How AI and the Metaverse Can Support Learning Black History for All Students in Jacksonville, Florida
William Jackson, MAT
CEO MetaverseWP & My Quest to Teach
* Metaverse Education Program Director
for the World Metaverse Council,
Slovenia, Eastern Europe
* Board Member and Technology Education
Consultant Tristan’s Acceleration Academy,
Jacksonville, Florida https://tristansacademy.com/
* ED3 Educational DAO Online
* Board Member One Africa Forum,
Johannesburg, South Africa
Celebrating the 125th Anniversary of “Lift Every Voice and Sing”
https://jaxpubliclibrary.org/blog/lift-every-voice-and-sing-125th-anniversary-celebration
contributing to the celebration with blogs inspiring all students in
Jacksonville, Florida. AI and the Metaverse offer transformative
opportunities to enhance Black History education in Jacksonville,
Florida, by making learning more engaging, immersive, accessible
and culturally relevant. Here’s how these technologies can be
leveraged by educators of all grade levels to teach students in
Jacksonville, Florida and the county of Duval County.
* You do not need a headset, use the available equipment
that is present in schools like laptops, desktops. Download the
app Spatial.io for Smartphones and tablets. Registration is free.
* As a Certified VR Educator, it is important that students are
interactively engaged and involved. Using VR and AI to inspire
and empower learning for digital students. Traditional teaching
methods are not working for students even in elementary levels
so adaptions and adoptions need to be made for immersion.
VR allows access to people like Rodney Hurst Sr. “It Was Never
About A Hotdog and A Coke,” and Marsh Dean Phelts “American
Beach” in environments where interactivity and engagement are
expected. It is not video games, but an opportunity to learn history
at another level. Data shows that students retain up to 60% of
the content when engaged and active.
Rodney L. Hurst, Sr. Metaverse Site
https://www.spatial.io/s/Rodney-L-Hurst-Sr-67fac6975e4958d29524782f?share=3816780134390996688
Marsha Dean Phelts coming soon……
Strategies for Immersion and Engagement:
1. Immersive Storytelling Through the Metaverse:
Recreating Historical Events: Students can virtually experience
key moments in Black history, such as “Ax Handle Saturday” or
Martin Luther King Jr.’s speeches and the speeches of Malcolm X ,
through immersive VR environments.
2. Exploring Local Landmarks:
Virtual tours of historic Jacksonville
sites like La Villa, Kingsley Plantation, and James Weldon
Johnson Park can bring local Black history to life for students
unable to visit in person. Using VR to help with accessibility
for the disabled students, there are thousands of students with
physical disabilities and walking is not an option or wheelchairs
are not accessible. VR can fix that
piece of immersion and participation.
3. AI-Powered Personalized Learning:
Interactive Chatbots: AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity and
NotebookLM can answer questions and help with research
and discovery about figures like Rodney Hurst Sr., James
Weldon Johnson, Bessie Coleman and events like the Civil
Rights Movement in Jacksonville.
It is important to celebrate living iconic community members
now to hear their testimonies and their engagement so
students can here first-hand the challenges, accomplishments
and realities of the past that still influence the present and
the future.
4. Customized Curriculum:
AI can help educators create
personalized lesson plans tailored to students’ learning
styles and interests, ensuring deeper engagement with
Black History topics.
5. Collaborative Learning Experiences:
Student-Created Content: Inspired by initiatives like student
developed Black History curriculum in Duval County Public
Schools, AI tools can assist students in researching and
creating their own content, fostering ownership of their
learning and bringing live learning to the classrooms.
Empowering students with tools, apps and allowing
creativity and innovation in their projects.
6. Community Engagement:
The metaverse can host virtual
meetups or panel discussions with local historians, activists,
and community leaders to connect students with real-world
changemakers. Applying PI.ai to interconnect and interact
with discussions and collaborations.
7. Accessibility and Inclusivity:
Overcoming Barriers: The metaverse enables students with
mobility challenges or limited access to physical resources
to participate fully in Black History education. Field trips may
not be accessible, literary books maybe banned or limited by
budgets or vetting. The metaverse can allow immersive
learning equal, equitable and inclusive for disabled
students.
8. Language Support:
AI translation tools can make content
available in Spanish and other languages to reflect
Jacksonville’s diverse population. Spanish is the second
spoken language and should be recognized and
respected so there is access for those students and
ESOL communities.
9. Inspiring Future Leaders
Highlighting Local Heroes: By focusing on figures like
Rodney Hurst Sr., Marsha Phelts, Regina Edwards,
Charles Cobb, Bishop Rudolph McKissick, Sr., and
others living and contributing.
10. Career Pathways:
Exposure to AI and metaverse technologies equips
students with skills for 21st-century careers while
connecting them to their cultural heritage.
Students learn about local activism and its impact on
civil rights of today. This inspires pride, hope and motivation
to continue the legacy of leadership and collaboration.
Being sure to give the living their flowers and honors now.
Quotes from Rodney Hurst Sr.:
https://www.rodneyhurst.com/
Why This Matters
“Unless WE Tell It… It Never Gets Told!” — Emphasizing
the importance of preserving and sharing local Black
History through innovative tools like AI and the Metaverse.
William Jackson a former Professor with Edward Waters
College (2004 – 2017, now a major university started
curriculums for the past Education Department incorporating
blogging, podcasting, and STEAM.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QR2T6ayyH70&t=2s
Preparing new educators for integration of technology. The
works still needs to be done to prepare todays educators
to not just Master Tech, but learn how to blend, scale, adopt
and adapt immersive and intelligent learning.
Teaching in DCPS since 1999 and retiring in 2022 continued
to teach tech at Twin Lakes Academy with CTE and multiple
exchanges internationally, virtually and with early versions
of AI, Metaverse, Voxels, Minecraft, Roblox and a program
of Virtual and Immersive Project-Based Learning.
Teaching Black History helps dismantle systemic racism
by fostering understanding. By integrating AI and Metaverse
technologies into Black History instruction, Duval County Public
Schools can inspire increased engagement among ALL
students while preserving the rich cultural heritage of
Jacksonville’s African American community.
These digital tools and ecosystems not only enhance learning
but also empower students with a deeper connection to
their history and a vision for their future. The same can
be provided for the Hispanic Community, Asian,
Jewish Community, Middle Eastern and other cultures
across Jacksonville.
Marsha Deen Phelts
