Caroline Scheuer

Empowering Educators and Learners: AI-Driven Digital Storytelling Toolkit for Gender-Just Pedagogies

This project investigates how artificial intelligence (AI) mediates inclusive
language practices in Brazilian Portuguese through a publicly accessible digital toolkit and
interactive StoryMap. It draws on interdisciplinary research—discourse analysis, gender studies,
gender just pedagogies, and digital storytelling—to produce a resource that supports inclusive,
ethical, and creative teaching practices. The StoryMap, hosted on ArcGIS, traces the use of
inclusive Portuguese within LGBTQIA+ communities in Brazil.

Each stop highlights gender-inclusive forms, such as nonbinary pronouns and morphological
innovations, paired with an analysis of how AI tools interpret or misinterpret these features.
Accompanying each segment are essays or audio reflections that unpack the linguistic, cultural,
and technological challenges involved. While focused on Portuguese, the project addresses
challenges relevant to other gendered languages.

Many educators working with Spanish, French, and German, among other languages, also
encounter evolving inclusive language practices. Thus, the toolkit includes adaptable
components designed for a broad audience of language instructors. These include:
• A Bias Awareness Checklist for identifying exclusion patterns in AI outputs
• Editable templates for inclusive AI prompt design
• A student reflection worksheet to assess AI-generated language critically
• An annotated resource list on AI, language ideologies, and inclusive pedagogy.

The project centers community collaboration through a partnership with a queer Brazilian
consultant who will serve as an epistemological advisor. Their lived experience and linguistic
expertise will guide the design and interpretation of content, ensuring cultural accuracy and
ethical framing. This collaboration also models how academic projects can value and
incorporate queer ways of knowing.

The project responds directly to the CCI Horizons call by showcasing how humanistic and
community-informed perspectives can shape the development and use of AI in education. It
foregrounds language and culture as essential domains for understanding the societal
implications of AI and contributes to building transferable skills in critical thinking, digital design,
and inclusive pedagogy.

This project supports Caroline's growth as an applied linguist, educator, Portuguese instructor, 
and designer committed to inclusive, community-grounded work. It provides a platform to 
translate research into publicly engaged, creative practice while incorporating queer linguistic 
innovation. For communities, it offers accessible tools for navigating AI’s impact on language 
and identity in educational settings. It also promotes critical digital literacy by supporting 
learners and educators in recognizing and responding to algorithmic bias in ways that affirm 
gender diversity. Collaborating with a queer community consultant deepens the project’s 
social relevance, ensuring that lived epistemologies shape the toolkit and the story it tells.