LATAM-AI

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) is exacerbating the growing digital and educational divide. While developed nations are reaping the benefits of AI, underdeveloped countries are being left behind due to limited access to education and resources in this field. This lack of education perpetuates inequality both within and between nations. In El Salvador, where I'm focusing my efforts, the scale of the problem is significant. According to the Education Policy Data Center (EPDC),31% of children of secondary school age are out of school in 2018, hindering their ability to engage with emerging technologies like AI. Globally, the digital divide affects billions, one of every three people worldwide lacks access to the internet, further widening the gap in AI literacy and opportunity. Factors contributing to this problem include limited infrastructure, inadequate educational systems, and socioeconomic disparities. Our solution involves implementing educational initiatives tailored to the specific needs and contexts of underdeveloped nations like El Salvador, providing foundational knowledge and skills in AI to bridge the gap. By empowering individuals with AI literacy, we can pave the way for more inclusive development and reduce global inequality.

Our solution is to introduce AI education to Latin America using a Project Based Learning (PBL) approach. Essentially, this means teaching AI concepts through hands-on projects rather than traditional lectures or textbooks.

Here's how it works: Instead of just learning theories and concepts about AI, students actively engage in real-world projects where they apply AI principles to solve problems. For example, they will work on creating chatbots, image recognition systems, or predictive models.

The technology involved includes basic AI tools and platforms that are accessible and user-friendly, allowing students to experiment and learn without needing advanced technical skills. This includes platforms like Google's Teachable Machine for basic machine learning projects or tools like Scratch for programming interactive AI projects.

By using a PBL approach and accessible technology, our solution makes AI education more engaging, practical, and inclusive. It empowers students in Latin America to not only understand AI but also to use it creatively to address real-world challenges, ultimately bridging the digital divide and fostering a more equitable future.

Two pilots have been run in El Salvador already with tremendous results. The pilots have been implemented by collaborating with the Ministry of Education of El Salvador (MINEDUCYT). Named "Bootcamps de Programacion" (Programming Bootcamps), 300 students for 2 weeks are placed in a programming bootcamp where they learn a certain skill. The first 2 bootcamps were centered around programming skills, we allowed the instructors to decide which programming language and skills to teach. We are currently working in 2 more programming bootcamps to teach AI skills after June 2024.

The target population we aim to directly and meaningfully improve are students of secondary school age in Latin America, mainly in El Salvador, particularly those in underprivileged communities who currently lack access to quality education and resources in the field of artificial intelligence (AI).

These individuals are underserved in several ways:

1. Limited Access to Education: Many students in Latin America do not have access to comprehensive AI education due to underfunded schools, outdated curricula, and a lack of trained teachers in the field.

2. Digital Divide: There is a significant gap in access to technology and the internet, which further exacerbates educational disparities. Without access to digital tools and resources, individuals in Latin America are at a disadvantage in acquiring AI skills and knowledge.

3. Economic Disadvantage: Socioeconomic factors often restrict access to higher education and opportunities for skill development in emerging fields like AI, particularly for marginalized communities.

My solution addresses these needs by bringing AI education directly to these underserved populations through a Project Based Learning (PBL) approach. By implementing hands-on projects that teach AI concepts in a practical and engaging manner, students are empowered to develop essential AI skills regardless of their background or resources. Additionally, the use of accessible technology ensures that students can participate in AI learning even with limited access to advanced resources. Overall, my solution aims to democratize AI education in Latin America, providing opportunities for personal and professional growth to those who are currently underserved in this rapidly evolving field.

Our team, comprised of students from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, is uniquely equipped to design and deliver this solution to the communities in Latin America, particularly in El Salvador. Fluent in Spanish and deeply connected to the local community, each team member brings a wealth of knowledge and understanding of the challenges and aspirations of the populations we aim to serve.

Our Team Lead's journey, fleeing to the US at age 13 after his father's courageous act to protect him from local gang members, informs his unwavering determination to empower students in Latin America and the broader Global South with AI education. Growing up as an undocumented immigrant in Texas, he experienced firsthand the barriers to education and opportunities faced by marginalized communities. This journey fuels his commitment to leveraging AI education as a means to build a brighter future for students in Latin America and beyond.

