Proof-of-concept solutions
Real education challenges translated into clear, consultancy-style solution designs.
Stephanie Clifton · The AI Elective
Designing practical AI adoption for education.
I explore how Microsoft AI technologies could help schools and trusts reduce workload, improve decision-making and build sustainable AI capability. The AI Elective documents my consultancy-style proof-of-concept solutions, adoption frameworks and learning journey.
Proof-of-concept solution designResponsible adoption thinkingHonest learning in public
What you will find here
A portfolio of thinking, design and practical exploration
The work is deliberately transparent about its stage: these are independently developed prototypes and implementation concepts, not claims of live organisational deployment.
Microsoft architecture
Thoughtful use of Copilot, Copilot Studio, Power Platform and connected services.
Adoption frameworks
Discovery, prioritisation, governance, piloting, measurement and scaling.
Learning in public
Honest reflections on decisions, mistakes, certifications and evolving practice.
Powered by Microsoft
An integrated AI and automation architecture
Familiar Microsoft services working together as one secure, governed ecosystem rather than a disconnected collection of tools.
Productivity foundation
Microsoft 365
DataverseAI and agent layer
Microsoft Copilot
Copilot Studio
Azure AI FoundryAction, apps and insight
Power Automate
Power Apps
Power BI
Microsoft FabricSecurity & compliance
Enterprise controls, privacy and governance.
Human oversight
People remain accountable for important decisions.
Responsible AI
Transparent, inclusive and proportionate by design.
Measurable impact
Every concept is linked to clearly defined expected outcomes.
Designed around outcomes
AI that earns its place
Time Saved
Creating organisational capacity through intelligent automation of repetitive, low-value work.
Measurable Value
Every concept begins with a business problem and defines the expected outcomes, implementation approach and measures that would be used to evaluate impact.
Responsible AI
Built with governance, transparency, data protection and meaningful human oversight from the outset.
From the Staffroom
A learning journal in progress
Currently documenting two reflections from the journey into Microsoft's AI ecosystem. More entries will be added as new projects, certifications and lessons emerge.
Learning journal6–7 min read
Why I'm documenting the journey
Documenting mistakes, recording decisions and preserving how ideas evolve through practical work.
Read journal entry →Learning journal6–7 min read
Studying PL-900 is changing how I think about AI
How the certification is shifting the focus from product features towards processes, governance and better organisational questions.
Read journal entry →Enter the Staffroom
Musings from the learning journey.
Education AI Solution Library
Practical concepts for every part of school and trust life
A collection of independently developed Microsoft Power Platform concepts organised by operational need. Every solution is presented at the same level, with transparent status, governance, architecture and projected impact.
Proof of ConceptEarly-stage solution concept↗
Central Services
Marketing & Brand Management Agent
Coordinates campaign briefs, approved brand assets and content review across a trust.
Brief→Create→Review→Publish
Microsoft CopilotPower Automate
Working PrototypeFunctioning prototype available↗
School Admin
AI Enquiries Email Agent
Drafts grounded responses and pauses for human approval before anything is sent.
Receive→Classify→Draft→Approve
Copilot StudioPower Automate
Working PrototypeFunctioning prototype available↗
School Admin
Admissions & Open Evening Assistant
Provides trusted answers from approved admissions and event information.
Ask→Retrieve→Answer→Escalate
Copilot StudioMicrosoft 365
Proof of ConceptEarly-stage solution concept↗
School Admin
School Trip Agent
Coordinates trip planning, consent, medical checks, payments and staff oversight.
Propose→Prepare→Track→Approve
Power AutomateDataverse
Proof of ConceptEarly-stage solution concept↗
Leadership
Executive Briefing Agent
Turns approved reports and updates into concise, source-linked leadership briefings.
Collect→Summarise→Review→Decide
Microsoft CopilotPower BI
Proof of ConceptEarly-stage solution concept↗
Leadership
Meeting Action Tracker
Converts confirmed meeting outputs into owned, visible and trackable actions.
Record→Extract→Assign→Track
Power AutomateMicrosoft 365
Proof of ConceptEarly-stage solution concept↗
Teaching & Learning
Teaching & Learning Assistant
Supports teacher-led planning and adaptation within agreed quality frameworks.
Brief→Retrieve→Refine→Approve
Microsoft CopilotCopilot Studio
Proof of ConceptEarly-stage solution concept↗
Pastoral & Safeguarding
Attendance Analysis Assistant
Surfaces attendance patterns and prioritises cases for informed pastoral review.
Import→Analyse→Prioritise→Review
Power BIPower Automate
Proof of ConceptEarly-stage solution concept↗
SEND & Student Support
EHCP Assistant
Helps authorised staff navigate complex EHCP information with source traceability.
Secure→Extract→Review→Support
Copilot StudioDataverseNo matching solutions found.
My AI adoption approach
A repeatable path from problem to responsible scale
This is the process I would use to turn an opportunity into a governed pilot and, where the evidence supports it, a sustainable implementation.
Discover
Understand users, workflows and friction.
Prioritise
Balance value, readiness and risk.
Design
Shape the human-led solution and architecture.
Govern
Set controls, ownership and escalation.
Pilot
Test safely with a defined user group.
Measure
Evaluate quality, value and experience.
Scale
Expand only where evidence supports it.
Why I built The AI Elective
I chose to design the work before I had permission to deploy it.
I created The AI Elective to give myself a dedicated space to explore what effective AI adoption could look like across education.
Using realistic educational scenarios and consultancy-style methodologies, I've developed a portfolio of proof-of-concept solutions that demonstrate how Microsoft AI technologies could support schools and trusts. Each concept explores discovery, process redesign, solution architecture, governance and implementation planning, while remaining transparent about its current stage of development.
This portfolio reflects how I approach AI adoption: understanding the problem first, designing with people and process in mind, considering responsible governance from the outset, and focusing on measurable outcomes. While these concepts have not yet been deployed in a live organisation, they represent the way I think about solving real-world challenges and the type of work I hope to deliver at scale.
Start with the workflow
Understand the people, friction, risks and desired outcome before selecting a tool.
Keep humans accountable
AI supports professional judgement; it does not replace safeguarding, governance or decision ownership.
Measure the difference
Define pilot hypotheses around time, quality, capacity, consistency, experience and organisational value.
The AI Elective