AI Research
Lehigh University Professor Awarded NSF Grant to Advance AI Literacy
BETHMEHEM, PA — Dr. Juan Zheng, assistant professor in the Teaching, Learning, and Technology program at Lehigh University’s College of Education, has been awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation to support her groundbreaking project, “Meta-Partner: Hybrid Intelligence for Self-Regulated Learning.”
Over the next two years, Dr. Zheng and her research team will develop Meta-Partner, an artificial intelligence (AI) system designed to help students set learning goals, adjust strategies, monitor progress, and reflect on their educational journeys—all while building critical AI literacy and self-regulation skills.
The project addresses a pressing national need: preparing a diverse and inclusive workforce for the rapidly evolving AI-driven future. “Millions are already using AI, but few people know how to use it in an informed and strategic way,” Dr. Zheng explained. “Our goal is to teach students not just the concepts of AI, but how to approach problems, think critically, and regulate their learning, skills that are essential for success in any field that will use AI as a tool.”
Meta-Partner will be integrated into AIResolver, an existing online problem-based learning platform. The system will guide students through complex problem-solving scenarios, such as designing classification systems for scientific research, by providing real-time, personalized support. As students interact with the platform, Meta-Partner will generate initial learning goals, create automated notes, visualize progress, and compose reflections, all of which students can review and refine. This iterative, human-AI collaboration is designed to deepen metacognitive engagement and foster independent learning.
The research will focus on high school and undergraduate students from non-computer science backgrounds, particularly in rural areas, to ensure the benefits of AI education reach underserved communities. Through a robust evaluation involving both quantitative and qualitative methods, the project will examine how Meta-Partner impacts students’ cognitive, motivational, and emotional engagement with AI problem-solving.
“We believe that by making AI education more accessible and engaging, we can help bridge the digital divide and empower students who might otherwise be left behind,” said Dr. Zheng.
Beyond teaching the technical concepts of AI, the project aims to equip students with software skills, critical thinking abilities, and the self-regulation strategies needed to thrive in a workforce where AI is ubiquitous. Dr. Zheng emphasized the importance of learning to use AI strategically and responsibly: “Just as the internet and online learning brought both opportunities and risks, AI will reshape how we learn and work. Our research will help students navigate these changes and use AI as a partner in their learning.”
Meta-Partner’s open-source design ensures that its impact will extend far beyond the initial study, allowing other educational institutions and platforms to adopt and adapt the technology. By pioneering the integration of hybrid intelligence into self-regulated learning, Dr. Zheng’s work has the potential to transform AI education practices and prepare the next generation for a future where human and artificial intelligence work in tandem.
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AI Research
Northumbria to roll out new AI platform for staff and students
Northumbria University is to provide its students and staff with access to Claude for Education – a leading AI platform specifically tailored for higher education.
Northumbria will become only the second university in the UK, alongside the London School of Economics and other leading international institutions, to offer Claude for Education as a tool to its university community.
With artificial intelligence rapidly transforming many aspects of our lives, Northumbria’s students and staff will now be provided with free access to many of the tools and skills they will need to succeed in the new global AI-environment.
Claude for Education is a next-generation AI assistant built by Anthropic and trained to be safe, accurate and secure. It provides universities with ethical and transparent access to AI that ensures data security and copyright compliance and acts as a 24/7 study partner for students, designed to guide learning and develop critical thinking rather than providing direct answers.
Known as a UK leader in responsible AI-based research and education, Northumbria University recently launched its Centre for Responsible AI and is leading a multi-million pound UKRI AI Centre for Doctoral Training in Citizen-Centred Artificial Intelligence to train the next generation of leaders in AI development.
Professor Graham Wynn explained: “Today’s students are digitally native and recent data show many use AI routinely. They expect their universities to provide a modern, technology-enhanced education, providing access to AI tools along with clear guidance on the responsible use of AI.
