Black-Liberation.Tech

AI for Academic Success

What if something you already know could help you understand something completely new?

In this episode of AI for Academic Success, Dr. Renée Jordan begins the Module 2 walkthrough with Amara, a creative learner struggling to understand atoms until she connects the science to something familiar: painting.

From there, we explore how learners can use their interests, experiences, and prior knowledge as resources for learning. Dr. Jordan also walks through the original Module 2 prompt, designed to help students ask AI for explanations connected to their interests while preserving academic v...

AI Can Help You Read—But It Can't Do the Thinking for You

What happens after AI explains a difficult reading?

In this episode of AI for Academic Success, Dr. Renée Jordan completes the Module 1 walkthrough by exploring Janiyah GPT's response to Ashley's Excellence Exploration, featuring Latinas, Afro-Latinas, and Black women whose reading, research, curiosity, scholarship, and lifelong learning contributed to discovery, leadership, and community change.

Then, the focus shifts away from prompting AI and back to the learner.

Through the Scholar Reflection, Learning Connection, and “Try It Like Dr. Shirl...

What happens when moving forward starts to feel like leaving parts of yourself behind?

In this bonus Episode 2 of the Hope + Clarity + Possibility crossover, Dr. Renée Jordan and Laura explore belonging, masking, perfectionism, invisible labor, and the pressure to edit ourselves to succeed. They reflect on the difference between adapting to a space and shrinking to fit it—and why our creativity, culture, lived experiences, and seemingly unrelated interests may be strengths rather than distractions.

Because belonging should not require becoming unrecognizable to yourself.

What can the lives and work of accomplished women teach us about becoming stronger learners?

In Part 5 of the AI for Academic Success Module 1 walkthrough, Dr. Renée Jordan continues the conversation with Jasmine and Janiyah GPT through an Excellence Exploration.

This time, AI is prompted to identify Latinas, Afro-Latinas, and Black women whose reading, research, scholarship, scientific inquiry, writing, and lifelong learning contributed to discovery, innovation, leadership, education, and community change.

The exploration introduces Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson, Ellen Ochoa, Dr. María Elena Bottazzi, Dr. Marta Moreno Vega, Dr. Alexa Canady, an...

AI for Academic Success

What happens when the challenge isn't finding information—but figuring out what matters?

In this episode of AI for Academic Success, Dr. Renée Jordan continues testing the Module 1 tutoring prompt through Jasmine, a composite learner navigating a digital literacy course and the very real challenge of information overload.

Using a passage about digital literacy, online information, privacy, and responsible technology use, we examine whether AI can do more than summarize. Can it explain ideas clearly, build useful connections, introduce vocabulary, and ask questions that strengthen a learner's own und...

AI as a Reading Coach: Putting the Homework Help Lab to the Test | AI for Academic Success

What happens when we move from talking about responsible AI use to actually putting it into practice?

In this episode of the Black-Liberation.Tech Podcast, Dr. Renée Jordan begins a test run of the AI for Academic Success: Homework Help Lab by stepping into representative learner perspectives from the Black-Liberation.Tech ecosystem.

Using Ashley's composite learning scenario, we explore an AP Environmental Science prompt focused on environmental justice, community health, climate change, and fairness. Rather t...

Read with Curiosity, Learn Through Questions

What if asking questions while you read isn't a sign that you don't understand—but evidence that you're actively learning?

In this episode of the Black-Liberation.Tech AI for Academic Success series, Dr. Renée Jordan enters the Homework Help Lab and begins putting the workbook's learning strategies into practice.

First, meet the Homework Help Lab Scholars and Nevaeh, a learner beginning to discover how artificial intelligence can serve as a thinking partner. Then meet Rosario, whose story introduces the first learning strategy: reading with questions.

T...

In this bonus episode of the Black-Liberation.Tech podcast, we take a look at Hope + Clarity + Possibility, Dr. Renée Jordan and Laura Spale, host of "The Clarity Lens" podcast, explore uncertainty, reinvention, career pivots, identity, and the pressure to have life figured out. Through personal stories and reflection, they consider how curiosity, movement, and thoughtful use of AI can help us navigate seasons when the next step is not yet clear.

You don’t need the entire roadmap. Sometimes you just need enough clarity to take the next thoughtful step.

What happens when the workshop ends—but you stay for the credits?

In this introductory episode of the Black-Liberation.Tech podcast’s AI for Academic Success series, Dr. Renée Jordan introduces the AI for Academic Success: Homework Help Lab workbook—an “Easter egg” originally created for learners who reached the end of the AG-STEM Career Exploration workshop.

Learn how the workbook was developed through instructional design, research, contributor insights, and collaboration with generative AI tools. Dr. Jordan also discusses its Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial license, introduces Janiyah GPT as an AI learning companion, and explains how to use...

