MIT partners with Lakes Region Community College for pilot math and AI education program 

The two educational institutions launched a new pilot partnership this summer, bringing 16 high school students from towns across New Hampshire together to learn the math behind AI and how to use it to tackle real problems.

Lakes Region Community College (LRCC) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) launched a new pilot partnership this summer, bringing 16 high school students from towns across New Hampshire together to learn the math behind AI and how to use it to tackle real problems. LRCC is one of only two community colleges nationwide hosting the pilot course; the other is in Wyoming.

The four-week course, “Gateway to AI,” was created by MIT professors led by Arup K. Chakraborty, with input from the teachers at the New Hampshire and Wyoming sites. The aim is to close a gap Chakraborty has long observed: students in rural and small-town America often have far less access than their urban peers to advanced math and science instruction and hands-on exposure to emerging technologies like AI.

“For a long time, I’ve believed that many of our young high school students in rural America do not get the same opportunities to see and take advantage of the future possibilities, compared to people in urban areas,” said Chakraborty. “We want to change that.  It doesn’t matter what these young people plan to pursue in their lives — if they work in manufacturing, at a CVS, or in agriculture they will encounter AI.  It will likely be present in every aspect of their lives. Also, the need to think deeply and analytically, and ask the right questions, will become even more important than before.”

The program prioritized teens from communities with limited access to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) enrichment. Participants came from towns across the state, including Center Sandwich, Concord, Gilford, Gilmanton, Laconia, Meredith, Moultonborough, Nottingham and Salem.

“AI is a hot topic right now. It’s certainly important to know how to use it properly,” said Gus Glaser, a student from Coe-Brown Northwood Academy in Northwood, N.H.

Students spent the first two weeks learning linear algebra — a mathematical foundation of AI systems — in the context of how it’s used in AI tools. They also learned some statistics.  In the second half of the course, they applied what they’d learned to hands-on projects including:

• A farm visit, where students photographed crops and used AI to identify plant types and growth stages. The goal was to use an AI tool developed by a company called Ground Truth Analytics to predict plant types and growth stages in neighboring areas.

• A healthcare project using an AI tool developed at MIT that analyzes mammogram data to generate breast-cancer risk scores. Students had to decide how to schedule further screenings based on these results, and other constraints.

• A financial wellness project for New Hampshire-based St. Mary’s Bank, leveraging Allogy’s Capillary platform. Students created an AI chatbot designed to help members navigate real-life financial goals. This tool allows users to navigate topics such as saving for college or starting a business, and explored how changing factors like inflation could influence their financial decisions. The project demonstrates how digital tools can empower members with on-demand insights while complementing the trusted guidance available through in-person member support teams.

“I definitely didn’t expect the program to be so hands-on,” said Asa Buchakjian-Tweedy from Spaulding High School in Rochester, N.H. “I knew we would be learning about linear algebra which is the basis of AI models. I thought we’d be mostly sticking to that, but we’ve also been learning the statistics behind it and how to implement it.”

“We were proud to be part of this,” said Patrick Cate, president of LRCC. “Students from across New Hampshire had the opportunity to learn about topics that are not typically covered in high school. That’s a direct reflection of what LRCC and all of New Hampshire’s community colleges exist to do: connect our communities to opportunities they might not otherwise have.”

The course was taught by Inter-Lakes High School teacher Susan Foss-Finch who traveled to MIT to help shape the curriculum. MIT student Jadyn Grant served as an on-site teaching assistant. Later this month, MIT will fund a day-long campus visit for participants to tour research labs and meet MIT students.

“I hope students walk away with a better understanding of what AI is as well as its capabilities and limitations. AI is a great tool that will help our society move forward. It’s not something we should fear, but something we should learn to use and use well,” said Foss-Finch.

Sydney Conkling, a student at Inter-Lakes High School in Meredith, N.H summed it up well. “It’s a really good way to spend your summer and broaden your horizons.”

MIT hopes to grow this program and offer it in additional communities across the country.

About Lakes Region Community College   
Lakes Region Community College (LRCC), located in Laconia, New Hampshire, provides high-quality, affordable education and training that prepares students for success in a rapidly evolving world. For more information, visit LRCC.edu.