Changing Expectations Receives Generous Grant from Google to Launch Closing the AI Education Gap Initiative

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

Changing Expectations Receives Generous Grant from Google to Launch Closing the AI Education Gap Initiative

[Austin, Texas - 9/02/2023] - Changing Expectations, a leading nonprofit organization empowering Black youth in STEM and computer science education, is thrilled to announce a $50,000 grant from Google to launch the Closing the AI Education Gap Initiative. This transformative initiative aims to address the racial disparity in computer science education by supporting the implementation of an innovative artificial intelligence (AI) curriculum.

With the generous grant from Google, Changing Expectations is poised to make a significant impact on AI education for Black students in Texas and Black computer science educators nationwide. The Closing the AI Education Gap Initiative will support the Computer Science Teachers Association's (CSTA) Black Affinity Group, providing Black computer science educators with essential tools and resources to excel in teaching AI and promote diversity within the field.

“AI education is fundamental to the next generation and critical to Texas’ future,” said Shawdee Monroe, Google’s Tech Education Outreach Lead. “Students need access to the tools and training necessary to help them both shape the future of this technology and create a more just and equitable world. Our hope is to enable them to be creators rather than solely consumers of AI. We are honored to partner with organizations like Changing Expectations, who advocate for expansion of computer science education to Black students across Texas.”

Solomon Starkes, a Black male student of Changing Expectations, expressed his gratitude and shared a heartwarming story about the program in this Instagram post:

“To put it simply, they took me 8 years ago and introduced me to the field of AI and just coding and technology.  As I am now graduating high school, I am going to college at an engineering school studying computer and electrical engineering.  It all stems down from the [Changing Expectations] My Brother’s Keeper Coding Makerspace introducing me to this field.”

According to a recent report from the proceedings of the 54th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education, only 6.6% of math and computer science teachers were Black during the 2017-18 academic year, highlighting the urgent need for increased diversity and inclusion in computer science classrooms. Through the Closing the AI Education Gap Initiative, Changing Expectations aims to bridge this gap and cultivate a new generation of Black computer science educators who will inspire and guide future Black technologists.

"We are incredibly grateful to Google for their generous grant, which will enable us to empower Black educators and students with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in AI and computer science," said Dr. Phillip Eaglin, Founder at Changing Expectations. "This grant represents a transformative opportunity to make lasting changes in the field of AI education and contribute to a more equitable and inclusive future."

The Closing the AI Education Gap Initiative will provide comprehensive support for Black computer science educators across the United States, including access to AI curriculum modules designed to address culturally relevant issues such as combating anti-Black violence in online and in-person spaces. By fostering a more inclusive and representative learning environment, this initiative aims to amplify the voices of Black students, tackle systemic barriers, and create pathways to success in AI and related fields.

Changing Expectations invites media outlets, education advocates, and supporters of diversity in computing to join them in celebrating the launch of the Closing the AI Education Gap Initiative. For further inquiries, interview requests, or more information, please contact:

Dr. Phillip G. Eaglin

Founder and CEO

phillip.eaglin@changeexpectations.org

 

About Changing Expectations:

Changing Expectations is a Black-led nonprofit organization based in Austin, Texas, having led two National Science Foundation projects focused on empowering Black youth in STEM and computing education. Through innovative programs and partnerships, they strive to close the opportunity gaps faced by Black students and provide pathways to success in computer science and related fields. For more information on the Closing the AI Education Gap Initiative, visit https://bit.ly/46AWanA

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A New Perspective: VR with Changing Expectations

Carver Museum Student Workshop May 13th

Changing Expectations had the pleasure of hosting a student workshop at the Carver Museum with the help of our partners Google Fiber and Mozilla! This workshop aimed to introduce students to new ideas in STEM and advances in virtual reality technology. 

With VR being a rapidly expanding and fascinating field in tech, there has never been a better time to learn how it works and were the industry is taking it. Our friends over at Mozilla wrote an awesome blog on their experience with us. You can check it out here! 

Click through our gallery to see some of the cool stuff we did and then head over to our programs tab to sign up for events like this one!

Changing Expectations June 12-16th WeTeach_CS Computer Science Collaborative

Learning to Teach STEM in the Classroom!