What if choosing a career isn't just about what you want to do—but about the problems you want to help solve?

In this episode of the Black-Liberation.Tech Podcast, we continue our Ag-STEM Career Discovery Lab Walkthrough with Step 8: Community Impact Challenge.

Career exploration is about more than finding a job.

It is about discovering how your interests, talents, and future career can contribute to your community and help solve real-world challenges.

In this episode, we explore how Ag-STEM careers can address issues such as food insecurity, environmental justice, climate re...

Becoming a Critical Consumer of AI Information

What if the most important AI skill isn't learning how to get an answer—but learning how to determine whether the answer should be trusted?

In this episode of the Black-Liberation.Tech Podcast, we continue our Ag-STEM Career Discovery Lab Walkthrough with Step 7: Verify Then Trust.

Artificial Intelligence can be a powerful thinking partner, but it is not perfect. Strong AI users understand that every response should be evaluated, questioned, and verified before being accepted as accurate.

In this episode, we explore how learners ca...

The Future Is Built One Step at a Time

What if the most important part of career exploration isn't choosing a career—but choosing your next step?

In this episode of the Black-Liberation.Tech Podcast, we conclude our Ag-STEM Career Discovery Lab Walkthrough with Step 9: Choose Your Next Step.

Career exploration is not about having all the answers.

It is about taking meaningful steps toward learning, growth, and discovery.

Throughout this series, we explored careers, educational pathways, role models, workplace environments, AI literacy, community impact, and the future of wo...

What if the difference between curiosity and confidence is being able to see yourself in the role?

In this episode of the Black-Liberation.Tech Podcast, we continue our Ag-STEAm Career Discovery Lab Walkthrough with Step 6: Visualize the Role.

Career titles often sound interesting, but they can also feel distant and difficult to imagine. What does an Agricultural Drone Operations Specialist actually do every day? What tools does an Urban Agriculture Manager use? What does the workspace of a Product Designer or Residential Architect look like?

In this episode, we explore how AI image...

In this episode of the Black-Liberation.Tech Podcast, we continue our Ag-STEAm Career Discovery Lab Walkthrough with Step 5: Trace the Legacy & Expand the Story.

Community resilience is often described through plans, policies, infrastructure, and emergency management systems. But behind every resilient community are people whose vision, advocacy, research, leadership, and innovation helped create pathways for others.

Together, we explore the stories of remarkable women whose work has shaped how communities prepare for challenges, recover from crises, and build stronger futures. We highlight leaders including Dr. Beverly Wright, Majora Carter, Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, Dr. Danielle N...

Context, Purpose, and Follow-Up Questions

In Part 4 of the Ag-STEM Career Discovery Lab series, Dr. Renée Jordan explores one of the most important concepts in AI literacy and prompt engineering:

Why do some prompts produce more useful responses than others?

Listeners compare a simple prompt with a more detailed prompt and discover how context, interests, goals, and purpose help Janiyah GPT provide more personalized career suggestions.

The episode also introduces Step 4 of the Ag-STEM Career Discovery Lab: Investigate Further.

Students learn how to move beyond initial career suggestions b...

In Part 3 of the Ag-STEM Career Discovery Lab series, Dr. Renée Jordan demonstrates what happens after you submit your Career Discovery Prompt to Janiyah GPT.

Using interests in technology, artificial intelligence, design, helping people, community impact, and AI literacy, Dr. Jordan walks through the results generated by Janiyah GPT and reflects on three Ag-STEM career pathways:

• Agricultural AI Education Specialist • Community Resilience Planner • Global Food Security Specialist

Listeners will learn how AI can help identify connections between their interests, values, and potential career pathways. Along the way, Dr. Jordan models how to review...

In Part 2 of the Ag-STEM Career Discovery Lab series, Dr. Renée Jordan guides students through the exciting world of Ag-STEM careers while introducing the foundations of prompt engineering.

Students explore career pathways across agriculture, environmental science, animal sciences, artificial intelligence, robotics, sustainability, health, food systems, and data science. From Agricultural Data Scientists and Drone Operations Specialists to Veterinarians, Climate Scientists, and Food Safety Specialists, this episode highlights how Ag-STEM careers combine innovation, problem-solving, and community impact.

Listeners will also learn how to create stronger prompts for Janiyah GPT by providing context, interests, goals, and p...

In this episode of Black-Liberation.Tech, Dr. Renée Jordan introduces the Ag-STEM Career Discovery Lab with Janiyah GPT. This first part invites students to explore agriculture, technology, artificial intelligence, health, food systems, sustainability, and community impact as connected pathways for the future.

Listeners will learn the difference between using AI as a thinking partner and using AI on autopilot. Through reflection questions, students begin identifying their interests, values, and goals so they can use Janiyah GPT with clarity and purpose.

