TEDNA AI² Assessment

🌟 System Overview

Understanding the TEDNA AI² Readiness System

The TEDNA AI² Readiness System is a facilitated organizational improvement framework that helps Tribal Education Departments (Agencies) engage in meaningful conversations, identify priorities, and develop action plans for responsible AI implementation. It is not intended to function as a psychometric instrument, certification process, compliance audit, or external evaluation.

About AI²: AI² stands for "Artificial Intelligence and Indigenous Intelligence" a sovereignty-centered framework developed by TEDNA that grounds all AI-related decisions in Traditional knowledge, cultural teachings, and Tribal ways of knowing.

Purpose of the Assessment

The TEDNA AI² Readiness Assessment helps Tribal Education Departments (Agencies) evaluate their preparedness for AI integration across six core domains aligned with TEDNA's EVOLVE Sovereignty Framework:

Domain	Focus Area	Key Questions
Engage	Community Commitment & Leadership	Tribal leadership recognition, community involvement
Value	Sovereign Priorities & Legal Compliance	Tribal values guidance, governance expectations
Optimize	Infrastructure & Implementation	Technology capacity, secure systems
Lead	Educator Learning & Leadership	Professional development, tool selection
Validate	Evaluation & Evidence-Based Decisions	Assessment metrics, feedback collection
Elevate	Knowledge Sharing & Partnerships	Best practices sharing, policy influence

Who Should Use This Assessment?

Tribal Education Department (Agency) Leaders - Directors, coordinators, and administrators
Native Educators - Teachers, curriculum specialists, and instructional leaders
Tribal Council Members - Leadership involved in education governance
Technology Coordinators - IT staff supporting educational technology
Community Leaders - Stakeholders involved in educational planning

🚀 Getting Started

Before You Begin

1 Gather Your Team: Consider completing this assessment with key stakeholders including education leaders, technology coordinators, and community representatives.

2 Set Aside Time: The complete assessment takes approximately 20-30 minutes. Plan for uninterrupted time to thoughtfully consider each question.

3 Prepare Context: Have information available about your current technology infrastructure, professional development programs, and governance policies.

Assessment Approach

Sovereignty-First Perspective

This assessment is designed from a Tribal sovereignty perspective. Each question considers how AI readiness aligns with:

Traditional knowledge and cultural teachings
Tribal governance and decision-making processes
Community values and priorities
Protection of Indigenous knowledge and data

Rating Scale Understanding

Rating	Level	Description
1	Not Yet Started	No discussions or actions have begun in this area
2	Early Discussion	Initial conversations have started, but no formal plans
3	Planning Stage	Formal planning is underway with documented processes
4	Partial Implementation	Some elements are in place, but not fully operational
5	Fully Implemented	Comprehensive systems are operational and effective

📝 Taking the Assessment

Registration Process

When you begin the assessment, you'll be asked to provide:

Name: Your full name for contact and follow-up
Email: Primary contact email for results and resources
Title/Role: Your position within the Tribal Education Department (Agency)
Organization: Name of your Tribe or educational organization
Assessment Purpose: Why you're taking this assessment (planning, evaluation, etc.)

Navigation Features

Progress Tracking

The assessment includes several features to help you track your progress:

Domain Progress Bars: Visual indicators showing completion for each of the 6 domains
Question Counter: "Question X of 30" display to show your current position
Completion Badges: Color-coded status indicators (red=not started, yellow=in progress, green=complete)
Smooth Navigation: Easy movement between questions and domains

Answering Questions

1 Read Carefully: Each question is designed to assess specific aspects of AI readiness from a Tribal perspective.

2 Consider Current State: Rate based on your organization's current reality, not aspirational goals.

3 Think Holistically: Consider how each area connects to your overall educational mission and Tribal values.

4 Save Progress: Your responses are automatically saved as you progress through the assessment.

Assessment Domains in Detail

1. Engage: Community Commitment and Leadership Alignment

This domain examines how well your Tribal leadership and community are aligned around AI readiness, including formal recognition, community involvement, and coordination responsibilities.

2. Value: Sovereign Priorities and Legal Compliance

Focuses on how Tribal values guide AI decision-making, governance expectations, vendor agreements, and legal/technical capacity for compliance assessment.

3. Optimize: Infrastructure and Implementation Readiness

Evaluates your technology infrastructure, capacity audits, skilled staff availability, secure data systems, and implementation timelines.

4. Lead: Educator Learning and Professional Leadership

Assesses educator training, preparation for tool selection, professional development opportunities, teacher involvement, and feedback integration.

5. Validate: Evaluation and Evidence-Based Decision Making

Examines your metrics for assessment, evaluation protocols, equity outcome analysis, leadership review processes, and feedback collection systems.

6. Elevate: Knowledge Sharing and Strategic Partnerships

Reviews your efforts in sharing lessons learned, participating in peer exchanges, documenting best practices, engaging students, and influencing broader policy.

