2025 Collaborative Network for Engineering & Computing Diversity (CoNECD)

The Next Leaders Academy: Learned Experience from an AI Summer Camp Experience

Presented at Track 5: Technical Session 4: The Next Leaders Academy: Learned Experience from an AI Summer Camp Experience

The rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence (AI) demands innovative educational approaches to prepare the next generation of technologists and thinkers. In this session, we will review the creation and implementation of a summer camp focused on the ethics of AI in an increasingly technology-driven society targeted at high school students in the urban core. The week-long camp combined theoretical learning with hands-on projects to provide a comprehensive introduction to AI.

Developed by world-renowned AI researchers and community outreach practitioners, respectively, the curriculum was structured around core themes: Education, healthcare, housing, and poverty. Each module included lectures, hands-on design, and daily presentations. Students were introduced to fundamental concepts using tools to create their learning projects. Emphasis was placed on understanding not only the technical aspects of AI but also its ethical implications of its usage in our evolving world.

An important component of the camp was its collaborative learning environment. Students worked in teams to solve problems related to their daily lives while fostering teamwork and communication skills. These projects culminated in a capstone project where students presented their solutions to a panel of industry experts and educators. This camp experience improved the students’ technical knowledge but also enhanced their technical presentation skills.

Evaluation of the camp's effectiveness was conducted through pre- and post-camp surveys, project assessments, and participant feedback. Results indicated improvement in participants' understanding of AI concepts and increased attitudes and perceptions towards STEM, specifically an interest in pursuing further leaning in AI. The students also indicated a greater appreciation for the ethical dimensions of AI and the incorporation into their technical education.

This presentation will provide insight into the background of the camp, included the development, implementation, and evaluation of the camp while provided techniques for educators and practitioners to build similar camp models.

Authors

Mr. Delano White The Gaskins Foundation [biography]

Delano White is the Executive Director of The Gaskins Foundation a 501c3 non-profit organization. The foundation oversees, STEMulatesTM, a K-12 pre-college program that presents, engages and prepares youth to enter STEM fields using design, algebra and programming concepts. The program has been nationally recognized for preparing students academically and professionally.

Delano holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from The University of Michigan. While at Michigan, he also served as Chairman and C.E.O. of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), As Chairman, he helped launch the Technical OutReach Community Help (TORCH) program and launched the NSBE 2025 initiative.

He is the author of three books, Diary of a Mad Businessman: A Layman’s Guide to Starting a Business from the Ground Up, Instant Gratification: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Satisfying Every Customer, Every Time and his memoir Taking My Soul to the
Laundromat: From Prison Walls to Executive Halls Each book was written for the purpose of sharing his life lessons with others. He currently resides in Cincinnati, OH with his wife Dr. Whitney B. Gaskins. He is an
Associate Minister at the New Friendship Baptist Church. He has previously been awarded the Spirit of Detroit Award and the Distinguished Service Award (2007) from the Detroit City Council for his commitment to community uplifting. He was. awarded the Unsung Hero Award for creating STEM opportunities in the Cincinnati
area and is the 2019 NSBE Golden Torch Award Pre-College Initiative Director of the
Year.
Dr. Whitney Gaskins University of Cincinnati [biography]

Dr. Gaskins is the Associate Dean of Inclusive Excellence and Community Engagement in the University of Cincinnati College of Engineering and Applied Science, the only African-American female currently teaching in the faculty of the College of Engineering

Note

The full paper will be available to logged in and registered conference attendees once the conference starts on February 9, 2025, and to all visitors after the conference ends on February 11, 2025

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