This episode is especially for students who are curious about STEM, agriculture, technology, community s...

In this episode, Dr. Renée Jordan returns with a deeply personal episode reflecting on the journey that led to the creation of Black-Liberation.Tech. From a STEM magnet program in elementary school to working in IT, teaching high school biology, earning a PhD in Instructional Technology, and building an Open Educational Resource ecosystem focused on AI literacy and digital empowerment, this episode is both a testimony and an invitation.

In this conversation, Dr. Jordan shares:

Staying Grounded During the DIY Hustle

The beginning of a journey often feels exciting. The finish line brings celebration.

But the middle? The middle is where many dreams get tested.

In this episode of Black-Liberation.Tech, Dr. Renée reflects on what it means to persist through the “messy middle” of academic, professional, and personal growth—especially for students and early-career professionals balancing heavy course loads, financial pressure, side projects, internships, caregiving responsibilities, and burnout.

Drawing from her own seven-year Ph.D. journey while working full-time, Dr. Renée shares practical and libe...

Naming Your Non-Negotiables Early

When you’re just starting out, every opportunity can feel urgent.

Internships. Projects. Free resources. New spaces. It can feel like you have to say yes to everything just to get your foot in the door.

But here’s the truth:

Not every open door is meant to be walked through at the cost of yourself.

In this episode of Black-Liberation.Tech, Dr. Renée explores what it means to identify your non-negotiables early—especially for women, and girls navigating academic, digital, and professional spaces.

Th...

What do you do when you’ve made it past a major milestone—but you’re exhausted?

In this final episode of the Q&A series, Dr. Renée Jordan shares what it really takes to sustain momentum through the hardest parts of a long journey. Drawing from her experience earning a PhD while working full-time, she offers a grounded, honest perspective on resilience, flexibility, and balance.

This isn’t about pushing harder—it’s about moving forward with intention.

You’ll learn:

Do you have to “go into tech” to benefit from it?

In this episode, Dr. Renée Jordan challenges the idea that tech careers are limited to computer scientists or engineers. Drawing from her own journey—from biology to education to instructional technology—she explores what it means to work in a technology-saturated world.

This conversation reframes tech as something you engage with across fields—not just something you specialize in.

You’ll learn:

How do you receive critical feedback—without losing yourself in the process?

In this first episode of a 3-part Q&A series, Dr. Renée Jordan reflects on a pivotal moment from her doctoral journey: navigating major revisions after her prospectus defense while staying grounded in her purpose.

This conversation explores the tension between growth and self-preservation—especially for women and girls navigating academic and professional spaces.

You’ll learn:

What does it take to design an AI workshop that goes beyond exposure—and actually builds student thinking?

In this episode of the Black-Liberation.Tech Podcast, Dr. Renée Jordan breaks down the how behind her Janiyah GPT workshop model—offering a behind-the-scenes look at how students learn to use AI as a thinking partner, not just a tool.

If you’re an educator, program director, nonprofit leader, or community-based organization responsible for delivering meaningful learning experiences, this episode gives you a practical framework you can apply immediately.

Because the challenge isn’t introduci...

What does it look like to bring AI literacy into your program—and have it actually land with your students?

In this episode of the Black-Liberation.Tech Podcast, Dr. Renée Jordan reflects on her first in-person Janiyah GPT workshop at the BYTES + AI Summit during the Atlanta Science Festival—an experience made possible through the invitation of Dr. Natalie King.

This isn’t just a recap. It’s a real-time example of what happens when intentional, culturally grounded AI design meets students who are ready to engage, question, and create.

If you’re an educa...

Part 4 — Janiyah GPT Intro Workshop (Final Session)

In the final episode of the Janiyah GPT Intro Workshop series, we explore how to question AI directly by asking:

"What are the limitations or potential biases in the response you just gave me?"

This simple step transforms AI from a tool for quick answers into a tool for critical thinking, exploration, and agency.

The goal of this workshop is not to master AI in one day. It is to begin building a thoughtful relationship with AI — one based on curiosity, verification, and responsibility.

In Part 3 of the Janiyah GPT Workshop Walkthrough, we explore a powerful truth:

AI is not magic. It mirrors the clarity you bring to it.

In this episode, we walk through a live demo comparing two prompts:

The difference? Transformational.

When the prompt was broad — “I like Biology, Technology, and Art. What jobs fit me?”

Janiyah suggested strong interdisciplinary careers like:

But when the prompt became specific and culturally ground...

In Part 2 of the Janiyah GPT Intro Workshop series, we move beyond using AI — and into questioning it.

This episode walks through two powerful prompts:

✔ How do we prevent AI from reinforcing stereotypes in STEM?

