Allentown School District and DeSales University create artificial intelligence summer program
ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Allentown School District will partner with DeSales University this summer to prepare high school students for careers working with artificial intelligence.
The Allentown Summer Artificial Intelligence Institute is a new eight-week program in which 20 ASD students will attend classes at the DeSales University Hub at 932 Hamilton St. in downtown Allentown, which first opened last year.
Students will spend 36 hours each week getting trained in data analytics and AI technologies. They can also earn six college credits and a stipend of up to $4,355, according to a news release.
“They’re earning to learn, they’re learning to earn.”
Brennan Pursell, director of DeSales’ Center for Data Analytics and Applied AI
“They’re earning to learn, they’re learning to earn,” Brennan Pursell, director of DeSales’ Center for Data Analytics and Applied AI, said at a Thursday special meeting.
School directors approved the new AI institute partnership with DeSales at the same meeting for a cost of $166,291 to the district.
State Sen. Nick Miller, D-Lehigh, also secured a state grant to support the program.
Students will study the data analytics process, which includes question development, data collection, preparation for analysis, statistical application, visualization and articulation of findings.
Prepare students for career paths
Pursell said the first data sets for the program are already coming in and students will be taught how to work with spreadsheets, as well as descriptive and predictive analytics.
“We’ll be looking at spreadsheets for air quality sensors and the different types of data, and eventually these air quality sensors will be put in different buildings in the Allentown School District,” Pursell said.
“That’s only one of the things we’ll be doing.”
The AI institute will partner with Allentown’s Office of Civic Innovation, Lehigh Valley Health Network’s Pool Center for Health Analytics and IotaComm’s Center for Sustainable Innovation to let students access real-world datasets.
Students in the AI institute will have wrap-around services this summer, including tutoring and social-emotional supports so they can be successful.
Allentown Schools Superintendent Carol Birks
The program will prepare students for data and AI career paths in various industries, such as business, health care and government.
Students also will be told about the high potential earnings in those fields.
Additionally, students will learn about systemic problems with bias and injustice in AI datasets and technologies, as well as the lack of representation of marginalized groups in this sector.
Organizers considered using Algebra 1 as a requirement for participation, but decided against it so students aren’t facing a barrier to the program, they said Thursday.
Instead, staff at the district’s three high schools will help identify creative students to participate in the program.
Superintendent Carol Birks said students in the AI institute will have wrap-around services this summer, including tutoring and social-emotional supports so they can be successful.
Students will get daily transportation, as well as breakfast and lunch during the program. Interested students should contact their school counselors to apply by May 24.
