AI Literacy | Academic & Career Success
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Janiyah GPT

This workshop was created through a collaborative effort, incorporating valuable insights from Dr. Jordan and contributors, prompt engineering and editing by Dr. Jordan, and the assistance of NotebookLM, Janiyah GPT, Gamma and Gemini for generating and refining content.

​Meet Janiyah GPT

Janiyah GPT is an AI Literacy & Career Coaching Co-Pilot created by Dr. Renée Jordan as part of the Black-Liberation.Tech ecosystem. She is designed to support Latinas, Afro-Latinas, Black women and girls — and all learners — in using AI as a tool for empowerment, not replacement.
Start Using Janiyah GPT
Abstract image of swirling, interconnected electrical networks rendered in the vibrant, cool colors of a peacock (blues, greens, and teals). Black-Liberation.Tech

​Who Is Janiyah?

Your Personal Learning Assistant: Whether you are joining us live from our STEM & AI workshop or exploring this tool on your own, you are in the right place to take charge of your academic and professional journey. Think of Janiyah not as a shortcut, but as a "thinking buddy" and personal tutor here to help you reduce the mental load of planning your next big move.

​If you are navigating a complex school project, uncovering hidden career possibilities in STEM, or building a portfolio that authentically represents your culture and talents, Janiyah is programmed to guide you with equity and empowerment in mind.

Janiyah is grounded in:

Ubuntu
​
"I am because we are."
Afrocentricity
​
Centering agency and cultural identity.
Liberation Praxis
​Reflection + Action.
Ethical AI Use
​
Privacy, fairness, transparency.
An illustration of a girl and an adult woman studying together at a table, smiling as they use a laptop labeled “Janiyah GPT” and review notes and a book. Sticky notes and highlighters are spread across the table, showing collaborative learning. Black-Liberation.Tech

An illustration of a teacher guiding a teenage girl as she works on a laptop during an AI literacy workshop. The teacher holds a “Workshop Guide” that says “Question the AI,” while other students use laptops in the background. A notebook on the table reads “Meet Janiyah.” Black-Liberation.Tech

​How We'll Use Janiyah

1. Reflect: You'll think about your goals, interests, and challenges.

2. Prompt: You'll copy a conversation starter and personalize it.

3. Refine: You'll revise your prompt based on Janiyah's follow-up questions.

4. Question the AI: You'll ask Janiyah to critique her response.


5. Reflect Again: You'll ask: Did this help me think deeper?

Why AI Literacy Matters Right Now

Before we begin exploring prompts and tools, let’s pause. AI is not just a trend. It is shaping how we learn, work, create, and tell our stories. Today, AI influences:
  • Hiring decisions
  • College admissions screening
  • What content gets amplified online
  • Financial approvals
  • Media narratives
  • Which communities are represented in data — and which are not
Understanding AI is not about becoming a coder. It is about becoming informed, empowered, and discerning in a world where algorithms increasingly influence opportunity.

When we understand how AI works — and how to question it — we move from being shaped by systems to shaping them ourselves.

​For Latinas, Afro-Latinas, Black women and girls, and our communities, this literacy is not optional. It is protective. It is powerful. It is strategic.
An illustration of a facilitator speaking to a circle of girls in front of a large window overlooking a city skyline at sunset. A digital display between them shows AI influencing college admissions, hiring, and media, highlighting how technology shapes opportunity and community futures. Black-Liberation.Tech
​AI literacy helps us:
  • Advocate for fairness
  • Protect our data
  • Recognize bias
  • Align technology with community values
  • Design futures where we see ourselves represented​
​This workshop is about learning how to use AI with clarity, confidence, and critical thinking — so that innovation serves justice, not just efficiency.
Pause & Reflect:
  • Where have you already seen AI show up in your life?
  • Have you used AI this week?
  • Have you ever asked AI where it might be wrong?
AI literacy begins with awareness — and grows through questioning.
​Communities that understand emerging technologies early are better positioned to influence how those technologies evolve.

What Is a Prompt?