✔ What are AI’s limitations when giving scholarship and college information?

If you’ve ever thought:

This episode is for you.

We explore:

In this episode of Black-Liberation.Tech, we introduce Janiyah GPT — an AI Literacy & Career Coaching Co-Pilot designed to support Latinas, Afro-Latinas, Black women and girls in using artificial intelligence as a tool for empowerment, not replacement.

This is not about becoming a coder overnight.

This is about learning how to:

We walk through:

What do you do when it feels like everyone else already knows what they’re doing—and you’re still figuring it out?

In this episode of the Black-Liberation.Tech podcast, Dr. Renée Jordan answers questions for learners who are curious, self-directed, resourceful, and often learning outside traditional structures.

We talk about:

What happens when a class offers little structure, no homework, and minimal guidance—but still expects mastery?

In this episode of the Black-Liberation.Tech Podcast, Dr. Renee Jordan responds to questions that center listeners who are motivated, capable, and deeply invested in their education—yet navigating the uncertainty of self-directed learning.

Together, we explore what it really means to take ownership of your learning without feeling isolated, overwhelmed, or burnt out. This conversation reframes DIY learning as a professional and liberatory skill, not a shortcut or a burden.

In this episode, we discuss:

What happens when you’re capable, curious, and doing “everything right”… but the next step still feels unclear?

In this episode of the Black-Liberation.Tech Podcast, Dr. Renée Jordan responds to five powerful questions from listeners who identify with Ashley—high-achieving, thoughtful, and quietly unsure—and opens the door for those who identify with Jasmine, who may be navigating uncertainty in real time.

Together, we explore:

What if you know you’re capable—but you don’t feel confident yet?

In this Q&A-style episode of the Black-Liberation.Tech Podcast, Dr. Renée Jordan returns to a core theme from Season 1—“I did it because I can”—and answers the quiet, thoughtful questions that high-achieving women often carry but don’t always say out loud.

This episode is for you if you’re doing well on paper, staying curious, and moving forward—but still wondering:

What if being labeled a “challenging” student wasn’t a bad thing—but a sign that you’re taking ownership of your learning?

In this short segment from the Black-Liberation.Tech Podcast, Dr. Renee Jordan speaks directly to students navigating college classrooms that feel unclear, unstructured, or intimidating. When there’s no homework, vague lectures, or silence after complex material, it’s easy to assume you are the problem.

You’re not.

Being a “challenging” student doesn’t mean being disrespectful—it means disrupting silence with curiosity, asking questions out loud, and refusing to stay confused alone...

When your class has no homework and no structure, passive studying isn’t enough.

In this short segment from the Black-Liberation.Tech Podcast, Dr. Renee Jordan shares a powerful DIY learning strategy for students navigating challenging STEM and technical courses: your hand has a memory.

Instead of just reading, highlighting, or watching solution videos, this episode introduces a diagram-first, write-it-out method that helps you see how systems work—whether you’re studying biology, coding, engineering, or data concepts.

You’ll learn:

In this soundbite from the Black-Liberation.Tech Podcast, Dr. Renee Jordan breaks down a common college misconception: no homework does NOT mean no studying.

Using a real coaching moment with her niece in undergraduate school, Dr. Jordan explains why classes with labs—but no structured assignments—can quietly set students up for surprise exam struggles. When professors don’t give you a roadmap, students must learn how to design their own learning system.

This segment is especially for high-achieving students who feel overwhelmed by the lack of structure in college and are ready to become confid...

In this episode of the Black-Liberation.Tech Podcast, we wrap up Lesson D2.1: Embracing Digital Literacies by moving from reflection into action.

I walk listeners through how to use digital literacies intentionally to design, build, and promote a meaningful project in their personal, academic, or professional life.

This episode features a real-time demonstration of how I used ChatGPT as a thinking partner (not a replacement for thinking) to develop my Social Media Marketing Plan as a professional project. I model how the same prompts can be adapted for two different target audiences to show how...

Education as an act of remembrance, resistance, and community care.

What keeps you going when the academic journey gets hard?

In this soundbite from Season 1 of the Black-Liberation.Tech Podcast, Dr. Renee Jordan reflects on the deeper why behind her educational path — a story rooted in family history, policy, and legacy.

Dr. Jordan shares the story of her grandmother, born in 1909 and a descendant of enslaved people, who taught school until policy changes required credentials she never attained. Pushed out of teaching, her grandmother did the work she could do — working as a cook...

What if nothing you’ve studied, worked on, or struggled through was wasted?

In this soundbite from the Black-Liberation.Tech Podcast, Dr. Renee Jordan breaks down what she calls the Strategic Stack — the intentional process of layering skills, degrees, and experiences to move into spaces that weren’t originally “designed” for you.

This segment is for the student or early-career professional who: