mit digital transformation executive education

Serving technical professionals globally for over 75 years. Learn more about us.

MIT Professional Education 700 Technology Square Building NE48-200 Cambridge, MA 02139 USA

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Digital Transformation: From AI and IoT to Cloud, Blockchain, and Cybersecurity

English | Italian | French | Portuguese | Spanish

Abel Sanchez

John R. Williams

Digital transformation has experienced a rapid evolution that affects practically every aspect of our lives, and this is only the beginning of an accelerating advancement in technological and data-driven practices.

This situation, without the proper education on these paradigm-shifting technologies has carried professionals to a position with a lack of answers, which creates difficulties in maintaining updates and leading the necessary changes to stay ahead in organizations.

The online course, Digital Transformation: From AI and IoT to Cloud, Blockchain, and Cybersecurity , by MIT Professional Education, analyzes the history and implementation of these innovative technologies and prepares participants to successfully and practically take on digital transformation in a professional environment.

Digital Transformation: From AI and IoT to Cloud, Blockchain, and Cybersecurity , with curriculum developed and taught by MIT faculty, is delivered in collaboration with Global Alumni. Contact Global Alumni for more information about this program:

• [email protected] or 
• call:+1 617 870 0270 USA  +34 660 558 464 EUROPE.

Global Alumni is an ed-tech company that collaborates with institutions to manage enrollments (including all payment services and invoicing), technology, and participant support.   

You will gain a wealth of information about IoT, AI, Cloud, Blockchain, and Cybersecurity including: 

• Mastery of Blockchain Technology and familiarizing yourself with intelligent transactions and contracts via Ethereum
• Understanding the architecture of the Cloud and deep knowledge of GitHub in order to gain the maximum benefits of your platforms and tools
• Put into practice the acquired knowledge to create a WebSocket chat application
• Participation in the debate regarding potential uses of the Internet of Things (IoT) applied to the business field
• Discovery of the long transformative legacy  that artificial intelligence is leaving on industry and education
• Analysis of Access to your private data during web navigation with the knowledge of detection and defense against the main threats against cybersecurity

A wide spectrum of professionals will benefit from this course including: 

• Technical Professionals who want to understand and participate in digital transformation processes in their departments.
• Managers and others Directors who lead organizations and teams whose responsibilities lie where business and technology intersect.
• Other technical profiles who are interested in the fundamentals and the potential of these new technologies.
• All professionals  who want to spearhead new projects and introduce further innovations within their organizations.
• There are no prerequisites to complete this program, however it is recommended to have a general understanding of the digital technologies entailed.  

Testimonials

Learn on demand with our NEW Business Sprints .

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

At MIT Sloan Executive Education, we recognize the growth in the digital economy and provide business leaders with an understanding of and fluency in the advanced technologies most critical to their company’s digital transformation. Stay ahead of the curve. These courses explore and desmystify AI, blockchain, machine learning, cryptocurrency, extended reality (XR), and more. You can also view our full portfolio of courses here .

FEATURED COURSES

Accelerating Digital Transformation with Algorithmic Business Thinking

This exciting digital transformation education course, introduces the concept of Algorithmic Business Thinking (ABT) as a toolkit, mindset, and digital language for uniting and augmenting your human and digital capabilities, which will help you discover and uncover new opportunities throughout your digital transformation journey.

NEW! Algorithmic Business Thinking Sprint

This new on-demand, asynchronous learning experience introduces the concept of Algorithmic Business Thinking (ABT)—a framework for understanding the key principles of algorithms, code, and data and a methodology for applying those principles across role and departments, from products and service to business functions like finance, sales, and marketing. The ABT framework marks a radical rethinking of how technology, people, and processes combine to create and deliver value. Inspired by Agile product development sprints, this self-directed course is an opportunity to apply this cutting-edge concept directly to a challenge you are facing in your own organization. 

Business Implications of Extended Reality (XR): Harnessing the Value of AR, VR, Metaverse, and More

As a participant in this course, you will learn key business implications and applications of augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), mixed reality, metaverse, virtual world, filter, 360 video, and other XR technology family members. World-renown faculty, guest speakers, and industry leaders will present their latest research and insights on topics as relevant and wide ranging as human and machine teamwork, social media, Web 3.0, NFTs, game theory, blockchain, and more. Content will also include conversations on the human, strategic, design, and ethical considerations of this technology as applied to business goals.

NEW! Generative AI Business Sprint

Generative AI represents a significant progression in AI capabilities. Unlike traditional machine learning that worked predominantly with structured data, generative AI (GenAI) can generate unstructured outputs, such as images, text, and code. This ability aligns with the tasks of knowledge workers, offering potential to automate many business processes, enhance operational efficiency, and create new opportunities in the business landscape. Businesses need a clear and compelling GenAI strategy today if they want to be industry leaders tomorrow. Inspired by Agile product development sprints, this self-directed course is an opportunity to explore and better understand the transformational power of generative AI. 

NEW! Leading the AI-Driven Organization

This new course lays out a clear path for navigating the transformative landscape of AI. You will acquire a comprehensive understanding of the AI continuum, which spans from basic AI concepts to advanced technologies. A key objective of the course is to help you assess the profound impact of AI-related technologies on the future of work within your teams, organizations, and industries. Throughout the week, you will also work independently and in small groups to create a personalized AI playbook. 

ADDITIONAL OFFERINGS

Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Business Strategy

Focusing on key AI technologies, such as machine learning, natural language processing, and robotics, this course will help you understand the implications of these new technologies for business strategy, as well as the economic and societal issues they raise.

Artificial Intelligence in Health Care

With this course, the MIT Sloan School of Management and the MIT J-Clinic aims to equip health care leaders with a grounded understanding of the potential for AI innovations in the health care industry. The course explores types of AI technology, its applications, limitations, and industry opportunities. Techniques like natural language processing, data analytics, and machine learning will be investigated across contexts such as disease diagnosis and hospital management.

Blockchain and Crypto Applications: From Decentralized Finance to Web 3

This course provides you with a balanced perspective of the crypto space. Over eight weeks, you’ll gain insights into the economics of blockchain technologies, including digital assets, stablecoins, DeFi, NFTs, and Web 3 applications. You’ll consider the major trends that characterize new waves in crypto, and explore public opinion regarding cryptotechnologies and the evolving legalities and regulations. 

Blockchain Technologies: Business Innovation and Application

This course explores parallels between blockchain technology and other general purpose technologies, highlighting its capacity to enable widespread, transformational change. You’ll examine how blockchain technology can cheaply verify, under certain conditions, the attributes of a transaction. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of the cost of networking, and learn how blockchain technology can bootstrap and facilitate a marketplace without traditional intermediaries. 

