High School aged students in Miami are set to continue to learn the use of artificial intelligence and machinery through a specialized bootcamp training through a partnership between the Mark Cuban Foundation and Miami Dade College.
The Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamp is a free opportunity for high school students within a 30-mile radius of the MDC Kendall Campus to immerse themselves in an introductory learning course on artificial intelligence.
Designed to help students prepare for college and eventually the workforce, the course is available to students who wish to participate regardless of their experience level with technology. The program will be held at the MDC Kendall Campus on Nov. 2, 9, and 16, according to a news release.
Expanding artificial intelligence within the Miami-Dade County Public Schools system to enhance education and prepare students for the future of the workforce is important, said Miami-Dade Public School Board Chair Mari Tere Rojas of District 6, which represents Key Biscayne, Coral Gables and other parts of the County.
Last year, District 6 offered their own AI focused courses for teens at five high schools, which specialize in decision-making, speech recognition, translation and perception, Rojas added.
But the conversation on AI in education is bigger than just hands-on training, she stressed.
“It’s also important to ensure that all students participate in digital literacy lessons that help to address the ethical concerns surrounding the use of AI,” she said.
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Rojas believes in emphasizing the need for ethical learning.
“Knowing what constitutes plagiarism fosters ethical awareness, and students learn the importance of originality, honesty, and integrity in their academic and professional work,” Rojas said.
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The bootcamp training will select 25 students regardless of experience level and grant teens an opportunity to learn from skilled technology experts, connect with their peers and divulge in real-world scenarios, according to the application’s web page. Applications will close September 30.
“As AI continues to become an undeniable force in all of our lives, it’s crucial that we open the door to this knowledge, especially to young people who want to explore it,” Founder Mark Cuban said in a release. “While technology expands and becomes more advanced, it becomes more critical that we ensure our students are prepared when they apply for schools or jobs in the future.”
The School Board is also working to expand AI related courses to additional high schools all over the county for the 2024-25 school year. The district has also partnered with Miami Dade College to grant high school students free access to college level courses focused on AI.
Job readiness is also important for Rojas, who said she will continue to emphasize the need for digital literacy.
“My top priority has always been the safety and security of our students and ensuring that we as a school district prepare them academically to compete in a global and digital literacy society,” she said.
TATIANA PINHEIRO is a reporter for Miami Fourth Estate, working in an internship program under the auspices of the Craig Newmark School of Journalism at the City University of New York, where she is a graduate student.
