JACKSON, Miss.—The world has experienced significant advances in artificial intelligence and progressive AI integration in local communities. Tech companies like Apple, Alphabet (Google’s parent holding company) and Microsoft have increased their product and services output to match the growing demand of investors and customers.
The education system is one sector that is seeing elevated levels of demand for AI integration. Jackson is no stranger to this progress as educators work tirelessly to add AI-comprehension courses to the curriculum, while post-secondary institutions have already provided courses on basic AI uses and large language models. For Jackson, AI can be a useful tool to educate and uplift students to new heights.
While higher-learning institutions like Jackson State University are eager to apply generative AI into its learning system, Jackson Public Schools have been more hesitant. Due to the efforts of educators like Krystal Chatman, new traditional and digital pedagogy have been applied to a variety of computer-science courses throughout K-12 schools in Jackson. An instructional technology facilitator and experienced JPS educator, Chatman trains educators and teachers on how to use AI and implement it into classrooms.
She focuses on teaching identity-centric instruction, giving students the opportunity to bring their “full self” into the classroom, increasing social and learning experiences. Learning methods that promote diversity in leadership and culturally relevant curriculum adaptation allow for students to bring pieces of their identity and their cultures to learning spaces, leading to easier comprehension of the complexities of computer science, AI and other STEM fields.
Realizing that she could not complete this demanding task by herself, Chatman helped co-found the Mississippi AI Collaborative as a joint project with Jackson State in February 2024. This group of educators, institutions, project coordinators and other various actors together advoccate for AI education. The group’s goal is to transform how Mississippians learn, work, and grow by using AI programs so that every student, educator and business has access to beneficial tools, training and opportunities.
The Mississippi AI Collaborative offers initiatives like the AI-thon to undergraduate, graduate and K-12 students. Programs like the AI-thon provide free courses and resources to develop generative AI skills. They also support and connect undergraduate students to small businesses and nonprofits through the AI Agency program, giving a chance for students to engage in practical situations.
As generative AI continues to spread its influence globally, higher-learning institutions like Jackson State have begun developing groundbreaking initiatives to help students familiarize themselves with the complex software. STEM courses are starting to include AI in writing to learn pedagogy, allowing for students to receive in-depth assessments on academic progress as well as providing educators with insights to improve contemporary pedagogical methods.
The point of the program is to provide students with opportunities to work with small businesses and nonprofits to gather practical, realistic experiences. This initiative further prepares students for the fluidity of the workforce as generative AI continues to implement itself in almost every aspect of human activity.
Students, teachers and faculty members are using generative AI every day—either to complete assignments, to edit lesson plans or to simply answer questions. Like the internet and social media, AI is here to stay, and it will alter the processes of human life. Like anything, AI has its good and bad aspects and uses, but the negatives can be limited with proper education and training.
Providing AI education to primary, secondary and post-secondary institutions in Jackson will result in an increase of comprehension, development and retention. To accomplish this, new learning environments must take sha to promote individuality, culture and identity.
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