Add AI Project Instructor position details for Spring 2026

Added detailed information about the AI Project Instructor position for Spring 2026, including application process, course details, role overview, benefits, and qualifications.

Author: darrendbutler

docs/instructor_app.md

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+# 🌟 Now Recruiting: AI Project Instructors – Spring 2026 (Paid, $7,000)
+
+Join PAS4AI, an inclusive research and education initiative at Carnegie Mellon, to instruct autistic community college student teams developing real-world AI projects that advance Responsible AI, collaboration, and accessibility.
+As an AI Project Instructor, you’ll guide a small student team in technical development, inclusive teamwork, and reflective AI design, all while integrating your own research interests into hands-on teaching. Instructors receive training in social–emotional learning and inclusive pedagogy, work with a supportive interdisciplinary community, and earn a $7,000 stipend.
+
+🗓️ March 30 – June 5, 2026 | Mondays 1–2:30 PM ET | 9 students total
+
+💡 Ideal for graduate students or postdocs with teaching or instructoring experience.
+
+📩  Apply by submitting a 300-word statement on your motivation and teaching experience, and short CV to Andrew Begel and Ren Butler (abegel at andrew.cmu.edu, ddbutler at andrew.cmu.edu): 
+
+Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. 
+
+# Quick Details
+
+**Location:** Remote / Hybrid (Carnegie Mellon University)
+
+**Duration:** March 30, 2026 – June 5, 2026 (10 weeks)
+
+Hours per week: 12 hours a week
+
+- 3 hours of synchronous instruction (2 1.5-hour Zoom sessions)
+- 2-2.5 hours of 1:1 instructor check-ins with students (1 check-in per student)
+- 3 hours of asynchronous student support on Discord
+- 3 hours grading technical projects, writing assessments of student social-emotional development, and communication learning
+- 1-hour staff meeting
+
+**Schedule:** 2 days per week synchronous Zoom sessions, 1:00–2:30 PM ET
+
+**Compensation:** $7,000 per course
+
+# About the Course
+The Preparing Autistic Students for the AI Workforce (PAS4AI) course aims to design and deliver accessible, team-based learning experiences that prepare autistic community college students for AI-integrated careers. Our interdisciplinary curriculum combines AI fundamentals, Responsible AI practices, and leadership skills through experiential learning. Students work in small, instructor-led project teams to develop real-world AI applications while building communication confidence, technical fluency, and psychological safety in teamwork.
+In Spring 2026, the course will bring together 9 students for collaborative AI projects co-instructored by graduate and postdoctoral researchers. Each instructor supports one student team, guiding both their technical development and professional growth.
+
+# Role Overview
+AI Project Instructors are educators, researchers, and/or practitioners who guide undergraduate teams of 3-5 students in applied AI projects. Our research team has created a 10-week curriculum along with instructional guidance and teaching materials for instructors to use to teach the course. Students will complete and remix a series of AI projects that reflect the goals and beliefs about AI development, social relationships, and emotional wellbeing and personal identities. Instructors provide:
+- Technical guidance in areas such as Python programming, LLM integration, API-based project development, prompt engineering, model evaluation, and ethical AI analysis.
+- Coaching on teamwork, communication, and inclusive collaboration practices.
+- Coaching on self-reflection and goal-setting
+- Support for integrating Responsible AI and ethical reflection into project decisions.
+- Feedback on code, research design, and final presentations.
+
+
+Instructors are encouraged to bring their own research and professional interests into the course to co-create authentic, mutually beneficial learning experiences.
+
+# Benefits for Instructors
+- Gain hands-on experience teaching and instructing diverse student teams on real AI projects.
+- Build a portfolio of teaching, codesign, and instructoring artifacts relevant to academia and industry.
+- Collaborate within an interdisciplinary community of practice focused on Responsible AI, education, and accessibility.
+- Contribute to inclusive education and workforce pathways for underrepresented learners in computing.
+- Receive structured guidance on teaching, social-emotional learning, mentoring, and inclusive instruction through the PAS4AI instructor orientation.
+- Stipend of $7,000 for teaching the course.
+
+
+# Required Qualifications
+- Enrollment in or completion of a graduate degree (Master’s or Ph.D.) in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Human–Computer Interaction, Learning Sciences, or a related field.
+- Demonstrated experience teaching, instructoring, or facilitating technical learning (e.g., course instruction, coding clubs, lab instructoring, TA roles).
+- Strong interpersonal communication and commitment to inclusive, supportive pedagogy.
+- Ability to articulate technical concepts clearly and guide student inquiry rather than simply provide answers.
+
+# Preferred Qualifications
+- Prior teaching experience at the high school, college, or community level, or experience instructing neurodiverse learners.
+- Familiarity with Responsible AI, Human-AI Interaction, or Computing Education research.
+- Interest in integrating personal or lab research into project-based instruction.
+- Awareness of social-emotional learning and the role of psychological safety in team performance.
+- Commitment to collaborative teaching and iterative improvement through feedback and reflection.
+- Experience interacting with autistic or neurodivergent individuals.
+  
+**Training and Expectations**
+Instructors will participate in a two-part orientation and ongoing community meetings designed to prepare them for inclusive, empathetic instruction. Training emphasizes:
+- Identifying tacit prerequisite knowledge and preparing to teach foundational concepts as needed.
+- Reframing knowledge gaps into opportunities for growth.
+- Supporting interdependence and reflective teamwork in AI learning environments.
+
+
+# To Apply
+📩  Please submit the following materials to Andrew Begel (abegel@andrew.cmu.edu) and Ren Butler (ddbutler@andrew.cmu.edu):
+
+- A short statement (≤300 words) describing your motivation for instructing and how your research or teaching interests align with PAS4AI and SAFER-AI.
+- A brief CV or résumé highlighting teaching and/or AI or computing education research experience.
+- (Optional) A link to a project, publication, or resource that reflects your teaching or technical work.
+
+Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until positions are filled.