from Analytics, NU Global, and Education, along with an EI/AI graduate student, to evaluate how different data preparation methods influence the effectiveness of human-AI collaboration during qualitative coding.
The lab is also exploring AI’s potential as a “thought partner” or “critical friend” in teaching and learning design processes, moving beyond simple efficiency gains. Faculty members and doctoral students are designing AI-based coaches to assist teachers in a K-12 STEM school transitioning to competency-based approaches and to advise workplace learning intermediaries on redesigning their job placement and matching strategies to reduce bias and increase inclusion.
Faculty across the college are joining these efforts, bringing their expertise and passion for CPS’s mission to use-inspired research projects. As the LEARN Lab continues to push boundaries in a field where AI and qualitative research have traditionally been viewed with skepticism, a growing community of practitioners is collaborating with technology to shape the next phase of responsible AI use in education. Learn more about the LEARN Lab and the Graduate School of Education.
