Games4Grades

Our solution is creating a SaaS program called Games4Grades that engages young learners in critical mathematic skills through gamified learning, complimented by an AI-led engagement system.  By leveraging mobile technology, we create accessible learning modules and play built upon curriculum milestones in Math, with goals of a practical understanding of Algebra and Statistics, the key to a fundamental comprehension of STE(A)M career skills.  Students can initiate different learning paths based on localized learning or stakeholder-led programs that quantify learning progress and opportunities customized to young learners, as data is presented to our unique suite of Large Language Models.  These models emphasize diverse learning from all students, focusing on the neurodiverse, differently abled, and students from underestimated communities traditionally in math-led careers.

Our recent prototype has been built with augmented reality gaming and geolocation services. These services can customize learning to unique physical locations, such as a park, school, or museum, and create learning experiences based on where people are in their communities.  

With an emphasis on mobile technology, we see scalability and accessibility with global learners in emerging markets and ecosystems finding our program highly accessible, as trends to mobile-first use in finances, communication, and news skew towards this learning methodology.

We close with a simple fact: Kids love video games.  Across genders, social classes, economics, and language, young learners find digital experiences and their perceptions of themselves in digital ecosystems part of their identities.  By bringing diverse images, art, and language into their learning ecosystems through gameplay, we build a cultural understanding and acceptance that Mathematics is equally a common denominator in our sense of humanity.

We find that talent resides everywhere, but opportunity does not.  Our practical yet scalable solution to support K-8 students find their passion points in Math is to make learning accessible via mobile technology.  For students experiencing poverty, particularly in Black and Latine communities, there is a direct parallel to being disproportionally represented in STE(A)M careers, and standardized test scores in Math.  There is a priority post-pandemic to close the Digital Divide of learning that exists in these communities, which has only widened through the various methods of engaging students and educators the past few years.  We see Games4Grades as a space where inclusion and equity is built into our code, and that AI-enabled assessments can curate new methods of learning that may translate better than traditional models with these learners.  The goal to experience confidence in learning is our point of impact with our solution.

I am a new Ford Foundation Global Fellow for 2024. My research focuses on using AI and Gaming to end inequalities in Education and Workforce Development.

https://www.fordfoundation.org... 

I created and delivered three learning Game Camp in partnership with Xbox for Atlanta, with 4th graders and adult learners across the African Continent.

https://www.xbox.com/en-US/xbo...

I have worked with educators and technologists in Lagos, Nigeria in partnership with the US State Department and US Consulate to support educational infrastructure in the country.

Our studio with SUBSUME has been dubbed the "Future of Gaming and AI" by Black Enterprise magazine for our opening of the world's first Afrofuturism Technology Salon (ATS) in Downtown Atlanta, GA.

I have created programming with Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

We have an initial working prototype utilizing Niantic Lightship accessible by Google Play/Android phones in hand. 

We built a prior prototype and implemented a learning program in Atlanta, Georgia, with Atlanta Public Schools in 2021 that serviced 1,200 students and focused on Geometry and Algebra for 7th and 8th graders across 12 schools.  After APS acquired our program, we set to build our current Niantic prototype.

We plan to build a new system under Unity with an educator/student project with a specific addition to the AI modeling and support as part of the core development cycle.

We utilize Gamification as a learning mode for diverse and accessible programming to be available for all learners.

Our core AI focus is within the space of Machine Learning and Knowledge Representation.  Our current technology relies on our connectivity with Open AI as source partners in our initial AI development and the AI Hub at Georgia Tech.   We are in the early stage of the self-sufficient space of our own AI product, but it is a goal. 

We developed and implemented a gamified learning program under this NSF Program.

NSF Awards: 1946412

>span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2 SCXW201345282 BCX0">EPSCoR researchers, and STEM 6-12 teachers. We introduced a new PD program for our teachers, the PBL Certificate Program, which forges a more formal and active role for VI-ISERP researchers in providing support to the teachers through 1) experiential learning to both the teachers and students (i.e., field work) and 2) intensive development of place-based curriculum plans. We welcomed our first cohort in Fall 2021 where teacher-researcher partnerships were formed in mangrove restoration, coral reef restoration, and agriculture. In addition to strengthening our collaborations among VI-EPSCoR researchers, we established partnerships with SUBSUME, Microsoft, CSTA, Code.org, and the Hines Family foundation to provide a series of workshops called TechKnowledge for Teachers. This initiative, beginning Fall 2021, addresses the limited formal exposure to computer science education for teacher and students in grades 6-12 in the USVI.  This partnership integrates computing and coding skills across all grade bands and subjects. A direct benefit from this collaboration with the PBL Certificate Program is the increase in teachers’ knowledge, skill, and accessible resources to bolster students’ technological skills in developing educational products. 

NSF Program: EPSCoR Research Infrastructure (EPSCoR)

We want to build our own Learning Language Models understanding that traditional models may have bias from sources that may not truly represent our impact audience and prospective stakeholders.   Our work was founded on the premise of "Jim Code", and the issue with restorative data sets not being delivered in many contemporary solutions.  We want to build upon our learning of this in digital gaming to build an expertise in this space.

Currently, I operate this program as a solo founder of Games4Grades, with our creative technology studio SUBSUME Media, Inc. in Atlanta, Georgia.   We currently work with 1099 contractors for coding and development and through partnerships with Morehouse College, Spelman College, Georgia Tech, and Georgia State University for research and development.

We are already piloting and have dedicated our current workflow to this opportunity to serve. 

We plan to leverage our accessibility with the Ford Foundation to find sustainable partnerships and make our program available to global learners at scale. 

We need the resources and expertise to develop our prototype fully and bridge our efforts into impact areas.