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.
Featured portfolio work
From operational friction to a testable concept
Each concept demonstrates solution design, human-centred workflows, governance considerations and expected organisational outcomes. These are prototype designs, not live deployments.
AI AgentAdministration
AI Enquiries Email Agent
Reads incoming enquiries, drafts brand-aligned responses and pauses for human approval before anything is sent.
1Input→2AI processing→3Human review→4Outcome
Fasterresponse preparation
Consistentbrand and policy
Human-ledfinal approval
Governance snapshot
Oversight: Human approval before sending.
Knowledge: Approved organisational sources only.
Escalation: Sensitive or uncertain enquiries route to staff.
Limitation: No autonomous high-stakes decisions.
AI AssistantAdmissions
Admissions & Open Evening Assistant
Answers routine parent questions around the clock using approved school information and clear escalation routes.
1Parent question→2Retrieve knowledge→3Answer or escalate→4Clear response
Governance snapshot
Oversight: Clear staff escalation routes.
Knowledge: Approved admissions content only.
Privacy: Avoids unnecessary personal data.
Limitation: Does not make admissions decisions.
AI Adoption Portfolio
Proof-of-concept work by organisational need
Each entry shows how I would frame a real education challenge, design a human-led Microsoft solution and plan for responsible implementation. None of these concepts has yet been deployed in a live organisation; they demonstrate my approach to solution design, adoption and governance.
Independent prototype · Not live
Proof of Concept↗
AI Enquiries Email Agent
Drafts compliant responses and routes them for human approval.
Status Proof of conceptDeployment Not yet implementedPurpose Demonstrate design, governance and pilot thinking
Input→Draft→Review→Send
Governance
Human approval, approved sources and escalation controls.
Copilot StudioPower AutomateIndependent prototype · Not live
Proof of Concept↗
Admissions & Open Evening Assistant
Provides trusted answers using approved admissions content.
Status Proof of conceptDeployment Not yet implementedPurpose Demonstrate design, governance and pilot thinking
Ask→Retrieve→Answer→Escalate
Governance
Approved content, privacy controls and staff escalation.
Copilot StudioMicrosoft 365
In development
Executive Briefing Agent
Turns reports and updates into concise, decision-ready briefings.
Collect→Summarise→Review→Decide
Governance
Source traceability, reviewer accountability and role-based access.
Microsoft CopilotPower BI
Coming soon
Teaching & Learning Assistant
Supports planning and adaptation within agreed quality frameworks.
Brief→Generate→Refine→Use
Governance
Teacher review, approved frameworks and no automated grading decisions.
Microsoft CopilotCopilot Studio
Coming soon
EHCP Insight Assistant
Surfaces provision and classroom considerations from complex documents.
Document→Extract→Review→Support
Governance
Human interpretation, secure documents and no statutory decision-making.
Copilot StudioDataverse
Concept
Meeting Action Tracker
Converts meeting outputs into assigned actions and progress views.
Meeting→Extract→Assign→Track
Governance
Named owners, audit trail and controlled action assignment.
Power AutomateMicrosoft 365No solutions match that search yet.
01Educational Administration
2 proof-of-concept solutions
02Teaching & Learning
Coming soon
03Leadership
Coming soon
04SEND
Coming soon
05Human Resources
Planned
06Finance
Planned
07Marketing
Planned
08Safeguarding
Planned
09Governance
Planned
10Estates
Planned
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