The emergence of artificial intelligence arises an older question than Abacus: if we have a tool to do what to learn to do it yourself?
The answer, argues that the myth of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) Professor Devavrat Shah has not changed: The basic mathematics skills remain necessary for good exploit of tools, from knowledge of the tool for the correct interpretation of the results.
“When large language and generative models artificial intelligence meet with new applications, these most modern tools will continue to transform the entire industry sectors and introduce new observations for research and politics,” says Shah. “The world needs people who can understand the basic concepts of AI to really use their potential.”
Shah is a professor in myth Institute of Data, Systems and Society (IDSS), an interdisciplinary unit that meets the global need for data skills with online course offers such as The Micromasters in the field of statistics and data learningwhich Shah directs.
“With over a thousand certificates of certificates around the world and tens of thousands of learners involved since its creation, the Micromasters program in the field of statistics and data turned out to be a rigorous, but flexible way for qualified students to develop the basics of statistics at the MIT level,” says Shah.
Micromasters is also the spine of the IDSS Education Partnership, in which the MIT MIT team works with organizations to support group groups through the Micromasters curriculum.
“Together with our first strategic partner in IDSS education, he provides education for data sciences at the graduate level through the Brescia Institute of Technology (BREIT) in Peru,” explains Fotini Christia, the International Professor of Social Sciences of Ford in MIT and Director of IDSS. “Thanks to this partnership, IDSS trains scientists who inform about making decisions in the Peruvian industry, society and politics.”
Training the next generation
The advanced BREIT program in the field of data learning and global skills, developed in cooperation with IDSS, provides training in both technical and non -technical skills needed to exploit the information that can offer data. Members fill in micromastras in the field of statistics and data (SDS), learning the basics of statistics, probability, data analysis and machine learning. Meanwhile, these students are equipped with career skills, from communication and critical thinking to building team and ethics.
“I knew that artificial intelligence, machine learning and data learning were the future, and I wanted to be in this wave,” explains Breit student Renato Castro about his decision to join the program. Now the holder of the certificate, Castro has developed data projects for groups in Peru, Panama and Guatemala. “The program teaches more than mathematics. This is a systematic way of thinking that helps you have to influence real problems and create wealth not only for the company, but also wealth for people.”
“The goal is to develop problems and leaders in a field that is growing and becoming more and more important for organizations around the world,” says Lucia Haro, Breit manager. “We train the next generation to contribute to the economic development of our country and have a positive social impact in Peru.”
To achieve this, IDSS provides Breit students with adapted support. Assistants of teaching students MIT conduct regular sessions to ensure practical practices with class concepts, answer students’ questions and identify topics regarding the development of additional resources.
“These sessions were very useful because the theoretical part of the lectures can be seen,” says Jesús Figueroa, who completed the program and now serves as a local teacher’s assistant. Students like Figueroa must go beyond the deep understanding of the course material to support future students.
“Maybe you already understand the basics, the theoretical part,” explains Figueroa, “But you have to learn how to communicate.”
Eight Kohort completed the program, and three more in progress, in total almost 100 owners of the Micromasters certificate – and 90 more in preparation. When Breit has developed their activities, the IDSS team worked on satisfying novel needs, for example cooperation in developing technical assessment to support student recruitment.
“Assessment tools contribute to the knowledge of candidates for preliminary knowledge, such as a differential account, basic linear algebra and basic programming in Python,” says Karene Chu, assistant to the education director for SDS microromasters. “With some randomization of questions and automatic assessment, this quiz has facilitated the determining potential of the advanced program in the field of data learning and global skills, while helping candidates see where they may need to refresh their skills.”
“The partners’ contribution helps us to understand the landscape, so we know the requirements and how they met better,” says Susana Kevorkova, head of the IDSS Micromasters program. “Thanks to Breit, we now offer a preliminary condition” bootcamp “to help students from various environments to refresh their knowledge or cover the gaps. We are always looking for ways to increase the value for our partners. “
Better decisions, greater influence
To accelerate the development of data skills, BREIT offers practical possibilities of applying these skills to data projects. These projects are developed in cooperation with local non -governmental organizations (NGOs) working on various social impact projects aimed at improving the quality of life of Peruvian citizens.
“I worked with a non -governmental organization, trying to understand why students did not complete postgraduate studies,” says Diego Trijillo Chappa, a student of Breit and owner of the Micromasters certificate. “We have developed an improved model for them, taking into account the functions of students, such as reading levels and their income, and we tried to remove the prejudice where they come from.”
“Our methodology has helped the non -governmental organization to identify more possible candidates,” adds Trujillo. “And this is a good step for a non -governmental organization, goes on with a better data analysis.”
Trujillo has now brought these data skills in his modeling users’ experiences in the telecommunications sector. “We have several functions that we want to improve on the 5G network in my country,” he explains. “This methodology helped me correctly understand the variable person in the equation of experience.”
The project of the social influence of Yajaira Huert concerned a particularly sedate problem and in a complex time. “I worked with an organization that builds houses for homeless people,” he explains. “Then Covid-19 spread, which was a difficult situation for many people in Peru.”
One of the challenges that the organization of the project faced was to determine where the need was the highest to strategy of resource distribution – a kind of problem in which data tools can have a great impact. “We have built a grouping model to capture the indicators available in the data, as well as show us geolocation where there were central point of need,” says Huerta. “It helped the team in making better decisions.”
Global networks and pipelines
As part of the developing IDSS community, owners of the Micromasters certificates in the field of statistics and data have access to IDSS workshops and conferences. Thanks to Breit cooperation with IDSS, students have more interaction with MIT lecturers outside of recordings. Some Breit students even went to the myth, where they met the students and lecturers of MIT and learned about current research.
“I feel so in love with this story you have, as well as what you build with artificial intelligence and nanotechnology. I am so inspired.” Huerta says his stay in the campus.
During their last visit in February, Breit students received the completion certificates in person, visited the MIT campus, joined interactive conversations with students and lecturers and received a preview of the novel development of microme trades: A Sports analyst Course designed by a mechanical engineering professor Anette “PEKO” Hosoi.
“Conducting Breit and their extremely talented students brings all our partner efforts a full circle, especially since the owners of Micromasters’ certificates are a pool of potential recruits for our programs for graduates in the campus,” says Christia. “This partnership is a model on which we are ready to build and intensify, thanks to which we develop similar networks and pipelines of scientific talent on every part of the world.”