Project 1: GenAI for Teaching and Learning: 
Subject: AI-Assistant for Creative Writing
Target population: High school students who are aspiring writers
Educational challenge/Research: Lack of motivation and confidence among high school students who aspire to become amateur writers but struggle with writing. "Students often report feeling frustrated with the writing process and lacking motivation to write. This lack of motivation can lead to procrastination, avoidance, and low-quality writing. In a study of over 1000 high school students, Graham et al. (2007) found that lack of motivation was a primary reason for students avoiding writing challenges or putting little effort into writing assignments." 

Feedback and encouragement from the AI on progress, no matter how small, could boost confidence for students struggling with blocks or time management of their writing. The AI context of use would be as a virtual writing coach that students can access anytime, anywhere to get help moving forward with their writing assignments and projects. ""Writer's block, a common problem among students, can significantly hinder writing progress and lead to procrastination and anxiety. AI writing assistants can provide prompts, exercises, and strategies to help students overcome writer's block using techniques like brainstorming, outlining, or free writing" (Zhang 2022).