Building an Inclusive AI Ecosystem for Education With Matthew Winters

D2L's Teach & Learn

Is artificial intelligence (AI) just for grading and admin tasks? Not according to Matthew Winters. In this episode of Teach & Learn, Dr. Emma Zone chats with Utah’s first state-level AI education specialist about how AI is helping educators turn creative ideas into impactful, inclusive learning experiences.

From personalized support to improved accessibility, AI is becoming a collaborative partner in the classroom—helping teachers reach individual learners and bring bold ideas to life.

Winters shares how the Utah State Board of Education is building an AI ecosystem that supports educators through professional learning, inclusive frameworks, and creative classroom applications. You’ll hear how teachers are moving from fear to curiosity, from creativity to accessibility, and how a connected K–20 approach is shaping the future of learning.

💬 “With a little bit of pushing, teachers move into creativity—doing things in their classrooms they’ve never been able to do before. Naturally, they begin asking, ‘How can this be accessible for all my students?’” — Matthew Winters

📣What Dr. Zone and Winters talk about:

☑️The development of Utah’s AI education framework

☑️Professional learning as an investment, not a cost

☑️Creative and accessible AI applications in classrooms

☑️Building a K–20 pipeline for AI readiness

☑️The “Portrait of an AI Graduate” initiative

🔖Resources:

• Playbook for Strategic Foresight and Innovation
• Utah State Board of Education, AI Overview
• Artificial Intelligence Framework for Utah P-12 Education: Guidance on the Use of AI in Our Schools
• ASU+GSV 2025: Utah Shares Plan for Statewide AI Education

Remember to follow us on social media. You can find us on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook @D2L. Check out our YouTube channel for the video version of this podcast and so much more.
For more content, please visit the Teaching & Learning Studio.

To hear more about how D2L is transforming the way the world learns, visit our website at D2L.com

Visit the Teaching & Learning Studio for more content for educators, by educators. Sign up for our newsletter today.