Throughout the design and implementation of our solution, we prioritize meaningful engagement with local stakeholders, including educators, students, parents, and community leaders. Drawing on our deep knowledge and connections to the local community, we have conducted extensive research and visited multiple schools in El Salvador to gain firsthand insights into their needs and challenges.

Our solution is not imposed from an external perspective but co-created with the communities we serve. We have also partnered with the Ministry of Education of El Salvador (MINEDUCYT) to strategize the implementation of the solution, as well as actively solicit feedback and incorporate local input into the design of our curriculum and programs to ensure relevance, accessibility, and responsiveness to their unique context.

Overall, our team's proximity to the communities we serve, combined with our expertise in education and deep commitment to empowerment, positions us as the right people to drive positive change through AI education in Latin America and the Global South.

Our team has achieved several milestones in implementing our AI education solution in Latin America, particularly in El Salvador. Here's what we've accomplished so far:

1. Development of Tailored Educational Materials: We have crafted educational materials designed to meet the needs of students in Latin America. These materials encompass curriculum guides, project-based learning modules, and teacher resources, all customized to the local context.

2. Pilot Programs and School Visits: We have conducted pilot programs in collaboration with several schools in El Salvador. Prior to implementing these programs, our team visited multiple schools across the country to understand the local needs and assess the infrastructure available. This firsthand experience allowed us to adapt our solution to fit the local context effectively.

3. Global Education Conference Presentation: Our solution was showcased at the Global Education Conference, where we shared our approach with educators, policymakers, and stakeholders worldwide. This presentation helped to raise awareness and garner support for our initiative on a global scale.

4. Engagement with El Salvador's Minister of Education: We have been actively collaborating with the Minister of Education in El Salvador to discuss integrating AI education into the national curriculum. Through ongoing dialogue and partnership, we aim to institutionalize AI education in schools across the country, ensuring sustainable impact.

Through our pilot programs, school visits, and engagement with educational stakeholders, we have already made a tangible difference in the lives of students in El Salvador. Our commitment to understanding local needs and adapting our solution accordingly demonstrates our dedication to providing accessible and impactful AI education in Latin America.

We are applying to Solve because we believe it aligns perfectly with our mission to bridge the digital divide through AI education in Latin America, particularly in El Salvador. As a team dedicated to empowering underserved communities with essential skills for the future, we see Solve's support as instrumental in furthering our impact and reach.

The financial support offered by Solve, including the $10,000 prize and access to additional funding through grants and investments, will enable us to scale our initiative and reach more students in need. This funding will allow us to invest in resources, curriculum development, and infrastructure to deliver high-quality AI education tailored to the local context.

Moreover, Solve's virtual support program, including capacity workshops and leadership coaching, will help us enhance our skills and expertise in implementing our solution effectively. The access to in-kind and pro bono resources such as software licenses and legal services will alleviate operational challenges and enable us to focus on our core mission of empowering individuals with AI literacy.

Participating in Solve's program will also provide us with invaluable networking opportunities, connecting us with a diverse community of impact-minded leaders across industries and sectors. This network will serve as a trusted support group, offering inspiration, guidance, and potential collaborations to amplify our impact.

Additionally, Solve's support in building an impact measurement practice will enable us to better track and evaluate the effectiveness of our AI education initiative, ensuring that we are making a meaningful difference in the lives of beneficiaries.

Overall, we see Solve's program as a unique opportunity to accelerate our impact, gain recognition for our work, and contribute to creating a more equitable future in Latin America and beyond. We are excited about the potential to collaborate with Solve and its partners to mobilize resources and support for our AI education initiative, making a lasting difference in the communities we serve.

One of the novel ways of our solution is that we adapt it to the local context. For example, in our last visit to El Salvador MINEDUCYT took us to a school high-up in the mountains of Ahuachapan, a department in El Salvador. This rural area lacked the infrastructure to have computers and internet, so we decided to teach programming skills unplugged. With paper, pencil, and group activities. Which led to a broader conversation with the teachers and principals of the school on how we can start advancing the digital skills of students without technology.

