Kyle McDill, Project Manager for the Mississippi State University Center for Cyber Education visited Starkville High School to speak with Millsaps CTE students about artificial intelligence and share the CCE Mobile Classroom.
In August, Career and Technical Education (CTE) students at the Millsaps Center at Starkville High School gained a glimpse into technology and careers that utilize artificial intelligence, robotics and other STEM activities through an interactive presentation and mobile classroom provided by Kyle McDill, Project Manager for the Mississippi State University Center for Cyber Education (CCE). McDill demonstrated several common forms of AI and spoke with juniors and seniors who are enrolled in various 2-year CTE pathways at Millsaps about how AI technology is impacting top careers in Mississippi and across the nation. In addition, students had the opportunity to visit the CCE Mobile Classroom, a truck and trailer equipped with technology and hands-on activities in cybersecurity, AI, robotics, 3D printing and STEM.
"I had a wonderful time with the Starkville Oktibbeha CTE students at Millsaps Center, talking with them about opportunities in careers and technology," McDill said. "For me, it's always a joy to come to a place where I have family in the school system –– it makes the experience that much more meaningful. To see students light up when they realize how these skills can connect to their future is the reason I love doing this work."
Students began their time with the CCE Project Manager in the SHS Library for a discussion of AI and how it's used in the school setting as well as in various careers. Although students are often asked to put their cell phones away in the classroom, McDill started his discussion with the Yellow Jackets by asking them to pull out their phones and engage with his presentation. He used QR codes to connect students with the live portion of his content to submit questions, share their opinions on the content and make predictions about AI facts.
During the presentation, McDill demonstrated various AI technology that he had programmed or installed with his technology to give students a first-hand look at it's usefulness. He also gave guidance on the best ways to use AI to augment their learning and appropriately complete assignments. He even demonstrated how the AI technology could provide accurate descriptions of the lecture setting with very little prompting. McDill shared ways that he has seen this type of technology benefit various industries throughout the state.
Students then had the opportunity to visit the CCE Mobile Classroom parked on the SHS campus as McDill demonstrated some of the technology available. Students were able to use laptops to research passwords through cybersecurity software. They worked with ipads to program robotic balls, and McDill demonstrated how he was using the 3D printers on board to create gaming consoles.
McDill said his goal is to take the mobile classroom directly to high school students on campuses across the state.
"The truck is designed to give students an immersive, real-world experience with the tools and technologies shaping the future workforce," he said. "Whether it's a digital escape room, robotics lab or coding challenge, the mobile classroom sparks curiosity and helps students see clear pathways into technology-driven careers."
The MSU Center for Cyber Education seeks to connect classrooms with meaningful, future-ready learning opportunities for students while also helping educators learn how to integrate the technology into classrooms.
This focus on "future-ready" opportunities showcases the types of learning experiences administrators are seeking for the programs at Millsaps and across Starkville High School as a whole. The high performing high school provides fourteen Career and Technical pathways in addition to advanced studies in a variety of core subjects and the arts. Through the CTE curriculum, SHS offers real-world training taught by practitioners and provides the opportunity to earn industry-specific certifications that give students a jumpstart to life in the workplace.
A growing aspect of the "future-ready" focus is the expansion of work-based learning opportunities provided at Millsaps. Students are placed with real-world job opportunities for internships during their senior year of high school. Through an interview process, students are matched with business and industry partners for part-time work that aligns with their interests for a career field and job opportunities after high school. Participants receive training in interviewing, soft skills, as well as specific industry-related tasks and have the opportunity to leave high school with a resume that includes work experience in their chosen field.
"We are very excited about providing these real-world opportunities to students," said Rob Fyke, SOCSD Work-based Learning Coordinator. "With our industry partners, we are able to give students meaningful work experience as well as grow a meaningful workforce for our community."
Fyke connects the dots with emerging technology and the experience McDill shared with students.
"It is so valuable to have professionals like Kyle come in and give students insight into how technology intersects with industry," Fyke said. "It begins to open their eyes to the possibilities of how what they are seeing on their phones and through games and devices each day can actually turn into careers and impact their future workplaces. That's what it's all about."
