{"id":8596,"date":"2025-03-20T08:00:42","date_gmt":"2025-03-20T13:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.everylearnereverywhere.org\/?p=8596"},"modified":"2025-03-20T08:43:40","modified_gmt":"2025-03-20T13:43:40","slug":"how-this-compsci-major-is-working-to-expand-access-to-ai-and-digital-learning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.everylearnereverywhere.org\/es\/blog\/how-this-compsci-major-is-working-to-expand-access-to-ai-and-digital-learning\/","title":{"rendered":"How This CompSci Major Is Working to Expand Access to AI and Digital Learning"},"content":{"rendered":"

What started as a sibling rivalry sparked a passion for computer science that now is helping to inform Every Learner Everywhere\u00ae\u2019s support for AI and digital learning advancements.<\/p>\n

Noel Berhanu, a junior at the University of Maryland, College Park, is part of Every Learner\u2019s spring 2025 cohort of interns<\/a>. In work that builds on efforts of the summer and fall 2024 cohorts, the spring interns are developing a toolkit about artificial intelligence for instructors<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Growing up in a Washington, D.C., suburb, Berhanu was consumed by soccer. Then at age 10 he saw his 12-year-old brother completing a project running computer programs to do basic tasks. Berhanu, who\u2019d never been exposed to coding before, decided he could do better.<\/p>\n

So he gave coding a try and realized that he was right. He excelled at it and enjoyed it. Soon, he was dreaming less about playing soccer professionally and more about a career in software development.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had no idea I\u2019d be good at it,\u201d Berhanu says. \u201cBut I was competitive, and we always had a rivalry. Then I found I actually had a genuine interest in coding, and that\u2019s why I chose it as my career path.\u201d<\/p>\n

Encouraging access for every student<\/h2>\n

Berhanu\u2019s passion for coding has led him to a variety of technology-related academic, volunteer, and vocational pursuits.<\/p>\n

In addition to studying computer science at UMD, he serves as president of Code: Black, a campus organization that works to increase the involvement of students in groups traditionally underrepresented in computing. He regularly participates in hackathons at UMD, working on teams to complete various programming projects.<\/p>\n

He has also been an instructor for the Tech Turn Up summer camp in the Washington, D.C., area, teaching the basics of the Java programming language.<\/p>\n

Each of these activities has allowed him to pursue his interests in problem solving, coding, and promoting broad interest in and access to technology and tech education.<\/p>\n

In fact, it was Berhanu\u2019s 2024 work with Tech Turn Up, providing coding education to children between the ages of 9 and 13 who otherwise might not have had the opportunity, that solidified those interests. He\u2019s committed to ensuring not only that every student can get high-quality digital education, but also that instructors have the tools to provide it.<\/p>\n