A prompt is a starting point — the way you guide AI with your voice, your goals, and your context. It is not just a question; it is direction. AI works best when you:
  • Share who you are
  • Explain what you're trying to accomplish
  • Ask for support, not shortcuts
​The power is not in the tool — it's in how you use it.
a Strong Prompt
An illustration of a teenage girl and an adult woman working together at a table with a laptop labeled “Janiyah GPT.” The student holds a pen thoughtfully, and a notebook on the table reads “Who I Am” and “My Goal,” highlighting reflection and goal-setting during an AI learning session. Black-Liberation.Tech

A Note on Safety:

Before you use Janiyah, remember:
  1. Verify then Trust: Cross-check important facts (.edu, .gov, peer-reviewed sources).
  2. ​Think: AI supports your thinking; it does not replace it.
  3. ​Protect: Never enter private data (full name, school ID, passwords, addresses, social security number, financial info, proprietary info. etc.).
​Remember, AI is a powerful tool for generation and ideation, but it can make mistakes. You are the expert on your own life. Janiyah is here to assist.

Getting Started

How to Start: To access Janiyah GPT, you will need a free OpenAI account. We recommend families create accounts together if participants are under 18. Once logged in, use Janiyah to brainstorm strategies, role-play professional scenarios, or break down big goals into manageable steps.

​Ready to turn your curiosity into action? Go to Janiyah. Copy, paste and [edit] one of the conversation starters below to begin.

Conversation Starters

To personalize your experience, [edit] each prompt to reflect your goals, interests, and challenges.

Ultra Simple Prompts (Grades 4 to 6)

*Note to 4-6 Graders: A prompt is your way of giving AI directions so it can help you think and learn.
What Can I Be?
“Hi Janiyah, I like [science/drawing/robots/helping people]. Can you tell me about two jobs where people use those skills?”
How Do I Start?
“Hi Janiyah, I want to learn more about AI and technology. What are two fun things I can try at school or at home?”
Try This: Question the AI
​
After Janiyah gives you a response, type this into the chat: “Is there anything you might be missing or getting wrong in your answer?”
An illustration of a young girl and an adult woman using a tablet labeled “Janiyah GPT” at a table with colorful markers and a small robot model. A worksheet titled “Prompt Guide” sits nearby, highlighting early STEM exploration and guided learning. Black-Liberation.Tech

Lightweight Demo Prompts (Grades 7 to 12)

An illustration of three women and a young girl using laptops and tablets labeled “Janiyah GPT” during an AI learning session. They smile while exploring STEM content and role models on their screens, with notebooks and pens spread across the table in a bright classroom setting. Black-Liberation.Tech
STEM + Art -> STEAM Career
​
“Hi Janiyah, I’m a [10th grader] interested in science and art. Help me brainstorm three STEM careers where creativity matters.”
Exploring Interests (Quick Career Spark)
“Hi Janiyah, I’m a [middle/high] school student who enjoys [technology/helping people/designing/building things]. Can you suggest three STEM or AI-related careers that connect to those interests and explain what someone in each role actually does?”
Breaking Down a Big Goal
“Hi Janiyah, I want to prepare for a STEM or AI-related career in the future. What are three small actions I could take this year to start building skills?”
Identity + Representation Prompt
“Hi Janiyah, I want to see more examples of Latinas, Afro-Latinas, and Black women working in STEM or AI. Can you share a few career areas where they are making an impact?”
Try This: Question the AI
​
After Janiyah gives you a response, type this into the chat: “Janiyah, is there anything important you might be leaving out? Are there other perspectives I should consider?”

Deep Dive Prompts (Grades 10 to 12+)

These prompts help Janiyah understand you first, so the guidance is more useful.
Navigating Academic & Professional Pathways
"Hi Janiyah, I want to use AI as a learning assistant while I navigate a [school/work] [course/project/opportunity]. Before giving advice, please ask me a few questions about my academic background, cultural interests, and current goals so your suggestions are tailored to me."
Career Exploration & Identity
"Hi Janiyah, I'm exploring career paths in tech that align with my values and identity. Before suggesting careers, please ask me a few questions to better understand my interests, skills, and what representation or impact means to me."
Strategic Problem Solving
"Hi Janiyah, I’m facing a challenge with a [school/work] [task/project/assignment]. Instead of giving a full solution right away, please ask me a few questions that help me think through the problem step-by-step."
Skill Building & Portfolio Development
"Hi Janiyah, I want to build a hands-on project to strengthen my digital literacy and prompt engineering skills. Before suggesting project ideas, ask me a few questions about my interests, career goals, and the type of project I want to include in my portfolio."
Try This: Question the AI
​
After Janiyah gives you a response, type this into the chat: “Janiyah, what assumptions are built into your response? What limitations or blind spots should I take into consideration?”

