White, D., & Gaskins, W. (2025, February), The Next Leaders Academy: Learned Experience from an AI Summer Camp Experience  Paper presented at 2025 Collaborative Network for Engineering & Computing Diversity (CoNECD), San Antonio, Texas. https://peer.asee.org/54119

\bibitem{asee_peer_54119}
  White, D., \& Gaskins, W. (2025, February), \emph{The Next Leaders Academy: Learned Experience from an AI Summer Camp Experience}
  Paper presented at 2025 Collaborative Network for Engineering \& Computing Diversity (CoNECD), San Antonio, Texas.
  https://peer.asee.org/54119

Delano White and Whitney Gaskins.  "The Next Leaders Academy: Learned Experience from an AI Summer Camp Experience".  2025 Collaborative Network for Engineering & Computing Diversity (CoNECD), San Antonio, Texas, 2025, February.  ASEE Conferences, 2025.  https://peer.asee.org/54119 Internet.  25 Mar, 2025

\bibitem{asee_peer_54119}
  Delano White and Whitney Gaskins.
  "The Next Leaders Academy: Learned Experience from an AI Summer Camp Experience".
  \emph{2025 Collaborative Network for Engineering \& Computing Diversity (CoNECD), San Antonio, Texas, 2025, February}.
  ASEE Conferences, 2025.
  https://peer.asee.org/54119 Internet.  25 Mar, 2025

@INPROCEEDINGS{asee_peer_54119
author = "Delano White and Whitney Gaskins"
title = "The Next Leaders Academy: Learned Experience from an AI Summer Camp Experience"
booktitle = "2025 Collaborative Network for Engineering \& Computing Diversity (CoNECD)"
year = "2025"
month = "February"
address = "San Antonio, Texas"
publisher = "ASEE Conferences"
note = {https://peer.asee.org/54119}
}

TY  - CPAPER
AB  - 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. 
AU  - Delano White
AU  - Whitney Gaskins
CY  - San Antonio, Texas
DA  - 2025/02/09
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - The Next Leaders Academy: Learned Experience from an AI Summer Camp Experience
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/54119
ER  -