📊 Understanding Your Results

Results Dashboard

Upon completion, you'll receive a comprehensive results dashboard showing:

Overall Readiness Score

Your total score across all domains, calculated as an average of your responses (1-5 scale), providing a snapshot of your overall AI readiness level.

Domain-Specific Analysis

Score Range	Readiness Level	Recommended Focus
1.0 - 1.9	Foundation Building	Community awareness and initial planning
2.0 - 2.9	Early Development	Formal planning and resource allocation
3.0 - 3.9	Active Implementation	System development and pilot programs
4.0 - 4.9	Advanced Integration	Refinement and expansion of programs
5.0	Leadership Excellence	Sharing expertise and influencing policy

Interpreting Your Scores

Strengths and Opportunities

High-Scoring Domains (4-5): Areas where your organization demonstrates strong readiness and can serve as models for other domains
Moderate-Scoring Domains (2-3): Areas with foundation in place but requiring focused development and resource allocation
Low-Scoring Domains (1-2): Priority areas needing immediate attention and foundational work

Cultural Considerations

Sovereignty-Centered Interpretation

Remember that these scores reflect readiness from a Tribal sovereignty perspective. A lower score doesn't indicate deficiency, but rather an opportunity to strengthen alignment with Indigenous values and governance structures.

🎯 Action Planning

From Assessment to Action

The assessment results automatically generate customized action steps based on your readiness levels. These recommendations follow the TEDNA EVOLVE AI Success Progression Matrix.

Action Step Categories

1 Immediate Actions (Next 30 days): Quick wins that can build momentum and demonstrate commitment to AI readiness.

2 Short-term Goals (3-6 months): Foundational work that establishes systems, policies, and capacity for sustainable progress.

3 Long-term Objectives (6-18 months): Comprehensive implementation and integration activities that position your organization as a leader in Tribal AI readiness.

Implementation Planning Tool

After reviewing your recommended actions, you can use the built-in implementation planning tool to:

Select priority actions that align with your current capacity and resources
Set realistic timelines based on your organizational context
Assign responsibilities to specific team members or committees
Identify required resources and potential funding sources
Create accountability measures and progress indicators

Exporting Your Plan

RTF Export Feature

Your complete assessment results and implementation plan can be exported in Rich Text Format (RTF) for:

Sharing with Tribal Council and leadership
Integration into strategic planning documents
Grant applications and funding proposals
Professional development planning
Progress tracking and accountability

Continuous Improvement

AI readiness is an ongoing process. Consider:

Quarterly Reviews: Regular check-ins on progress toward action plan goals
Annual Reassessment: Retaking the assessment to measure growth and identify new priorities
Community Feedback: Ongoing engagement with stakeholders to ensure alignment with community values
Peer Learning: Connecting with other Tribal Education Departments (Agencies) to share experiences and strategies

🤝 Support & Resources

TEDNA Support Services

TEDNA provides comprehensive support for Tribal Education Departments (Agencies) implementing AI readiness initiatives:

Training and Professional Development

AI² Framework workshops and convenings
Educator professional learning pathways
Leadership development programs
Peer learning networks and communities of practice

Technical Assistance

Customized implementation planning
Policy development guidance
Data governance and privacy consultation
Technology infrastructure assessment

Resources and Tools

Community engagement templates
Governance consideration checklists
Educator learning materials
Evaluation and assessment tools

Additional Resources

TEDNA AI² Handbook

Comprehensive guide covering the full AI² framework, implementation pathways, and practical tools for Tribal Education Departments (Agencies).

EVOLVE Sovereignty Framework

The foundational framework that guides all TEDNA initiatives, providing a structured approach to educational improvement that honors Tribal sovereignty.

Tribal Education Growth Management System (TEGMS)

Comprehensive system for educational planning and improvement that integrates AI² readiness into existing governance and management structures.

Contact Information

Get Connected with TEDNA

For questions about the assessment, implementation support, or additional resources:

Website: https://tedna.org
AI² Resources: https://tedna.org/tedna-ai/
TEGMS/EVOLVE: https://tedna.org/tegms-evolve/

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should we retake the assessment?

We recommend annual reassessment to track progress and identify evolving needs. Quarterly mini-assessments can help monitor specific domain improvements.

Can multiple people from our organization take the assessment?

Yes! Different perspectives from various roles can provide valuable insights. Consider having education leaders, technology coordinators, and community representatives each complete the assessment.

How do we share results with our Tribal Council?

The RTF export feature creates professional reports suitable for leadership presentations. The results include specific recommendations aligned with Tribal sovereignty principles.

What if we score low in multiple domains?

Low scores indicate opportunities for growth, not deficiencies. Start with one domain that aligns with your current priorities and resources. TEDNA can provide targeted support for foundational development.

How does this assessment relate to other educational initiatives?

The AI² assessment integrates with TEDNA's TEGMS and EVOLVE framework, allowing you to align AI readiness with existing educational improvement efforts and strategic planning.