Code Explorers

The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and its progressively wider impact is needed to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. On the same token, education needs AI to achieve sustainable development by 2030.

In 2019, supported by local Miami's Innovation Grant and AWS, Code:Explorers started R&D and testing on a new learning framework. The framework uses human-machine interactions with AI, intelligent digital hosts and curated content including 360/3D to teach 8-12 yrs old the UNSDGs. The United Nations recognized the project and was exhibited at the 2019 General Assembly and scheduled for 2020 UN Germany. 

In the initial testing, the project reaffirmed the 1992 research study on VARK learning modalities by Neil D. Fleming and Coleen E. Mills. The project was especially successful with behavioral disorders and functional ASD students. It enabled motivated students to race ahead of their peers without waiting for the instructor. Assessments showed all students were able to demonstrate their knowledge and apply critical thinking skills by creating 3D projects on their own. 

Funding will catalyze the research and expand the project for more knowledgeable and personalized virtual teachers’ assistants. Teachers and students will benefit by having personalized instructional assistants tailored to their needs.

I have broken stereotypes imposed by society to women as a Hispanic, female electro-mechanical engineer with a MS in E-Business with over 25 years’ experience in engineering, design, manufacturing, contract management, project management and entrepreneurship with many awards. I am also an award-winning chef. A wife, mother and self-starter.

In the last 8 years, I have dedicated my work to prepare PK-8 students for 4th Industrial Revolution(4IR) – engineering, computer science and emerging technologies. I developed, tested and managed curricular/programmatic activities as well as R&D projects related to the use of emergent technologies for good.

As an engineering student, I lacked internships. Consequently, I developed a successful paid internship program for local university/college students. I have been awarded Miami's Innovator of the Year, Internship of the Year, Digital Achievement and Excellence.

In 2018, observing children (incl. ADHD/ADD/ASD) in a demo of AI with NLP and virtual beings, it became apparent that AI could support the paradigm shift in education I was looking for – machine-aided but personalized and driven by humans in a teacher-student-machine collaboration. 

In 2020, I became a student of enterprise cloud computing and emergent technologies with several certifications completed to be prepare for the future ahead.

Our present school systems does not offer the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) education needed for sustainable development.

Meaningful progress will require a real paradigm shift. Despite efforts in computer science and STEM education, we lack significant representation and access in the labor force. The societal and economic shifts already started, and accelerated by the pandemic, will require fundamental changes in education.

In 2020-21, the US experienced the lowest learning participation at 50% or less with many global school's shutdowns. Infrastructure investment, 1:1 devices, and video conferencing will take us so far but does not aid in meaningful changes needed to instructional methods. 

Code Explorers in collaboration with cities, government, schools, and local funders, provided 4-13 yrs old informal pre-university technical programs on 4IR careers such as IOT, AI, Big Data, 3D skills, robotics, biometrics, computational thinking/programming, design thinking and engineering skills. Our focus has been on inclusion and access. We encourage a Community of Learners with local university students. We continue to work on innovative R&D projects to implement emerging technologies for community needs.

AI can be the catalyst to launch an educational revolution. Funding projects that use emergent technologies will have long lasting effects in US and the world. 

As an innovator, I seek for ways of doing things and solving problems in ways that have never being done before and push others to do the same. It provides a mental high for me. I embrace the idea of challenging the status quo, push boundaries and grow. This growth mindset translates into my life, work and projects. 

With all the possible threats and mishaps of past and current AI implementations, is truly exhilarating and innovative to use AI in education as a problem solving tool rather than see it as the problem.

AI can be the catalyst to launch an educational revolution but requires an informed society, governance and ethical frameworks along with informed leadership.

When we started in 2014 our focus was city local. In 2016, we expanded to other counties and cities around us. In  2019, during our exhibit to the United Nations General Assembly, we understood that our local needs for education also translated into a global need and transformation in education. 

The children of today are the future of our planet and they need to be prepared for what lies ahead. Sounds cliché, but when we teach children what mainstream considers not possible we really mean it. There is an increase sense of accomplishment and self-reliance and "I CAN DO IT" attitude after completing our programs which translates into a surprised overjoy and appreciative parents. In schools, teachers have expressed a more meaningful connection to formal school learning by those attending.

Please Watch our YouTube channel for parents, students, instructors in action - https://www.youtube.com/channe...

More than ever, we need to use our humanity and be empathetic to help others, to reach out, to share our experiences, knowledge and skill. We are small but part of a vast ecosystem. After all our vast ocean sands are made one grain at a time.