This past week Changing Expectations had the pleasure of hosting a teacher workshop with 20 members of our computer science collaborative. Our founder, Phillip Eaglin, led the group in learning coding skills that make it easy for these teachers to educate their students on valuable STEM skills. 

Check out our computer science teacher collaborative in partnership with the University of Texas at Austin’s STEM Education Center.

Online Coding Resources for Parents

How to Introduce Your Kids to Code

Interested in getting your kids involved with coding?  There are hundreds of resources on the internet that can help your child start down the path to gaining a very rewarding skill set. For a more in-depth experience consider finding local coding camps and programs!

Changing Expectations is proud to offer coding and makerspace classes in Central Texas that provide your children with hands on training. Read our suggestions for online coding resources then head over to our programs tab to sign up for coding classes with Changing Expectations!

 

A few suggestions to get you started:

  • Kids Code Jeunesse: Teaches free computing classes in schools and offers free lessons and resources for parents. If you’d like your child to learn to code in school, have their teacher or principal contact Kids Code Jeunesse.
  • National Girls Learning Code Day: On November 7, 2015, girls between 8 - 13 can learn HTML & CSS to make their very first websites. For free!
  • Robot Turtles: A crowd-funded board game for ages four and up. Teaches basic coding skills and computational thinking.
  • SCRATCH: A program from MIT that lets kids create games and animations without learning programming text—it’s a drag-and-drop way to learn computer concepts and have fun.
  • Raspberry Pi: An inexpensive (about $50) credit-card sized computer that can be programmed just like a desktop PC.  Can be used as a learning tool and a full-service computer by kids and adults alike!
  • LEGO WeDo: The step between traditional building blocks and robotics, this Lego series allows kids to build models with programmable motors and sensor.
  • Kodable: Designed for users as young as five, this iPad app boasts the tagline “Learn to code before you know how to read.” It uses games that subtly teach coding with few instructions.
  • Tynker: For kids who can already read, this app for Android and iOS helps teach programming logic with visual code blocks.

 

Head over to our parenting tab for more info and don’t forget to check out our upcoming, makerspace and coding events! Sign up while availability lasts!

CSforAll

Computer Science for All

is a bold new initiative to empower all US students from kindergarten through high school to learn computer science and be equipped with the computational thinking skills they need to be creators in the digital economy, not just consumers, and to be active citizens in our technology-driven world.

Changing Expectations is a proud Consortium Member of CSforAll. We are committed to providing K-12 and higher education STEMlearning opportunities to alleviate diverse talent shortages and advance the future STEM and computing workforce by inspiring and preparing K-12 and college students.  We particularly focus on preparing and supporting those who are underrepresented in STEM fields: female, low income, and students of color–to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math related fields. 

Check out CSforAll's webpage to see the work being done on the national stage. For a look at how to get involved locally, head over to our programs page! 

White House Visit

Changing Expectations Visits the White House!

Changing Expectations received a personal invitation to the White House Conference on Inclusive STEM Education for Youth of Color on October 28, 2016 and to the My Brother’s Keeper STEM + Entrepreneurship Roundtable Discussion on Opening Doors and Creating Opportunities on October 27, 2016.  Ten boys of color from the Changing Expectations My Brother’s Keeper Coding Makerspace and their parents attended the White House Events with Dr. Phillip Eaglin, Changing Expectations Founder.

Check out the White Houses's announcement on advancing STEM for all on Active Learning Day! 

Potbelly's Profit Share

Hello all! 

Changing Expectations is excited to invite you to our profit share on June 10th from 2-5 pm at the Lakeline Potbelly’s. 25% of the proceeds will help our non-profit offer Texas K-12 teachers and students hands-on coding classes, camps and makerspaces. 

Please like our Facebook page and follow for updates on this event and more from the Changing Expectations team!

Amazonsmile

Smile!

Amazon has created a way to give to the causes you care about while purchasing the things you want and love! With Amazonsmile .5% of your purchase will go to participating charities, including Changing Expectations! All the products you know and love at your fingertips through a unique portal that automatically donates for you upon purchase!

Click the button and discover a new way to donate!