An NSF & IES AI Institute for Transforming Education for Children with Speech and Language Processing Challenges
2023 | Read all About Our Inaugural Year
Transforming Education for Children with Speech and Language Processing Challenges
Explore our institute’s research, outreach program, and broader impact toward advancements in the fields of education and artificial intelligence. Learn about our interdisciplinary venture to transform education for children with speech and language processing challenges, and beyond.
2023 Year in Review: Noteworthy Events
$20 million NSF Award to Establish AI Institute for Exceptional Education
Our institute reflects the collaborative work of researchers in both Artificial Intelligence and Speech-Language Pathology from 9 university partners. We are developing advanced AI technologies for universal early screening and intervention for children with speech and language related learning disorders.
Kickoff Retreat a Resounding Success
More than 60 faculty, staff, students, and external partners converged for UB's kickoff retreat. This 3-day hybrid event hosted presentations centered on speech-language pathology, behavioral analysis, and artificial intelligence. Faculty presented work plans on specialized areas of the project and engaged in group discussions.
Photographer: Douglas Levere
Summer Programs for Young Students
We hosted summer programs for K-12 students from diverse backgrounds. Sessions were designed to excite students about STEM, and to provide career paths. Activities included hands-on demonstrations of biometrics and robotics technology and presentations by institute leadership.
Learn more about our partners: BEAM (Buffalo Engineering Awareness for Minorities), UB Cybersecurity Summer Camp, STEP (Science and Technology Entry Program), LSAMP (Louis Stokes Alliance of Minority Participation), REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates), and (Liberty Partnerships Program).
Pictured: IES Director, Mark Schneider (center) with UB faculty members and institute leaders Jinjun Xiong (left) and Srirangaraj (Ranga) Setlur (right)
ED Games Expo and IES Innovation Day
The ED Games Expo, an annual public showcase of game-changing education technology in Washington, DC, welcomed more than 1,000 students and 400 adults. Institute of Education (IES) Innovation Day sessions focused on investments in transformative education research.
NSF Hill Day and Congressional Show
Capitol Hill welcomed the 25 NSF-supported Artificial Intelligence Institutes to showcase their research, vision, and accomplishments to members of Congress including UB’s Venu Govindaraju and Jinjun Xiong. They discussed the potential of AI within the classroom and how it can assist children with speech and language challenges with government leaders.
Read more about the national AI Institutes in the AI Institutes Hill Day Booklet.
Share and react to the LinkedIn post.
UB AI Chat Series
We launched a two-year panel series for discussions on responsible use of artificial intelligence and its potential benefits across disciplines and multiple industry applications. UB President Satish Tripathi and SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. helped kick off the first event, “Harnessing AI for Public Good.”
Read more: Chat 1 Chat 2 Chat 3
News coverage of the second event by WKBW including a video of the broadcast can be seen here.
For more information and upcoming events, visit the landing page for the UB | AI Chat Series.
Libby March photos, Buffalo News
Making News: Front Page Feature
Buffalo News higher education reporter Janet Gramza spoke with our leadership about how researchers plan to drive AI tools for early screening and intervention of speech-language processing challenges. Read her front page story here.
Pictured (left to right): EAB Member, Megan-Brette Hamilton with UB faculty members Alison Hendricks, Jinjun Xiong, and Srirangaraj (Ranga) Setlur
ASHA Convention
We hosted a nonprofit booth at the 2023 ASHA Convention in Boston, Massachusetts as a non-profit booth in November. Our participation featured demonstrations, poster sessions, and talks by many of our faculty members. The convention was an excellent opportunity to engage with a national audience of speech-language pathologists and stakeholders.
Visit our Exhibitor Profile.
2023 Faculty Highlights | Our Inaugural Year
Julie Kientz, Co-PI Speaks to NAIAC
Julie Kientz, Professor and Chair of the Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering, University of Washington, and a Co-PI for AI4ExceptionalEd, was invited to address the National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee (NAIAC). In her talk, she emphasized responsibility toward ethical human-centered design for artificial intelligence systems, especially those intended for educational purposes.
Watch the full recording of the virtual meeting.
Pamela Hadley and Windi Krok’s SDPT
Institute faculty members Pamela Hadley and Windi Krok designed and released a virtual tool for assessing sentence diversity in young children. The SDPT is a structured elicitation task in the form of an interactive picture book and includes materials for administering it. Available for anyone to use online, this tool will be used to obtain language samples and measure children’s progress for research.
Feature Publications
ASHA LeaderLive
Co-Director and Scientific Director of AI4ExceptionalEd, Jinjun Xiong, and institute Co-PI Pamela Hadley published an article in the September/October 2023 issue of the ASHA LeaderLive. The article highlighted our institute’s mission as part of a feature package on AI application in communication sciences and disorders.
Children with DLD will Benefit from New IDEA Guidance
Major changes in criteria defining developmental language disorders (DLD) under the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) will more accurately evaluate children’s speech and language needs. Researchers from AI4ExceptionalEd released this paper in support of the new changes that will facilitate its research goals.
Share: LinkedIn post
Survey for Design Activities
This survey, spearheaded by institute researchers at University at Washington, is seeking participants to help inform the design of solutions to enhance the reach of speech and language pathologists through artificial intelligence technologies. The study is primarily recruiting SLPs, early education or elementary school teachers, parents of children with speech/language difficulties, and adults who had speech/language difficulties as a child.
What's Up Next
New Headquarters at University at Buffalo
A 3000 square-foot space to serve as the home for AI4ExceptionalEd research and operations is currently under construction. It is centrally located on UB’s North Campus near Lockwood Library, the Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, and the Level Up ESports arena. It will feature a showcase area for reception and special events, meeting spaces, offices, and a sandbox-style research observation lab configured as a “Classroom of the Future.”
AI + Education Community Learning Series
The 2024 Learning Community series is a collaborative effort among numerous UB centers and institutes focused on various aspect of artificial intelligence. Educators, practitioners, and AI experts from diverse organizations will conduct discussions exploring the future of AI in educational settings and address ethical implications. Learn more and register for upcoming sessions.
Podcasts
Achieving Joy and Mastery in Public Schools: “UB’s new National Artificial Intelligence Institute for Exceptional Education”
- Podcast series presented by Erie-Niagara Schools Superintendents Association released June 2, 2023
- Hosted by Brian Graham, Superintendent of Grand Island Central School District and EAB Member
- Faculty participants: Venu Govindaraju, Jinjun Xiong, and Ranga Setlur
- Discussion with AI4ExceptionalEd leadership team about the Institute’s vison, proposed solutions, and stakeholders
- https://achievingjoyandmasteryinpublicschools.buzzsprout.com/2041840/12948666-university-at-buffalo-s-new-national-artificial-intelligence-institute-for-exceptional-education
UB Driven to Discover: “AI for Social Good with Jinjun Xiong”
- Discussion about holistic and cross-disciplinary design of AI for the betterment of society, including education and sustainability
- Biographical interview with institute Co-Director & Scientific Director – how his career path has driven the vision for AI4ExceptionalEd, and various AI applications at University at Buffalo
- https://www.buzzsprout.com/2079636/14032617-ai-for-social-good-with-jinjun-xiong
Tigerhall: “AI and Nonverbal Communication”
- Informational video about pro-social uses of AI in regard to communication disorders
- Explains Institute’s proposed solutions and how AI Screener and Orchestrator will be developed and used toward helping children with speech and language processing challenges
- https://tigerhall.com/content/streams/ai-and-nonverbal-communication