Clever Minds Elementary Learning How To Live with AI in Africa
William Jackson, MAT, CEO of MetaverseWP, Metaverse
Education Program Director of the World Metaverse Council
and Technology Education Program Director of One Africa Forum
Elementary students attending Clever Minds Foundational Academy
in Warri, Nigeria are learning how to apply OpenAI ChatGPT and PI.ai.
Why is this transformative for African students in elementary school?
The exposure now shows how vitally important the exposure, learning
and integration of AI in education is for not just African, but American, European, Canadia and other nations. It should be understood that
people will not lose their jobs to AI, but people that understand how
to apply AI will have those jobs.
“Until the lions have their historians, tales of the hunt shall always
glorify the hunter.” Chinua Achebe, “The Art of Fiction,” 1994
Hear these words Africa and teach your children to be the digital
lions that will take Africa into a future of leadership, influence, /
discovery, creation and innovation.
As a STEAM+M, AI, VR, and Metaverse teacher of 33 years my experience is learning myself how I can guide students to understanding, integrating and applying appropriately. Teachers are becoming increasingly facilitators of learning and managers of data that can be used to guide and challenge students in their critical thinking, higher-order reasoning and being thought leaders and knowledgeable of the change that is here and continues to come. Increasingly students like the ones we teach in Nigeria are becoming more creative, innovative, progressive, imaginative and strategic in their understanding of what AI is and what AI can potentially do. Introducing AI tools like ChatGPT and PI to elementary students at Clever Minds Foundational Academy in Warri, Nigeria, https://tinyurl.com/5he4axvc is transformative for several reasons. This early exposure to AI and related technologies positions these young learners at the forefront of a rapidly evolving digital landscape, providing them with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in future tech careers. First and foremost, learning to use AI tools at an early age fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity and innovation. These are essential skills in the 21st century, where technological literacy is increasingly becoming a prerequisite for success in career fields. By interacting with AI, students learn to ask better questions, seek efficient solutions to problems, and develop an understanding of how these technologies can be leveraged to solve real-world problems that are faced across the continent. Tech will not solve all problems, but allow collaboration, connections and counseling of the people to work together.
Digital Jobs GloballyPresidents, Prime Ministers, Political Leaders across Africa must understand that the educational system across the continent must change. That elementary education must be changed and charged with trained teachers that are supported not just with training, but with mentoring and access to tools like dedicated wireless access that embraces digital and immersive learning. Teachers must have hands-on experiences, integrated learning opportunities and strategic objectives to empower and inspire students. The generations of today and tomorrow are already on Minecraft, Fortnite and Roblox because those programs are intros to Metaverse and VR engagements. This hands-on experience demystifies AI, making it more accessible and less intimidating, if teachers are allowed to “play,” “experiment,” “discover,” and “explore” in these programs first and are taught by students maybe they can gain valuable learning that can transfer which is crucial for encouraging teachers to include more VR learning and help students to pursue careers in technology.
Introducing AI in elementary education helps bridge the digital divide that often exists in many African countries. Providing students with access to cutting-edge tools is many times a challenge. Clever Minds Foundational Academy https://youtu.be/Fn4skpJkgac ensures that its students are not left behind in the global race towards technological advancement and achievement. This access not only enhances their learning experiences but also equips them with skills that are highly valued in the global job market that influence African educational growth, but there still is more works to do. The teams of My Quest To Teach, Real Dads Network, LoveBuilt Life LLC, Dad Is Not A Noun and the instructor Grace.
As Clever Minds students enter into secondary level their familiarity with AI will give them a competitive edge in pursuing careers that will incorporate technologies. Whether they choose to become data scientists, software developers, AI researchers, or tech entrepreneurs, the start of foundation is being laid by their exposure to AI tools will be invaluable. They will be prepared to innovate, create, and lead in a world where AI plays a central role in various industries, from healthcare and finance to education and entertainment. The African Union must act quickly to understand how investing in the educational systems can be done efficiently and affordably. The African Union recognizes the importance of such educational initiatives. In its Agenda 2063, the AU emphasizes the need for Africa to invest in STEAM Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts Math and innovation to drive its socio-economic development. The AU states, “To build the Africa we want, it is imperative that we empower our youth with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in the digital economy.”
Incorporating AI education in elementary schools like Clever Minds Foundational Academy
https://youtu.be/HoB_rdP8ZAQ is a vital step toward achieving this vision. By empowering young African students with AI skills, we are not only preparing them for the jobs of the future but also contributing to the continent’s overall development and technological progress.
Agenda 2063 is the African continent’s strategic framework that aims to deliver on its goal for inclusive and sustainable development and is a concrete manifestation of the Pan-African drive for unity, self-determination, freedom, progress and collective prosperity pursued under Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance. The genesis is independence for the continent which had been the focus of The Organization of African Unity (OAU), the precursor of the African Union; and instead to prioritize inclusive social and economic development, continental and regional integration, democratic governance and peace and security amongst other issues aimed at repositioning Africa to becoming a dominant player in the global arena across multiple areas.
Technology will not solve all the issues across Africa, it will encourage collaboration, cooperation, connections and partnerships to allow African people to work together to solve their challenges.
“Until the lions have their historians, tales of the hunt shall always
glorify the hunter.” Chinua Achebe, “The Art of Fiction,” 1994
Hear these words Africa and teach your children to be the digital
lions that will take Africa into a future of leadership, influence,
discovery, creation and innovation.