Breakthrough Customer Experience (CX) Strategy

This highly interactive course demonstrates how state-of-the-art behavioral economics can be combined with leadership strategy to develop innovative marketing strategy and competitive advantage. You’ll learn how to create different types of value for customers, leverage artificial intelligence for an enhanced experience, and embrace field experiments for actionable data-based insights. You’ll leave this digital CX strategy course with a varied set of tools to help you enhance the digital CX your company provides and transform your organization to optimize an experimental culture.

Building and Scaling Intelligent Enterprises with Artificial Intelligence

In the course, you’ll develop a comprehensive taxonomy of AI-enabled use cases and learn how to strategically leverage data-enabled models to implement intelligent processes and systems. You’ll explore the core elements of an enterprise AI strategy, including investment in technical and data infrastructure, developing human-related expertise and capabilities, and implementing structured playbooks to select and manage AI projects. The course emphasizes various implementation challenges associated with new AI technolgies and provides suggested approaches for managing them. You’ll leave the program with key insights for integrating AI-enabled projects across different business environments, including your own.

Digital Learning Strategy

This course is designed to help you build a blueprint for your enterprise that is flexible, personalized, and scalable, and that leverages transformative technologies. Through hands-on makerspace activities and under the guidance of industry experts, you will explore AI/ML, AR/VR, and robotics technologies firsthand, giving you the knowledge to begin using them immediately in your digital learning strategy. Faculty will combine the principles that underpin these technologies with recent insights in areas including neuroscience of learning, game theory, and data science.

Digital Strategies for Transforming Your Business

In this period of digital disruption, businesses focused narrowly on value chains are at a disadvantage. Next-generation enterprises need to think more broadly about their business ecosystems, leverage digitization strategy to understand their customers better, and establish options for future success. Drawing on cutting-edge research conducted at CISR, this course engages participants in a framework for seizing on all the above.

Machine Learning in Business

This course views the technical elements of machine learning through the lens of business and management, and equips you with the relevant knowledge to discover opportunities to drive innovation and efficiency in your organization. Although you can expect to explore technical aspects of machine learning, the focus is on empowering you, as a business leader, to ask the right questions about whether machine learning applications will benefit a particular business problem, or make your organization more efficient.

View our full portfolio of course offerings here .

Executive Certificate in Strategy and Innovation: Digital Capabilities Bundle

Set contains:, accelerating digital transformation with algorithmic business thinking.

• Select Format and Dates for Availability

Developing and Managing a Successful Technology Strategy

Digital Learning Strategy

Digital Strategies for Transforming Your Business

Executive Certificate in Strategy and Innovation

Our research on digital supply chain capabilities sheds light on the key combination of hard and soft skills needed for successful digital supply chains.

We combine different tailored education methodologies that best approach the purpose of the topics. From experiential learning approaches to creating a digital learning space combined with on-site workshops at MIT, or from educating very beginners who want to start with a digital supply chain transformative process to more mature organizations accordingly.

Different teams can jointly discuss different scenarios about how the supply chain can be digitally transformed, specifically when different supply chain partners and/or stakeholders want to collectively analyze the manifold digital implications and visualize the evolution of the outcomes.

The education promoted as part of this research initiative allows the different actors from the company combined with the different contributors (present and future) to your digital ecosystem, the understanding, and the experimentation with key drivers and rules that can be established for different supply chain digital scenarios.

applicationsNew Course: Executive Education Online on Digital SC Transformation

Together with MITx Pro and Emeritus, this 6-week online executive program provides a holistic view of digital transformation in the supply chain by focusing on the creation of three digital capabilities: End-to-End Visibility, Analytics, and Artificial Intelligence, to reinvent the supply chains. More Information

SCM 294: Digital Supply Chain Transformation (Spring 2024)

This course will allow MIT SCM Master students to learn about creating digital supply chain strategies and experimenting with technology and key digital supply chain capabilities to further implement and transform their dynamic value chains at work.

SCM C51: Advanced Machine Learning Applications for Supply Chain Management

In the rapidly evolving supply chain management landscape, the integration of machine learning techniques has become paramount to achieving efficiency, accuracy, and scalability. This course delves deep into the advanced applications of machine learning tailored for supply chain needs. Learners will be exposed to a blend of theoretical knowledge and practical insights, enabling them to harness the power of cutting-edge algorithms and models to address real-world challenges

SCM 254: Analytical Methods for Supply Chain Management II

In this course, participants will gain expertise in advanced statistics and causal inference methodologies tailored specifically for supply chain managers. The curriculum aims to empower executives and students to assess the efficacy of novel policies or strategies.

Educational Opportunities

Education for Chief Digital Officers, July 2023

Aug 9, 2023

Last July 2023 Dr. Maria Jesus Saenz participated in the MIT Professional Education Program “Chief Digital Officer”, with her talk “Digital Supply Chain Transformation, From Strategy to Technology and Operations”.

Executive Education in Digital Supply Chain Transformation

Aug 7, 2023

MIT Digital Supply Chain Transformation offers courses in Executive Education.

Leading Digital Supply Chain Transformation: Virtual Masterclass

Apr 3, 2021

Dr. Maria Jesus Saenz held an online Masterclass on developing digital supply chain capabilities at the Future Factory on March 26, 2021.

Digital Transformation: Platform Strategies For Success

Develop the skills for launching & monetizing a digital platform for your business.

Get Your Brochure

April 18, 2024

2 months, online 2-4 hours per week

PROGRAM FEE

For your team.

Enroll your team and learn with your peers

Learn together with your colleagues

Participants report that enrolling in a program with colleagues fosters collaborative learning and amplifies their impact.

Please provide your details to get more information about the group-enrollment pricing.

The benefit of learning together with your friend is that you keep each other accountable and have meaningful discussions about what you're learning.

Congratulations!

Based on the information you provided, your team is eligible for a special discount, for Digital Transformation: Platform Strategies for Success starting on April 18, 2024 .

We’ve sent you an email with enrollment next steps. If you’re ready to enroll now, click the button below.

Why Enroll For The Digital Transformation Course?

Digital Transformation: Platform Strategies for Success is a 2-month course that introduces participants to the many ways networked markets are transforming the economy and provides strategies for designing, monetizing, and launching a digital platform. In this course you will learn about the fundamentals of digital transformation, identify why platforms beat products, and how can you make your business a platform. You will learn how to launch and grow a digital platform and identify how to leverage open innovation for your platform. This course also equips you with the knowledge on governing your platform, strategically evaluating your competition, and provides you with a futuristic view of digital transformation across industries.

of execs lack personnel with skills to bring a digital transformation

SOURCE: IDT-SURVEY

$53.3 trillion.

the expected contribution of digitally transformed organizations to global GDP in 2023

SOURCE: STATISTA

regard digital transformation as important for their business strategy

Who Is This Course For?

