Accessible AI and HPC Education for All

Nabeel Alzahrani | 2025

Paper


This paper is published on the ACM Digital Library with a DOI of 10.1145/3708035.3736048

High-performance computing (HPC) and artificial intelligence (AI) are increasingly critical in research and industry, yet opportunities to learn these skills remain limited for many students and educators. This paper introduces a modular curriculum comprising 14 free and open interactive workshops designed to train learners at all levels – from K-12 and community colleges to vocational programs, colleges, and universities – in essential HPC and AI concepts. The workshops are hosted on GitHub and delivered through web-based Jupyter notebooks, accessible on any device (including smartphones) via platforms like Google Colaboratory (Colab) with no software installation required. The curriculum is fully compatible with the Advanced Cyberinfrastructure Coordination Ecosystem: Services & Support (ACCESS), a U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded initiative that provides free access to advanced computing systems, such as HPC. Each workshop integrates surveys and interactive exercises to measure engagement and learning outcomes, including before-and-after knowledge checks to assess knowledge gains. A complete list of workshops and their associated learning outcomes is provided to support clarity and replicability. The curriculum has been pilot-tested with student research assistants at California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB), yielding overwhelmingly positive feedback on its accessibility and effectiveness. Survey data collected from a broader group of 84 learners further demonstrates strong engagement, learning gains, and perceived inclusivity. The material is designed to be engaging, accessible, and easily integrated into existing courses, learning management systems, or online education platforms. By democratizing access to HPC and AI education, this work aims to broaden participation and prepare a diverse workforce with computational and analytical skills.