Vishwas Mruthyunjaya presented the group’s work at the IAFOR International Conference on Education in Hawaii (IICE) 2024 focusing on AI, access, and inclusion. Persistent barriers to participation in STEM (i.e., access to resources, funding teachers, local implications & relevancy, outreach disparities) must be addressed to ensure equitable access to growing and in-demand jobs. Additional research is needed to understand how to address the interwoven and unique challenges that rural communities are facing. To ensure that we are preparing our future generations for success, we must work to increase accessibility and understanding of AI across all communities. The presentation discussed the outcomes of our initial community ChatGPT and AI workshop, teacher-centered AI educational materials, and student-facing classroom in a rural space.