Participants by job function include:

• General Managers
• Product Managers
• Mid to senior level Managers
• Project Managers
• Marketing Managers
• Consultants
• Digital Marketing Managers
• Program Managers

Program Experience

80 Interactive Lectures

8 Discussions

6 Assignments

5 Case Studies

1 Textbook (Optional)

Program Topics

As you build your knowledge of digital platforms, you will explore network effects on a company’s value and predict how a platform shift could impact your company.

Evaluate platform market outcomes by analyzing principles of multihoming and switching costs; and compare network effects vs. traditional linear value chains.

Create and optimize a platform using the three principles of platform design; identify how architecture design can increase network effects; and learn to monetize a platform.

Compare various strategies to launch a platform and gain traction; learn how to leverage modularity and APIs to grow a platform; analyze why two digital platforms failed to thrive.

Analyze the impact of open innovation on your platform by studying open source strategies and ascertain the level of openness for optimized value capture.

Learn how to govern effectively to succeed. How to use the right rules and tools to avoid or correct negative externalities or information asymmetries.

Apply platform strategies to create network effects and gain a sustainable competitive advantage; learn why platform strategy differs from traditional pipeline business and the Porter’s Five Forces Model, and discover how that affects M&A decisions and activity.

Gain insights into the opportunities and challenges in adopting platform strategies in different industries and predict which industries will experience future disruption.

Case Studies

How leveraging an open innovation strategy model can drive growth.

The challenges and potential rewards of governing your digital platform.

Google Health

The launch strategy for Google’s personal health record service—and why it failed.

Microsoft Health Vault

Investigate the missteps of the software giant’s health repository launch.

Participant Speak

"The course and collaboration with peers clearly showed how different ideas around one topic can create value for everyone. This was a unique opportunity to learn not just from extraordinary faculty members but from peers all over the world." — Héctor Iván Lira Hevia, Managing Director, F1rstcomm

"The best parts of the course were the informative professor videos and the assignment reviews with course leaders. Also the discussions and reflections gave one more insight on how others understood things." — Phumlani Zuma, Director, Jikele Consulting

"Thought provoking and with up-to-date and global cases studies (e.g. Alibaba). Especially good for anyone in a tech-enabled industry, but I'd recommend it for anyone really. Any business can be disrupted by a 'platform' driven competitor and technology convergence means your competitors might not be who you think they are!" — Karen Taylor, General Manager Asia Pacific, Anaqua

You can see our participants talking about their learning experience on LinkedIn

(These are LinkedIn posts & will require you to log in to LinkedIn to see them)

Geoffrey Parker

Professor of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Visiting Scholar, MIT Sloan School; Research Fellow, MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy

Geoffrey Parker Professor of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Visiting Scholar, MIT Sloan School; Research Fellow, MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy

Certificate

Upon successful completion of the program, participants will be awarded a verified digital certificate by Emeritus in collaboration with MIT Sloan.

To learn more about the collaboration between MIT Sloan and Emeritus please click here .

Learn new skills with your colleagues and get special enrollment. Discounts up to 20% are available. Learn more

How do I know if this program is right for me?

After reviewing the information on the program landing page, we recommend you submit the short form above to gain access to the program brochure, which includes more in-depth information. If you still have questions on whether this program is a good fit for you, please email [email protected], and a dedicated program advisor will follow-up with you very shortly.

Are there any prerequisites for this program?

Some programs do have prerequisites, particularly the more technical ones. This information will be noted on the program landing page, as well as in the program brochure. If you are uncertain about program prerequisites and your capabilities, please email us at the ID mentioned above.

Note that, unless otherwise stated on the program web page, all programs are taught in English and proficiency in English is required.

What is the typical class profile?

More than 50 percent of our participants are from outside the United States. Class profiles vary from one cohort to the next, but, generally, our online certificates draw a highly diverse audience in terms of professional experience, industry, and geography — leading to a very rich peer learning and networking experience.

What other dates will this program be offered in the future?

Check back to this program web page or email us to inquire if future program dates or the timeline for future offerings have been confirmed yet.

How much time is required each week?

Each program includes an estimated learner effort per week. This is referenced at the top of the program landing page under the Duration section, as well as in the program brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page.

How will my time be spent?

We have designed this program to fit into your current working life as efficiently as possible. Time will be spent among a variety of activities including:

• Engaging with recorded video lectures from faculty
• Attending webinars and office hours, as per the specific program schedule
• Reading or engaging with examples of core topics
• Completing knowledge checks/quizzes and required activities
• Engaging in moderated discussion groups with your peers
• Completing your final project, if required

The program is designed to be highly interactive while also allowing time for self-reflection and to demonstrate an understanding of the core topics through various active learning exercises. Please email us if you need further clarification on program activities.

What is it like to learn online with the learning collaborator, Emeritus?

More than 300,000 learners across 200 countries have chosen to advance their skills with Emeritus and its educational learning partners. In fact, 90 percent of the respondents of a recent survey across all our programs said that their learning outcomes were met or exceeded. All the contents of the course would be made available to students at the commencement of the course. However, to ensure the program delivers the desired learning outcomes the students may appoint Emeritus to manage the delivery of the program in a cohort-based manner the cost of which is already included in the overall course fee of the course. A dedicated program support team is available 24/5 (Monday to Friday) to answer questions about the learning platform, technical issues, or anything else that may affect your learning experience.

How do I interact with other program participants?

Peer learning adds substantially to the overall learning experience and is an important part of the program. You can connect and communicate with other participants through our learning platform.

What are the requirements to earn the certificate?

Each program includes an estimated learner effort per week, so you can gauge what will be required before you enroll. This is referenced at the top of the program landing page under the Duration section, as well as in the program brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page. All programs are designed to fit into your working life. This program is scored as a pass or no-pass; participants must complete the required activities to pass and obtain the certificate of completion. Some programs include a final project submission or other assignments to obtain passing status. This information will be noted in the program brochure. Please email us if you need further clarification on any specific program requirements.

What type of certificate will I receive?

Upon successful completion of the program, you will receive a smart digital certificate. The smart digital certificate can be shared with friends, family, schools, or potential employers. You can use it on your cover letter, resume, and/or display it on your LinkedIn profile. The digital certificate will be sent approximately two weeks after the program, once grading is complete.

Can I get the hard copy of the certificate?

No, only verified digital certificates will be issued upon successful completion. This allows you to share your credentials on social platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

Do I receive alumni status after completing this program?

No, there is no alumni status granted for this program. In some cases, there are credits that count toward a higher level of certification. This information will be clearly noted in the program brochure.

How long will I have access to the learning materials?

You will have access to the online learning platform and all the videos and program materials for 12 months following the program start date . Access to the learning platform is restricted to registered participants per the terms of agreement.

What equipment or technical requirements are there for this program?

