KINGSVILLE (May 20, 2025) — For graduate and doctoral students enrolled in the Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK) Principles of Industrial Design and Technology course, their educational innovation proposals meant more than a simple grade to close out the Spring 2025 semester.
Students were not in attendance but their interactive poster boards carried the load as they were on display for a pair of TAMUK alumni providing feedback during the Graduation Innovation Showcase: Javelina Alumni Giving Back Through Mentorship Event this past Wednesday, May 14 on the third floor of Jernigan Library.
Students were tasked with creating an online course and an innovative idea that could be implemented into the educational system from either an existing platform, system or a whole new idea altogether using Artificial Intelligence, augmented, virtual and mixed reality.
“The students were given the freedom to use what they know from their field of education to try and make the learning situations better,” course professor Dr. Jeffery Chernosky said. “It’s all about helping people. It’s all about our students showcasing what they think the future could look like.”
Topics ranged from areas such as assisting young and elderly individuals with learning challenges to making the preparations for standardized testing easier.
TAMUK mathematics lecturer Daniel Arias and Ricardo ISD Superintendent Dr. Gina Garza are both former students of Chernosky and served as the alumni judges who would select a project they would like to further consult on.
Garza felt projects really grasped the needs of public schools in the area and thought some could be implemented soon or even immediately.
“I love the work that has been put into this,” Garza said. “You can tell some of these are concepts and some expand beyond conceptual, where they can be integrated into a school environment immediately. Some of them have really found where the needs are in school district, especially in K-12, and maximized some of the tech uses and needs.”
Arias, who took the course a year ago, was also impressed with some of the creative ways AI and video were used to capture the engagement of students and said he himself currently implements what he learned in the class during his own instruction.
“I took this class two semesters ago…everything I learned in here, I’m using it right now,” Arias said. “I just used it to do a couple of projects implementing math in 3D printing and podcasting. The results were great. I had 100 percent turning in the assignments and the students had fun. Because of Dr. Chernosky, all my students got certified in podcasting and 3D printing. So those are marketable skills they can add to their resume and their transcripts.”
With Garza and Arias providing their feedback and possibly more alumni doing the same in the future, Chernosky hopes students will be ready to make a true impact in their fields early on.
“We’re trying to help our students build those E-Portfolios,” Chernosky added. “Their ideas don’t have to die here and they’re not going to die here. We have alumni coming back to support and continue the mentoring beyond this class. So, when our students go to apply for positions, they have real portfolios and real ideas to change the future and they’re doing it right here.”
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