Ensuring Latino Inclusion in STEM and AI Careers: A Call to Action for Instructional Designers

Latino children make up one of the fastest-growing demographics in K-12 education. Yet few are likely to grow up and establish careers in technology. For them, there’s obviously a leak somewhere in the school-to-jobs pipeline.

In the tech workforce, just one in 10 tech workers are Latino, a figure starkly disproportional to their population size. Although more Latino college students are pursuing STEM fields, they represent only about 12 percent of undergraduate degrees awarded in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Furthermore, federal data shows that K-12 schools with high percentages of Hispanic students offer fewer STEM courses than those with lower proportions.

To understand why Latinos are still lagging in science education and how to ensure they don’t get left behind, particularly in the fast-evolving AI industry, reporter Nadia Tamez-Robledo moderated a recent expert panel at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s annual conference. Here are the key takeaways for instructional designers.

Why Increasing Latino Representation in STEM Matters

Diana Logreira, NASA Science Mission Directorate’s web program manager, highlighted the efforts to increase Latino interest in science and its significance for innovation. Through initiatives like partnerships with Arizona State University, they are creating K-12 science activities aimed at involving more underrepresented communities.

“We need to involve more underrepresented communities in our programs and missions and our research, so what we’ve been doing is trying to figure out how we can plug in our content into those communities,” Logreira stated. “For us, innovation is a must, and diversity is closely linked to the efficiency of innovation and scientific discovery.”

Maria Guedez, Denbury’s senior VP of business development and technology, emphasized the importance of engaging Latinos in tech classes and career pathways, particularly given that they make up 20 percent of college students. “Making sure they understand, that they see themselves reflected in the space and in the possibilities of how they can play a role [is important],” she explained.

She noted that industry partnerships with schools are “critical” to increasing the share of Latinos entering STEM jobs, with Denbury contributing through school demonstrations by their scientists. The goal is to broaden students’ understanding of possible science careers.

Challenges to Increasing Latino Representation in STEM

Isabella Elvir-Ray, program management director at Salesforce, argued that overcoming the community’s fear of AI is crucial. “When we hear the word AI, most of us fear it. How do we remove that fear out of AI — the sense that it will replace humans?”

Her personal experience shows young Latinos’ enthusiasm for AI, which schools should harness. “How do we merge technologies into our educational system for underrepresented minorities?” Elvir-Ray asked. “Especially [encouraging] our Latino community to embrace these technologies.”

According to Noel Candelaria, secretary-treasurer of the National Education Association, bringing AI into classrooms equitably requires industry expertise and sufficient funding for software, hardware, and teacher training. Additionally, issues such as infrastructure, internet connectivity, and tech-savvy teachers are essential for ensuring Latino students have access to STEM education.

The Need for Mentorship

All panelists agreed on the critical role of mentorship in their career journeys. Guedez, for instance, talked about her relative in the oil and gas industry who inspired her to pursue engineering. This mentorship continued throughout her career at Exxon Mobil.

Elvir-Ray shared her transformative experience with an IT internship at Fannie Mae, which broadened her perspective on careers in IT beyond just programming.

Logreira added that NASA Science Mission Directorate’s Hispanic employee group actively engages with Latino students through conferences and campus visits to increase Latino visibility in tech. “We are trying to create that mentality that, ‘We can do it,’” she said.

For instructional designers, the takeaway is clear: fostering Latino students’ interests in STEM and AI requires not only curricular adjustments and resource allocation but also mentorship and community engagement. Addressing these challenges head-on is imperative to prepare a diverse and proficient future workforce.

Original source: EdSurge Articles by Nadia Tamez-Robledo.