Participants will need the latest version of their preferred browser to access the learning platform. In addition, Microsoft Office and a PDF viewer are required to access documents, spreadsheets, presentations, PDF files, and transcripts.

Do I need to be online to access the program content?

Yes, the learning platform is accessed via the internet, and video content is not available for download. However, you can download files of video transcripts, assignment templates, readings, etc. For maximum flexibility, you can access program content from a desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile device. Video lectures must be streamed via the internet, and any livestream webinars and office hours will require an internet connection. However, these sessions are always recorded, so you may view them later.

Can I still register if the registration deadline has passed?

Yes, you can register up until seven days past the published start date of the program without missing any of the core program material or learnings.

What is the program fee, and what forms of payment do you accept?

The program fee is noted at the top of this program web page and usually referenced in the program brochure as well.

• Flexible payment options are available (see details below as well as at the top of this program web page next to FEE ).
• Tuition assistance is available for participants who qualify. Please email [email protected].

What if I don’t have a credit card? Is there another method of payment accepted?

Yes, you can do the bank remittance in the program currency via wire transfer or debit card. Please contact your program advisor, or email us for details.

I was not able to use the discount code provided. Can you help?

Yes! Please email us with the details of the program you are interested in, and we will assist you.

How can I obtain an invoice for payment?

Please email us your invoicing requirements and the specific program you’re interested in enrolling in.

Is there an option to make flexible payments for this program?

Yes, the flexible payment option allows a participant to pay the program fee in installments. This option is made available on the payment page and should be selected before submitting the payment.

How can I obtain a W9 form?

Please connect with us via email for assistance.

Who will be collecting the payment for the program?

Emeritus collects all program payments, provides learner enrollment and program support, and manages learning platform services.

What is the program refund and deferral policy?

For the program refund and deferral policy, please click the link here .

Didn't find what you were looking for? Write to us at [email protected] or Schedule a call with one of our Academic Advisors or call us at +44 150 730 4811 (UK) / +1 401 264 8575 (US) / +65 3138 5193 (SG)

Early registrations are encouraged. Seats fill up quickly!

Flexible payment options available. Learn more.

Digital Transformation

Google and MIT RAISE collaborate on a free generative AI course for educators

The course will help teachers save time, personalize instruction, and enhance lessons with generative ai tools..

Google and MIT RAISE , part of MIT Open Learning, announced today a free Generative AI for Educators course. The online, two-hour, self-paced course is designed to help middle and high school teachers use generative AI tools to personalize instruction to meet student needs, develop creative lessons and activities, and save time on administrative tasks. Teachers who complete the course will earn a certificate that can be presented to their district for professional development credit. The course combines Google and MIT RAISE’s technological expertise and shared commitment to promoting useful and responsible AI education. Teachers and administrators can access the course on the Grow with Google website .

“MIT RAISE believes knowledge of generative AI is a key factor in creating a more equitable future for education,” says Cynthia Breazeal, director of MIT RAISE and dean for digital learning at MIT Open Learning. “We’re thrilled to collaborate with Google to offer the Generative AI for Educators course — providing middle and high school teachers with no-cost AI training. This course empowers educators to confidently integrate AI into their teaching, creating richer and more accessible learning experiences for all students.”

Breazeal and Lisa Gevelber, founder of Grow with Google, wrote the following blog post about the new course.

Think back on your favorite teachers. Maybe they made complex subjects seem simple and teaching seem effortless. But the truth is, teachers spend countless hours preparing engaging lesson plans, thoughtful assessments and creative class materials.

AI can be a valuable assistant to teachers in these moments. That’s why Grow with Google, in collaboration with MIT RAISE (Responsible AI for Social Empowerment and Education), is launching a no-cost Generative AI for Educators course , designed to help teachers build essential AI skills, it’s part of a shared commitment to promoting useful and responsible AI education.

In just two hours of self-paced study, teachers can learn how to use generative AI tools to help:

Create engaging lesson plans and materials. For example with generative AI, they can input their specific lesson plan and tailor it to student interests like explaining science using sports analogies. Tailor instruction for different abilities. Imagine a teacher who has 25 or 30 kids in their classroom. With generative AI, that teacher can easily modify the same lesson for different reading levels in their class. Save time on everyday tasks like drafting emails and other correspondence. For instance, if a student is out sick teachers can create summaries of that day’s lessons to help make sure the student doesn’t fall behind. At the end of the course, teachers will earn a certificate that they can present to their district for professional development (PD) credit, depending on district and state requirements.

School districts across the country will offer this Generative AI for Educators course, including Albuquerque Public Schools, Anaheim Union High School District, Chicago Public Schools, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, and Sun Prairie Area School District in Wisconsin.

Whether you’re a Superintendent interested in offering PD credit for your district, or you’re a teacher interested in enrolling in the course, learn more at grow.google/GenAIforEducators .

Breazeal and Gevelber’s blog post was originally published at blog.google .

Open Learning newsletter

Google and MIT launch a free generative AI course for teachers

When considering generative AI in the classroom, many people think of its potential for students; however, teachers can benefit just as much from the technology, if not more. On Thursday, Google and MIT Responsible AI for Social Empowerment and Education (RAISE) unveiled a free Google Generative AI Educators course to help middle and high school teachers use generative AI tools to enhance their workflow and students' classroom experience.

Also:  Have 10 hours? IBM will train you in AI fundamentals - for free

The self-paced, two-hour course instructs teachers how to use generative AI to save time in everyday tasks such as  writing emails , modifying content for different reading levels, building creative assessments, structuring activities to students' interests, and more, according to the press release. Teachers can even learn how to use generative AI to help with one of the most time-consuming tasks--lesson planning--by inputting their existing lesson plan into the generative AI models to get ideas on what to do next in the classroom.

"This course empowers educators to confidently integrate AI into their teaching, creating richer and more accessible learning experiences for all students," MIT RAISE Director Cynthia Breazeal said.   

The course consists of five 40-minute-or-less modules, accessible by teachers and administrators on the Generative AI for Educators webpage .

Some school districts across the country plan to offer the course as well, including California's Anaheim Union High School District, Florida's Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Illinois' Chicago Public Schools, New Mexico's Albuquerque Public Schools, Oklahoma's Glenpool Public Schools, and Wisconsin's Sun Prairie Area School District, according to the press release. 

Also: I spent a weekend with Amazon's free AI courses, and highly recommend you do too

"In a rapidly evolving world, our teachers cannot afford to fall behind in accessing powerful generative tools that will help them develop new approaches to teaching and learning," Michael Matsuda, the superintendent at Anaheim Union High School District, said.

OpenAI, the startup behind ChatGPT , once highlighted the benefits of giving educators generative AI tools and shared use cases in which teachers across the country are already using the technology.  OpenAI's examples  included using a chatbot to role-play conversations meant for students, building classroom materials, providing English language assistance for non-English speakers, and teaching students about critical thinking.