“We know that the availability of secure and ethical AI tools is a significant consideration for our applicants and our investment in Claude for Education will position Northumbria as a forward-thinking leader in ethical AI innovation.
“Empowering students and staff, providing cutting-edge learning opportunities, driving social mobility and powering an inclusive economy are at the heart of everything we do. We know how important it is to eliminate digital poverty and provide equitable access to the most powerful AI tools, so our students and graduates are AI literate with the skills they need for the workplaces of the future.
“The introduction of Claude for Education will provide our students and staff with free universal access to cutting-edge AI technology, regardless of their financial circumstances.”
The University is now working with Anthropic to establish the technical infrastructure and training to roll out Claude for Education in autumn 2025.
AI Research
Wiley Partners with Anthropic to accelerate responsible AI integration
Wiley has announced plans for a strategic partnership with Anthropic, an artificial intelligence research and development company with an emphasis on responsible AI.
Wiley is adopting the Model Context Protocol (MCP), an open standard created by Anthropic, which aims to enable seamless integration between authoritative, peer-reviewed content and AI tools across multiple platforms. Beginning with a pilot program, and subject to definitive agreement, Wiley and Anthropic will work to ensure university partners have streamlined, enhanced access to their Wiley research content.
Another key focus of the partnership is to establish standards for how AI tools properly integrate scientific journal content into results while providing appropriate context for users, including author attribution and citations.
“The future of research lies in ensuring that high-quality, peer-reviewed content remains central to AI-powered discovery,” said Josh Jarrett, Senior Vice President of AI Growth at Wiley. “Through this partnership, Wiley is not only setting the standard for how academic publishers integrate trusted scientific content with AI platforms but is also creating a scalable solution that other institutions and publishers can adopt. By adopting MCP, we’re demonstrating our commitment to interoperability and helping to ensure authoritative, peer-reviewed research will be discoverable in an increasingly AI-driven landscape.”
The announcement coincides with Anthropic’s broader Claude for Education initiative, which highlights new partnerships and tools designed to amplify teaching, learning, administration and research in higher education.
“We’re excited to partner with Wiley to explore how AI can accelerate and enhance access to scientific research,” said Lauren Collett, who leads Higher Education partnerships at Anthropic. “This collaboration demonstrates our commitment to building AI that amplifies human thinking—enabling students to access peer-reviewed content with Claude, enhancing learning and discovery while maintaining proper citation standards and academic integrity.”
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AI Research
Avalara rolls out AI tax research bot
Tax solutions provider
“The tax compliance industry is at the dawn of unprecedented innovation driven by rapid advancements in AI,” says Danny Fields, executive vice president and chief technology officer of Avalara. “Avalara’s technology mission is to equip customers with reliable, intuitive tools that simplify their work and accelerate business outcomes.”
Avi for Tax, specifically, offers the ability to instantly check the tax status of products and services using plain language queries to receive trusted, clearly articulated responses grounded in Avalara’s tax database. Users can also access real-time official guidance that supports defensible tax positions and enables proactive adaptation to evolving tax regulations, as well as quickly obtain precise sales tax rates tailored to specific street addresses to facilitate compliance accuracy down to local jurisdictional levels. The solution comes with an intuitive conversational interface that allows even those without tax backgrounds to use the tool.
For existing users of Avi Tax Research, the AI solution is available now with no additional setup required. New customers can
The announcement comes shortly after Avalara announced new application programming interfaces for its 1099 and W-9 solutions, allowing companies to embed their compliance workflows into their existing ERP, accounting, e-commerce or marketplace platforms. An API is a type of software bridge that allows two computer systems to directly communicate with each other using a predefined set of definitions and protocols. Any software integration depends on API access to function. Avalara’s API access enables users to directly collect W-9 forms from vendors; validate tax IDs against IRS databases; confirm mailing addresses with the U.S. Postal Service; electronically file 1099 forms with the IRS and states; and deliver recipient copies from one central location. Avalara’s new APIs allow for e-filing of 1099s with the IRS without even creating a FIRE account.
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