Equitable Pathways to Artificial Intelligence

人工智能(AI)改变了分析数据以产生有意义信息的方式，并对训练有素的AI技术人员产生了前所未有的需求。这个项目的目标是通过创建一个在线AI证书计划来开发AI的教育和职业道路。该证书计划将为先前的学习提供可堆叠的证书和学分，由行业顾问委员会指导，并实施国家关于人工智能教育的建议。学生将使用真实世界的项目和基于项目的学习进行教学。证书计划将服务于高中生、在职工人和二级学位寻求者，并将以行业研讨会、实习和职业座谈等丰富活动为特色。由此产生的证书计划将是CUNY系统中的第一个AI证书，将为学生在工业领域从事入门AI技术员的职业生涯做好准备。除了近期目标，该计划将寻求培养人才管道，解决AI技术人员短缺的问题，使人才库多样化，并建立一个全国模式，为不同的学生培养成功的AI职业生涯。开发的教材将成为学院永久课程的一部分。项目团队将使用定量和定性措施来评估项目的有效性，并将根据需要使用这些措施来调整计划。该项目将为其他有兴趣开发旨在帮助解决高素质和熟练人工智能技术人员短缺的综合计划的学术机构提供示范。该项目由高级技术教育计划资助，该计划专注于为推动国家经济的先进技术领域培养技术人员。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed the way data is analyzed to produce meaningful information and has created an unprecedented demand for trained AI technicians. The goal of this project is to develop educational and career pathways in AI through the creation of an online AI certificate program. The certificate program will provide stackable credentials and credit for prior learning, be guided by an industry advisory board, and implement national recommendations for AI education. Students will be taught using real-world projects and project-based learning. The certificate program will serve high school students, incumbent workers, and second-degree seekers and will feature enrichment activities such as industry workshops, internships, and career panels. The resulting certificate program will be the first AI certificate in the CUNY system that will prepare students to pursue careers in industry as entry-level AI technicians.Beyond its immediate objectives, the program will seek to cultivate a talent pipeline, addressing the shortage of AI technicians, diversifying the talent pool, and establishing a national model for preparing diverse students for successful AI careers. The instructional materials developed will become part of the college’s permanent course offerings. The project team will use both quantitative and qualitative measures to assess the project’s effectiveness and will use these measures to adjust the program as needed. This project will serve as a model for other academic institutions interested in developing a comprehensive program aimed to help address the shortage of well-qualified and skilled AI technicians. This project is funded by the Advanced Technological Education program that focuses on the education of technicians for the advanced-technology fields that drive the nation's economy.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.