Our theory of change is that in order to democratize AI digital literacy we must first address the lack of infrastructure, and lack of teacher preparation in using digital tool and skills for pedagogy. By teaching computer science unplugged in areas without digital infrastructure, and training teachers on not just how to use digital tools, but also show them how to use them for teaching practice, we will better prepare teachers and students to solve problems in their local communities through AI.

Goal: To train Teachers on the utilization of Project Based Learning practices with Digital tools.

Indicator: Were teachers able to create a project based learning experience in the programming bootcamp using a digital tool? What was the feedback of the students?

Example: A teacher used scratch to create games for learning. (Bootcamp 1 - Led by Luis Gaitan)

Goal: To teach students how to use digital tools to solve problems in their communities.

Indicator: Were the students able to present a solution to a local problem using a digital tool?

Example: A 10th grade student created a game with scratch that teaches children age 3 - 5 how to pronounce the letters and numbers in a computer keyboard.

Currently the main technology is HP laptops with access to the Google Suite of Products. This is due to the fact that El Salvador invested a lot of money in a "one laptop per child" policy and a deal with Google and its products. Again, taking the adaptability to the local context as a core value of our solution, we looked at what El Salvador already had, and created a strategy to start teaching about coding and AI without the need of future technology investment.

However, due to the success of the bootcamps, current talks with MINEDUCYT has led to a new initiative where we will be scanning different archeological cites in El Salvador and creating VR learning modules with the scans, so that communities in the rural areas of the country can also have access to these sites. Communities like the one in Ahuachapan that we visited, who live 2 hours away high-up in the mountains and do not have access to these resources, would benefit greatly from pre-loaded contextualized VR content for the purpose of education. This will expose them to a new technology, and expand opportunities for learning. When combined with the current bootcamps, we hope students will become inspired to tinker with VR headsets, AI, and programming in the future. This new initiative is slated for the year 2025, as in 2024 we are focusing on bootcamps and teaching foundational programming and AI skills due to the lack of resources and manpower to handle the demand for these skills.

Luis Gaitan - Team Lead - Technologist

Mayra Martinez Peña - Project Manager 

Liam Stanton - Digital Pedagogies

Miguel Vivanco - Business and Fintech

We have been working on the solution since Fall 2023. Our team analyzed countries around the world and compared the educational and digital literacy strategies to device a policy strategy for El Salvador. By December 2023, the team had engaged with MINEDUCYT to discuss the policy paper. This led to meeting with Mauricio Pineda, Minister of Education of El Salvador, in January, and launching the first Programming Bootcamp in February, with the second Programming Bootcamp ending in April. Finally we are planning to hold a region-wide AI conference in El Salvador in November 2024.

The diversity of our team is what has allowed us to create the impact we've had so far with El Salvador. Luis comes from El Salvador, and brings a perspective of immigration and perseverance, due to his undocumented status for many years in the United States. Mayra is the daughter of Mexican immigrants, and her story is the story of many young-women who were raised by a single mother, and worked through college to be able to help her community. Liam, has traveled all over the world teaching English. He speaks English, Spanish, Mandarin and brings a global perspective of Education and Pedagogy. Finally, Miguel, comes from Peru and his experience in Higher Education in Peru and Fintech business gives us an advantage in the region and reminds the team that to educate is to impact the local market of a region. 

Through our diverse stories and perspectives, we vote, we disagree, and we debate possible solutions and its impact, always keeping in mind the child as whole in our approach. While our diverse views cast a wide net of perspectives, we always make sure to do our due diligence and talk to others in the communities we're working in, from local governments, to the children, to make sure our solutions are customized to the actual needs of those we impact.

Currently we have a partnership with MINEDUCYT where they pay for our travel and lodging, and we teach our bootcamps for free. If we were to create an entity, we would probably do a non-profit, so that the funds go purely towards to cause of educating children in Latin America.

Applying to grants, and keeping up partnerships with local governments and NGOs.