Learning that values context and complexity

Learning that values context and complexity

Futures Literacy practitioner and AI workshop facilitator helping K-12 schools navigate the era of AI — with creativity, ethics, and zero jargon.


Tricia Friedman is the Director of Learning and Content at Shifting Schools and a futures literacy practitioner based in Ottawa, Canada. She helps K-12 school leaders make sense of AI so they can build more human, future-ready learning communities. She co-hosts the Shifting Schools podcast and hosts Be a Better Ally, designs research-supported scenarios that engage learners of all ages, and writes the AI Forward — K-12 Leadership Brief on Substack.

Starting with what matters

Too often, AI professional development starts with tools. I start with what matters: pedagogy, judgment, and the necessary questions that help schools make decisions about teaching and learning that values creativity and collaboration.

01

Weaving across
literacies.

I believe the biggest challenges facing schools can’t be solved inside a single discipline. I help educators think interdisciplinarily — connecting digital, ethical, civic, and media literacies into something more useful than any one alone.

Interdisciplinary by design
02

Creativity as
a compass.

Changing times demand divergent thinking. I help educators and leaders use creativity not as an add-on but as a way to navigate uncertainty, reframe problems, and discover possibilities.

Divergent by default
03

Ethics as practice,
not checklist.

I don’t treat AI ethics as a one-time policy review. I help communities build the habit of examining values, questioning assumptions, and making decisions they can defend — together, and often.

Ongoing, not one-and-done

Want to explore what this looks like for your school?


Three books. One mission.

Whether you want a hands-on challenge or the full playbook, there’s a way in.

How Do You See the Dog? book cover

How Do You See the Dog?

A Playbook to Navigate AI with a Futures Literacy Approach

The full Futures Literacy playbook for K-12 leaders navigating AI. Companion species research meets futures thinking — with solo prompts and team activities ready to use in your next meeting.

The Agents Are Here, Now What? book cover

The Agents Are Here, Now What?

A Futures Literacy Guide for K-12 Leaders

A practical guide for K-12 leaders as AI shifts from tool to teammate. Fifteen short chapters, the BARK to the Future framework, and the questions worth asking before agents quietly reshape your building.

Explore the work

What exactly is Futures Literacy, and why now?
Futures Literacy moves beyond asking “I wonder” to a strategic, joyful, social experience of wondering together. It teaches attunement, not reaction — and it’s essential in an AI-influenced landscape where the questions matter more than the tools.

Read my full case for Futures Literacy →
What workshops are available for my school or team?
I offer twelve workshops that span futures thinking, AI companions, algorithmic awareness, executive function, creative AI, assessment redesign, and leadership. Each one is customizable.

Browse the full workshop menu →
How should families navigate AI companions?
AI companions raise real questions about empathy, identity, and boundaries — for kids and adults alike. The PAUSE Together guide offers a research-backed family framework grounded in social-emotional learning.

See the family companion guide →
Is there something I can start using right away?
My five most-requested megaprompts are free and copy-ready. They cover strategic prioritization, foresight, team dynamics, voice analysis, and reflective coaching dialogue.

Grab the Big Five prompts →
How do I book Tricia for a workshop or consultation?
Start by browsing the workshop menu to see what fits your context, then reach out through the contact page or email tricia@shiftingschools.com. Workshops can be delivered virtually or in person, and each one is customized for your school or organization.

AI Forward — The K-12 Leadership Brief

A free newsletter on Futures Literacy, ethical AI, and leading learning right now.