Four CSUN Projects Earn CSU AI Innovation Awards
In spring 2025, the California State University system launched its inaugural Artificial Intelligence Educational Innovations Challenge (AIEIC), inviting CSU faculty to develop AI-infused teaching approaches that supported ethical use, critical thinking, and scalability across campuses. The competition attracted more than 400 submissions from over 750 faculty members, and ultimately 63 proposals were funded.
Four CSUN faculty projects were awarded by the AIEIC. One project, led by Dr. Tyler Luchko from the Department of Physics and Astronomy, titled Learning with AI: Adaptive Support for Math and Conceptual Mastery in Physics, aims to close math preparation gaps in CSUN’s introductory physics courses by integrating AI tools with textbooks to build fluency, deepen conceptual engagement, and provide equitable, scalable support for student success.
Dr. Luchko’s project was previously submitted to the first CSUN Academic Technology AI in Teaching and Research Pilot Program. The AI in Teaching and Research pilot program provides faculty with a platform to experiment with AI tools and technologies in their courses, pilot their effectiveness, and gather data to inform future AI use across the university.
Other winning CSUN projects include:
- Curriculum-aligned AI language partner to support student-centered learning in Japanese, Dr. Drake Langford, Department of Modern and Classical Languages
- Integrating Digital Twins to Transform Education, Dr. Yoshie Hanzawa, Department of Biology
- Ethical AI Literacy and Critical Thinking in EPC 315: Preparing Future Educators for AI-Enhanced Classrooms, Ellen Stohl, Department of Educational Psychology & Counseling
These projects exemplify how campus-level innovation and internal pilot programming, such as the AI in Teaching and Research Pilot Program, can evolve into systemwide leadership in AI-informed education.
To learn more about the Artificial Intelligence Educational Innovations Challenge (AIEIC), visit CSU Announces Winners of Artificial Intelligence Educational Innovations Challenge.
To read more about the winning projects, visit CSU Artificial Intelligence Educational Innovations Challenge Awards.