Artificial Intelligence

Google workspace gets new generative ai features, including an ai-powered video creation app, openai and google reportedly used youtube transcripts to train their ai models, ai startup mistral launches a 281gb ai model to rival openai, meta, and google.

Microsoft and G42 partner to accelerate AI innovation in UAE and beyond

Apr 15, 2024 | Judson Althoff - Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer

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Strategic partnership highlights:

• Expansion of partnership between Microsoft and G42 to deliver advanced AI solutions with Microsoft Azure across various industries and markets.
• Microsoft will invest $1.5 billion in G42 for a minority stake in G42 and join its board of directors.
• Companies will support the establishment of a $1 billion fund for developers to boost AI skills in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and broader region.

Expanded strategic partnership:

Today, we announced a strategic investment in G42, a leading AI company in the UAE, to co-innovate and deliver advanced AI solutions with Microsoft Azure for various industries and markets across the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa.

Microsoft will invest $1.5 billion in G42 for a minority stake in the company with Brad Smith, Microsoft Vice Chair and President, joining G42’s board of directors — strengthening the long-standing collaboration and mutual synergies between the two companies. With the breadth of the Microsoft Cloud and its differentiated AI capabilities, the deal significantly advances G42’s strategy of delivering generative AI and next-generation infrastructure and services for a range of customers across financial services, healthcare, energy, government and education.

The commercial partnership is backed by assurances to the U.S. and UAE governments through a first-of- its-kind binding agreement to apply world-class best practices to ensure the secure, trusted, and responsible development and deployment of AI. Microsoft and G42 will work closely together to elevate the security and compliance framework of their joint international infrastructure. Both companies will move forward with a commitment to comply with U.S. and international trade, security, responsible AI, and business integrity laws and regulations. The work on these topics is governed by a detailed Intergovernmental Assurance Agreement between G42 and Microsoft that was developed in close consultation with both the UAE and U.S. governments.

Foundational to the partnership is G42’s trust and commitment in Microsoft’s cloud platform. G42 will expand its existing commitment to deploying Microsoft Cloud offerings, demonstrating confidence in Microsoft as its preferred partner to enhance services and deliver value-added solutions to its customers. With the partnership, G42’s data platform and other essential technology infrastructure will migrate to Microsoft Azure to benefit from industry-leading performance, scalability and security capabilities. Migrating to Azure will also support AI product development that allows G42 to create services that can scale to achieve faster delivery times for its customers globally. Together, we look forward to accelerating AI transformation in emerging markets and advancing equitable growth in AI globally.

Building on our technical co-innovation

G42 brings an excellent track record as a leader actively driving global progress and accessibility in AI technologies, and Microsoft and G42 have worked closely together to help optimize Cloud and AI solutions for the Middle East.

Last year, G42 was one of the first partners to commit to implementing Microsoft Cloud for Sovereignty offering to UAE-based organizations. G42 is helping public sector and regulated industries to use new platform capabilities for securing sensitive data, providing access to the latest cloud and AI features available on Azure public cloud, and ensuring they comply with local privacy and regulatory requirements. G42’s deep understanding of UAE sovereignty requirements and technical capabilities are central to customizing Microsoft Cloud for Sovereignty to help address customer’s specific needs.

Microsoft also announced that Jais, G42’s Arabic Large Language Model (LLM), will be available in the Azure AI Model Catalog . This model represents a significant advancement for the Arabic world in AI, offering over 400 million Arabic speakers the opportunity to explore the potential of generative AI. Jais is the world’s first Arabic LLM developed by G42 in collaboration with Cerebras, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), and Med42 LLM, a generative AI model to streamline medical reporting. The expanded partnership with Microsoft will help accelerate the adoption of G42’s groundbreaking AI products and services, such as Jais, making them available through Microsoft Azure.

Announced in March of this year, First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), the UAE’s largest bank, will collaborate with Core42, a subsidiary of G42, to accelerate its digital transformation journey leveraging Microsoft Azure trusted cloud platform for enterprises. FAB will move its datacenter and workload to Azure, enabling the bank to use Core42’s sovereign controls platform, which is built on Azure and ensures the highest standards of data sovereignty and compliance with UAE regulations.

One of the leading examples of precision medicine in action is the collaboration between G42 subsidiary M42 , a global health care company, the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Microsoft, and the International Center for Genetic Disease (ICGD). The partners are using Terra, a scalable and secure platform for biomedical research, to enable data sharing and analysis across different institutions and countries. Terra, powered by Microsoft Azure, allows researchers to access and analyze anonymized genomic data from the Emirati Genome Program, which has completed over 500,000 whole genome sequences to date. By applying AI technologies to this rich data source, the collaborators aim to advance clinical genomic research and disease prevention, as well as support precision medicine and life science strategies globally.

Accelerating access to digital innovation in UAE and the region

Along with providing advanced AI capabilities, the partnership will benefit regions beyond the UAE in ways that will improve how enterprises experience cloud computing. By bringing expanded low latency datacenter infrastructure to emerging markets, Microsoft and G42 will help accelerate digital transformation across key industries in those regions. This will provide countries across the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa with expanded access to services and technologies that will allow them to address the most challenging business concerns while ensuring the highest standards of security and privacy.

Furthermore, the partnership will also support the development of a skilled and diverse AI workforce and talent pool that will drive innovation and competitiveness for the UAE and broader region with the investment of $1 billion in a fund for developers.

Tags: AI , Microsoft Azure

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2024 Global Learning Challenge

Teachers, Tech, and Teaching!

Dr. Sharon Runge

Our organization.

Kenya Connect

What is the name of your solution?

Provide a one-line summary of your solution..

Equipping rural Kenyan teachers with computing, AI, devices and problem solving skills is essential in bridging the vast digital divide for learners.

In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?

In what country is your solution team headquartered, what type of organization is your solution team, film your elevator pitch., what specific problem are you solving.

At the 2024 Unesco Global Education summit, there was a call to action around EdTech with an emphasis that organizations need to design technology programs that work in their community context with an emphasis on an articulated vision for learning, a clear vision for outcomes and how the use of technology will bolster the experience of learning. 

This is especially important for EdTech leaders in rural counties to develop programs that can empower teachers to be the tech teachers and leaders of engaging children and youth in this new mode of learning. With a 2023 World Bank reporting that in arid and semi-arid communities like ours, the average number of years in schools is 6.5 vs. the 12 years of students in Nairobi. Even though primary school is free, learners are regularly sent home if they do not pay required school fees. This leaves clear gaps in learning including children not being introduced to technology. With only 17% of families in our county having access to electricity and most without internet or devices, there is not the opportunity for children to learn about computing and e-learning resources at home.

