Passionate About Learning
Product & Program Strategy | K-12 EdTech | Scalable Customer Education | AI Integration
Mannu K. Sikka
AI Guidance & Strategy
The AI Guidance & Strategy section serves as a comprehensive hub for my work in the evolving AI landscape, bridging the gap between high-level vision and classroom-ready execution. This collection merges my published thought leadership from Defined Learning with my hands-on experience in program design and district-wide rollouts. By integrating custom-engineered artifacts and strategic implementation frameworks, I emphasize a human-centered approach that prioritizes ethical use, student agency, and sustainable "quick wins" for educators and leaders alike.
01
Why the Human-in-the-Loop Model is Key to Ethical AI in K-12 Education
📅 November 2025
The Human-in-the-Loop (HITL) model is essential for ethical AI in K-12 education, positioning educators as the critical "experts" rather than just users. By focusing on output oversight, ethical control, and system refinement, this framework ensures that AI serves as a supportive co-pilot that enhances pedagogical judgment without replacing the vital human connection in learning.
02
The Prompt Engineer: Shifting Student Roles in AI-Powered Project-Based Learning
📅 January 2026
This article reframes AI from a potential "shortcut" to a bridge for mastery within Project-Based Learning (PBL). It outlines how positioning students as prompt engineers and "learning architects" allows them to offload lower-order tasks to AI, freeing them to engage in high-order critical thinking, iterative refinement, and deep metacognition.
03
How to Build BetterPrompts!
📅 April 2026
This student-facing guide introduces Grades 3-5 learners to prompt engineering through a 4-Step Blueprint. Using a construction analogy, it teaches students to define The Expert, The Job, The Work Site, and The Finish to build "sturdy" prompts. The artifact demonstrates this framework with a practical example, showing how to craft targeted AI requests that are engaging and age-appropriate.
04
AI Quickstart Teacher's Guide
📅 October 2025
This professional development guide provides a strategic roadmap for educators to integrate AI responsibly by framing it as a "helpful assistant" rather than a replacement for teacher expertise. It outlines critical safety and compliance rules—including data privacy, human oversight, and transparency—to align with state policies. Additionally, the resource offers practical, prompt-based strategies to enhance lesson differentiation, assessment, and student agency.
05
AI Technology Instructional Design
📅 October 2024
This AI Technology Instructional Design Plan provides a scalable, three-phase framework for a district-wide Year 2 implementation of AI technology. The plan outlines a strategic roadmap—moving from Foundational Alignment and Deepening Integration to Expansion and Innovation—to build instructional capacity for 35,000 students. By prioritizing human-centered AI literacy, ethical practices, and data-driven success metrics, this artifact demonstrates a comprehensive approach to fostering sustainable innovation and measurable ROI in educational technology.