In our rural Kenyan community, most of our 63 partner public schools are without devices and most teachers are unfamiliar, uncomfortable and scared to use technology in their classroom, despite the Ministry of Education including computing in the curriculum. In 2017, the Kenyan government provided tablets to the teachers with very limited training which resulted in many of the tablets sitting in closets. A September 2021 EdTechHub Report included that there was a lack of qualified teachers to staff schools and when teachers were in place, they lacked training and capacity. (Otieno & Taddese, 2020). 

As solutions are being developed to assist teachers to become digital learners, teachers and consumers of the vast available educational resources, innovators have not always taken into account that these teachers have had little or no access to using computers and smartphones and they lack the basic understanding of the knowledge and resources available to use in the classroom. Technology is evolving so quickly that teachers are left without a clear vision for what to use and how to use it to achieve desired educational outcomes. They just know they need to do something. Educational think tanks, EdTech innovators and investors and others are creating solutions, but often not involving the community to hear about their challenges, understand the context they are working in and including them in the development of solutions. Teachers are frustrated, overwhelmed and unsure of how to proceed.

There needs to be a framework and plan to introduce technology to teachers in rural communities in a systematic way where they can learn about technology in a mode that feels safe, makes sense, and nurtures their desire to be better teachers. This will enable teachers to adopt technology in their classrooms.

What is your solution?

"I didn't know learning could be so fun!" Teacher Faith from Nyaani Primary School exclaimed after attending a boot camp on computing, coding and physical computing. The boot camp was part of our strategy to support primary school teachers in being digital learners and digital teachers. Since that workshop in 2022, Teacher Faith is now teaching her students on computing and coding, running an afterschool code club, and mentoring her colleagues on how to use technology in the classroom. This is in a rundown classroom with very few resources beyond some tattered textbooks and a classroom of learners who live in poverty.

Kenya Connect is the leader in training teachers in the Mwala sub-county on incorporating technology into their classroom and including computing and coding as dictated by the Kenyan curriculum. We have done this in a systematic way through partnering with teachers, Ministry Education officials, Team4Tech and the Raspberry Pi Foundation. Our blended learning approach is based on trust, meeting teachers where they are at, making technology meaningful and relevant to the syllabus and providing access to devices so they can explore and practice. We are now poised to guide them into the use of AI for developing lesson plans, finding relevant content in the Kenyan context, and assisting in nurturing critical thinking, problem solving and creativity in learners.

Our approach includes:

• Training teachers on how to use a computer, various software packages, and the internet

• Connecting computing with the requirements in the Kenyan curriculum

• Teaching them coding and AI tools that can help them more efficiently and effectively teach lessons required in the Kenyan CBC

• Providing strategies to nurture creativity, problem solving, critical thinking, and self-efficacy in learners through the use of technology

Most importantly, as we train the teachers, we listen to their concerns and the challenges they are facing. We also make learning fun and as we teach computing, we also incorporate classroom management skills including brain breaks, group problem solving, turn and talk and check-ins for understanding. 

Although this approach may seem like standard practice, as we have learned from teachers and NGO professionals throughout Kenya, technology is being introduced in a haphazard way with many teachers never garnering a basic understanding of technology which is holding them back as more advanced innovations as the power of AI is being introduced. As our work has expanded with computing and coding clubs at 43 schools, it is clear from teacher feedback and monitoring of the program that we are making important inroads in training teachers, and more importantly, engaging rural learners to become digital learners.

Our work also empowers teachers to be the drivers of the change with teachers mentoring each other in Professional Learning Communities, workshops and in programs with other teachers across Kenya.

Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?

"Invest in our teachers and our children will succeed" Barack Obama. At Kenya Connect, we have invested in working with teachers since we know that teachers are critical to the academic and social success for the 18,000 students at our 63 partner public schools. 

Our work is primarily in Machakos County, a county of 1.4 million people of which 59% fall below the poverty line and only 17% have access to electricity. Working within the system allows us to provide enrichment and empowerment programs for students, teachers and parents at severely under-resourced schools. Our partner schools include the Machakos School for the Deaf and the Wamunyu Special School for students with cognitive and physical disabilities. Most of our students' parents are subsistence farmers, day laborers, basket weavers, woodcarvers and small business owners. Located in the semi-arid Mwala subcounty, our community is frequently in water distress due to the lack of water infrastructure and limited rains. Many parents are challenged to earn enough to feed and house their families and to pay school fees. However, they believe in the power of education to improve their children's future.

The students, our main beneficiaries, are eager, bright, and curious. They walk 2-3 km each way to school ready to learn. They dream of being engineers, pilots, journalists, nurses, and even "Kenya Connect." They learn in classrooms with empty walls, no science equipment books, or manipulatives to use. However, they have teachers who want to provide them with learning, despite the lack of materials to use. 

We have seen when we empower teachers with effective and well-tested classroom management skills that nurture critical thinking, creativity, and problem solving, that students become even more engaged. Instead of having a "quiet classroom" we have worked with teachers to have an active learning environment with inquiry based and student-led learning. This has resulted in students being more engaged and teachers enjoying teaching more. Providing training to teachers on integrating technology in the classroom and providing sets of computers and tablets for students and teachers to use has been transformational, especially for students who have been labeled "dull" or unable to educate. 

Teachers are stressed by the requirement of the Ministry of Education to "get through the syllabus." Sometimes the teachers do not know how to teach a particular content area so they skip over it. Kenya Connect is poised to help these teachers use Generative AI to help with lesson planning, content information and differentiated learning. These powerful tools can help provide better instruction for students in our rural classrooms and make teaching more manageable for the rural teachers. We know our current work is helping to bridge the digital and educational divide and we know the next step of providing AI training, guidance and support will make even more of a difference to the children we serve, the future workforce and leaders of Kenya.

How are you and your team well-positioned to deliver this solution?

Kenya Connect has been partnering with schools in Wamunyu for the last two decades, and more specifically in bringing computing and technology to teachers for the last decade. Patrick Munguti, our Director of Education and Technology, has been leading the charge to bridge the Digital Divide and is seen as a leading Tech Educator in Kenya. He has presented on  Maker Spaces for inclusive STEM education  in the mEducation Alliance symposium in Arlington VA US (2023), was a panelist on  Monitoring and Evaluation of Blended Learning Models on Edtech Mondays sponsored by Mastercard Foundation on National TV (2023), participated in the  Raspberry Pi Africa meetup  in Cape Town South Africa (2023) and as a panelist in the 2023 Global Africa Diaspora Forum talking about  Technology changes and  I nnovation for people of Afric a. Patrick is currently in the prestigious HP Cambridge EdTech program.

Kenya Connect is a strategic partner of Team4Tech , a non-profit impact accelerator bridging the digital equity gap in education. In 2023 we were selected as their "Partner of the Year" and honored at their 10th anniversary celebration. As an effective partner, Kenya Connect has been asked to serve as panelists in their community of practice and through their network, we regularly participate in meetings with other NGOs in Africa to learn about new strategies, what's working and to discuss new trends. Through Team4Tech, we have partnered with the Raspberry Pi Foundation to bring coding clubs to teachers and students at 43 of our partner schools.

Our Tech reach has gown substantially because of Patrick and his tech team who work closely with teachers and head teachers to bring technology to their classrooms. The team offers regular teacher workshops and bootcamps, they bring sets of computers into classrooms, and they train the teachers so they can be the "tech educators." They listen, evaluate, and provide programs and trainings to meet the teachers and students needs. We also coordinate with the Teacher Service Commission (TSC), the Curriculum Support Officers (CSO), and County Ministry of Education. This means when teachers take a course with us, their certificate of completion is included in their professional development portfolios.  

As AI tools are being developed, our team is learning how to use this powerful program in order to assist the teachers. Instead of waiting for the Ministry of Education, we are participating in workshops, testing out programs, and preparing to share AI with teachers in the coming months. We plan to first work with the committed cohort of teachers running coding clubs. These teachers regularly share feedback with us on what is working, where they need help, and what's been a challenge. 

However, AI and other tech tools cannot happen without devices and either internet or cell signal. Our team has been committed to garnering devices and funds to bridge the divide for our dedicated and eager community. 

We are poised to lead the way on how to introduce, use, and monitor new technologies in under-resourced classrooms in an authentic way.

Which dimension of the Challenge does your solution most closely address?

Which of the un sustainable development goals does your solution address.

• 4. Quality Education
• 5. Gender Equality
• 10. Reduced Inequalities

What is your solution’s stage of development?

Please share details about why you selected the stage above..

It was tough to choose which stage was most appropriate for our solution. We have been training over 300 teachers on technology and roughly 6,000 students in rural Kenya. Currently, we have a cohort of 43 teachers at 43 schools teaching computing and coding after they attended a week long bootcamp. These educators are fired-up and excited to be part of this work. We have the infrastructure and teacher buy-in for this program. We are now monitoring and evaluating the program and planning to introduce Gen AI to the teachers to assist in lesson planning, problem solving, classroom management, and course content. We know that this powerful tool will aid teachers who have so few resources, and we know that we are trusted and well positioned to pilot the use of this technology in a rural African context. Being a MIT SOLVER will serve as a model for the many NGOs like ours who are grappling with bringing technology, and specifically AI, to communities who barely know how to use computers. A community led and engaged NGO like ours is well poised to test various AI programs and to garner feedback to see what is most successful for teachers in East Africa. 

Why are you applying to Solve?

Our Tech Team has been rock stars in bringing technology to rural Kenyan teachers. For the last decade, we have been ahead of the curve in bringing technology to teachers and students in our subcounty, even before the government was doing so. When the government delivered tablets to the schools in 2017, we were the tech trainers and trouble shooters. However, we are a small staff and the rapid transformation of educational technology can be overwhelming. It's challenging for teachers in the developing world to learn about using AI in their classrooms. We know that it is even more challenging for rural Kenyan teachers who have just learned how to use a computer in the last few years to shift to AI. 

We are seeking partners who can help us sift through the noise and to help us develop a robust and thoughtful plan on introducing AI into our community for teachers with the goal of giving them a tool to help them find course content, teaching strategies and methodologies, and ways to help learners with differing learning styles. The goal is to help them complete the course syllabus in a more efficient and effective way while most importantly, engaging their students in dynamic and student-centered learning. We are looking for thought partners who can help us be smart in rolling out this program and in developing a monitoring and evaluation plan to determine the effectiveness of the program. We are especially seeking partners who are interested in learning about our community and the challenges they are facing (similar to other rural communities) from our Tech Team who has been working in the space for over a decade. 

We learned a great deal from  participating in the MIT SOLVE Leap program that helped us design a framework for evaluation for our literacy programs. The fellows shared their knowledge and expertise that is helping us evaluate our literacy programs with a new lens. 

We are applying for the MIT SOLVE Global Challenge because empowering our teachers with technology and AI will benefit the children in our community and beyond. We believe it will provide improved education through new ways of engaged learning and more robust content. Our impact has grown through partnerships and learning from experts in their fields. If selected, it will not only transform our work, but other NGOs like ours and it will transform the experts that we will work with. Our staff is curious, dedicated and fun. Partners love working with us.

Being selected will also provide access to funds to help provide devices to teachers and funds for connectivity so they can become better teachers with more resources to serve their learners.

In which of the following areas do you most need partners or support?

• Monitoring & Evaluation (e.g. collecting/using data, measuring impact)

Who is the Team Lead for your solution?

Mr. Patrick Munguti

What makes your solution innovative?

As new EdTech solutions have been developed, they often are created without the input from those working in rural landscapes. For example, in 2022, we had a team from the Raspberry Pi Foundation travel to our project site to launch a pilot to teach coding and physical computing to our partner teachers. Prior to the visit, we had shared our context and the challenges that teachers face in rural classrooms. However, when the first day of training began, the trainers were stunned to see the lack of knowledge and comfort using computers and how some of the course content they designed with examples were not relevant for Kenya. They pivoted quickly, and with guidance from our tech team, they were able to restructure the workshop to make it meaningful, relevant and successful.

It is clear to us that in order for tech solutions to be truly successful, there needs to be community based leaders who are passionate about education and technology to lead the way. The support of tech innovators of AI is important, but without solid infrastructure and commitment on the ground, these innovations may fail. We hear the Kenyan government talk about providing computing, internet, and training to teachers, but it has been mostly talk, with NGOs like Kenya Connect working to ensure that teachers and students are not left behind.

Along with working in our county, our Tech Team is sharing our work with other NGOs, private schools, and county officials. As a Team4Tech partner, we have the platform to share our programs with others in Sub-Saharan Africa and have partnered with organizations like Nairobits to do joint programs. As an MIT Solver, we believe the work we will do together will be a North Star for others to follow who are working in rural under-resourced communities or developing solutions.

Describe in simple terms how and why you expect your solution to have an impact on the problem.

Our Theory of Change is:

Empower rural Kenyan learners with essential computing, coding, and advanced technology skills through locally led teacher training programs.

Assumptions:

Community Led NGO : Our locally led team fosters a sense of ownership and sustainability within the community.

Teacher Empowerment : Training teachers in computing and coding equips them with the necessary skills to effectively impart knowledge to students.

Access to Resources : Providing teachers with training resources ensures they have the tools needed to deliver high-quality instruction especially in the rural context.

Relevance to Curriculum : Integrating computing and coding into the curriculum aligns with the CBS and prepares students for the digital age.

Pedagogical Support : Offering ongoing pedagogical support through live sessions, zoom workshops and WhatsApp groups ensures teachers can effectively incorporate computing concepts into their teaching methods.

Activities that support our Theory of Change:

Local Team : Our locally led team is comprised of educators and technology experts passionate about enhancing digital literacy in rural communities.

Teacher Training Workshops : Conduct workshops and seminars to train teachers on computing, coding, and advanced technologies, tailored to the needs and context of rural Kenyan learners.

Curriculum Integration : Collaborate with education authorities to integrate computing and coding modules into the curriculum, ensuring alignment with national educational standards.

Resource Provision : Provide teachers with access to relevant teaching materials, software, and hardware necessary for effective instruction including AI via WhatsApp.

Ongoing Support : Offer continuous support and mentorship to teachers, including follow-up sessions, peer learning opportunities, and online resources including AI.

What are your impact goals for your solution and how are you measuring your progress towards them?

We have been monitoring our effectiveness in providing teacher training in technology. Specifically we are looking at:

• Enhanced Teacher Capacity : Equipped teachers demonstrate proficiency in computing, coding, and advanced technology concepts.
• Improved Student Learning : Students develop essential digital literacy skills and are better prepared for future academic and professional pursuits.
• Community Empowerment : Increased access to digital education fosters community development and economic opportunities in rural areas.
• Sustainability : Locally led initiatives promote sustainability and scalability, ensuring long-term impact beyond the duration of the program.

Impact: By investing in locally led teacher training programs, Kenya Connect aims to catalyze a transformative shift in rural education, empowering both teachers and students with the skills needed to thrive in the digital age and contribute to the socio-economic development of their communities.

Describe the core technology that powers your solution.

The lack of devices, internet and training has resulted in many Kenyan teachers and learners being left behind as Kenya's tech transformation is occurring. In 2012, Kenya Connect opened the first computer lab in our sub-county for teachers and students and began providing Teacher Professional Development programs, before it was mandated by the county. Fast-forward to 2024, we now have our computer lab, an EdTech Hub with Robotics and additional computers and 416 chromebooks and laptops which are being used in classrooms. In addition, our staff has repaired the 2017 government issued tablets and loaded them with SCRATCH so students can learn basic coding. Providing devices and training teachers on how to use them means that when teachers are instructing on computing, they are just not showing pictures in a textbook (which is happening in many rural classrooms). As we have conducted our training workshops, we have formed WhatsApp groups so teachers can share how they are using technology in their classrooms, the questions they have, and to inspire one another. Since it has been effective to use WhatsApp for follow-ups with teachers, we are planning on introducing AI in WhatsApp so they have easier access to this resource.

Which of the following categories best describes your solution?

A new application of an existing technology

Please select the technologies currently used in your solution:

• Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning
• Audiovisual Media
• Software and Mobile Applications

If your solution has a website or an app, provide the links here:

In which countries do you currently operate, how many people work on your solution team.

Our solution team includes five from our Tech Team, Patrick Munguti, Monicah Kyalo, Brian Mbuvi, Felistus Tom and Maureen Gichoi and Sharon Runge, Executive Director. In addition, our team works closely with partner teachers and Nyagaki Gichia (Director for Africa,Team4Tech).

How long have you been working on your solution?

Our Tech Team has been providing computing programs for the last decade when we opened the first computer lab for students and teachers in the Mwala sub-county. Since then, we have worked tirelessly to train teachers on computing and coding, and in 2018, when the Kenyan government officially added computing coding into the curriculum, we worked with the teachers to help them understand the content in the syllabus. Since 2022, we have been especially focused on bringing computers and devices into classrooms and helping teachers to understand and be able to teach coding and now AI. 

Tell us about how you ensure that your team is diverse, minimizes barriers to opportunity for staff, and provides a welcoming and inclusive environment for all team members.

Kenya Connect is committed to encouraging gender equality, diversity and inclusion among our workforce, and eliminating unlawful discrimination.The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative of all sections of society and our customers, and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best.

Our Kenyan team is led by Co-Founder and Executive Director, James Musyoka. His senior team includes Patrick Munguti and Faith Doucette. Kenya Connect has been intentional over the last decade to hiring more women to our staff including to head program areas including the library, makerspace, and teacher professional development. Our staff of 20 includes 12 women and 8 men. In addition, our Executive Director in the U.S. is a woman as is the Board chair. In addition, we have members of different ethnic groups on our staff and we work with teachers, parents and students regardless of ethnic identity or religion. 

It has been important to have women on our tech team to help inspire girls to become interested in computing, coding and other STEM fields. 

What is your business model?

Kenya Connect is an NGO that provides programs and services to students, teachers and parents at 63 partner public schools in the Mwala sub county of Machakos and 8 schools in Kitui County. Most of our programs are free and are designed to lift students out of extreme poverty through the power of enriched education. Over the last 5 years, students at our partner schools have had among the top testing scores in the county which the Head Teachers attribute to our work. We raise funds in the U.S., the UK, and Canada as well as Kenya to support our programming. Being a registered 501-c3 in the US and a registered NGO in Kenya gives us the ability to raise funds through multiple avenues.

In addition, several of our programs like our rent-to-own solar lights and composting toilets have been developed in a self-sustaining way. Our goal is to increase funding in Kenya and to develop more income-generating programs.

Without Kenya Connect's programs and resources, including our computer lab, EdTech Hub and makerspace, students and teachers would have very limited learning and access to technology. There is no other NGO in our region who is bringing sets of computers into classrooms for students to use, training teachers and providing computers for them to use in their classrooms or offering FREE school break bootcamps to learners on computing, coding and physical computing in response to teachers asking us to help their students.

Do you primarily provide products or services directly to individuals, to other organizations, or to the government?

What is your plan for becoming financially sustainable, and what evidence can you provide that this plan has been successful so far.

A non-profit, Kenya Connect has multiple revenue streams that supports our work.  

Based on 223  Income:

Individual Donations: 36%

Event Income: 7%

Foundations: 48%

Schools/Religious Support: 9%

In addition, our staff in Wamunyu has worked to make our programs self-sustaining.  For example, we sell personal solar lights to families so students can study at their homesteads at night.  It's a rent-to-own program.  The funds that are paid back are reinvested into the community.  In addition to raising funds in the U.S., we are also working to raise funds in Kenya to support our work.

Included in the numbers is a grant from the FII Institute who granted us $50,000 for 3 secondary school computer labs, robotic kits and teacher trainers. Within individual giving, we have donors who give between $10k-30K annually for our work because they have seen first hand the work we are doing.

Although it is tough to raise funds in Kenya, our staff is planning to host a Reading Road Rally to support our literacy work and we have grants submitted to Safaricom and the U.S. Embassy Nairobi to support our technology and workforce development programs.

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