Parent/Guardian-Focused Prompts

An illustrated scene of a mother and two girls sitting at a round table using tablets and a laptop to review a family tech safety plan. Posters on the wall read “Safe Space: Comunidad Segura,” and papers on the table include a “Family Tech Safety Plan” and a “Family Fraud Toolkit.” Black-Liberation.Tech
Supporting Without Overdoing
“Hi Janiyah, I’m a parent who wants to support my child’s interest in STEM or AI without doing the work for them. What are three ways I can encourage independence and critical thinking?”
Safe & Smart Tech Use
“Hi Janiyah, what are three practical ways families can talk about AI safety, privacy, and responsible use at home?”
Try This: Question the AI
​
After Janiyah gives you a response, type this into the chat: “Janiyah, what viewpoints might not be represented in your answer? How could someone with a different background see this differently?”

Facilitator Demo Prompts

Bias Awareness Prompt
“Hi Janiyah, when suggesting STEM careers for students, how do you avoid reinforcing stereotypes or excluding certain communities? What should facilitators double-check?”
Verification & Limits Prompt
“Hi Janiyah, if I ask you for scholarship or college information, what are the limitations of your knowledge and how should I verify your suggestions?”

“AI Is Not Magic” Demo
Step 1: Ask Janiyah the same career question twice:
  • Prompt 1 (Vague): “Hi Janiyah, I like Biology, Technology, and Art. Would you please tell me about two jobs that might be a match for me?”
    ​
  • Prompt 2 (Detailed & Contextualized):
    “Hi Janiyah, I’m especially interested in Human Anatomy & Physiology, using AI to enhance imagery in my storytelling, and Afro-Futurism. Would you please suggest two emerging careers where people use these skills to support their communities through grassroots movements?”
    ​
Step 2: After both responses are displayed, ask participants:
  • What differences do you notice?
  • Which response feels more aligned with identity and purpose?
  • What details in the second prompt shaped the outcome?
  • Does more detail always mean better results?
  • What should we still verify?

Step 3: After comparing the two outputs, ask:“Which prompt shows more agency?”

Key Takeaway: AI is not magic. The quality of the response depends on the clarity, context, and values in the prompt.

​Try This: Question the AI

After Janiyah gives you a response, don’t stop there.
Type this into the chat:
“What are the limitations or potential biases in the response you just gave me?”
Then pause and reflect:
  • Did the AI acknowledge uncertainty?
  • Did it suggest verifying information?
  • Did it mention missing perspectives?
  • What responsibility do you still have?
AI literacy isn’t just about getting answers. It’s about learning how to question the answers.
An illustration of a mother and teenage daughter working together on a laptop. The screen shows a prompt asking, “What are limitations or potential biases in this response?” A notebook labeled “Critical Thinking Checklist” sits on the table, highlighting reflection and questioning during an AI learning session. Black-Liberation.Tech

​For Parents & Guardians

An illustration of an adult woman and a teenage girl working together on a laptop during an AI literacy session. The girl points to the screen while the woman takes notes in a notebook, and other families collaborate in the background. Black-Liberation.Tech
Janiyah GPT is not a grading tool and not a replacement for teachers. It is designed to:
  • Help students break down overwhelming tasks
  • Explore career pathways
  • Practice professional communication
  • Strengthen critical thinking
We encourage co-use — try prompting together.
Thriving Workbook
Lessons

​Before You Close the Tab…

Ask Yourself

  • ​​Did AI help me think differently?
  • What follow-up question could deepen my exploration?​
  • How will I verify what I learned today?
AI is most powerful when it sparks your next question.

What Happens After Today?

Today was not about mastering AI. It was about enhancing a relationship with it — intentionally. Here are three ways to continue:
  1. Practice Once Per Week: Open Janiyah and try one prompt each week. Ask better questions. Add more context. Notice what changes.
  2. Build Something: Start a digital portfolio. Create a reflection journal. Document one project that shows your thinking.
  3. Have One Conversation: Learning deepens when we share it. Talk with a parent, sibling, or friend about:
  • AI safety
  • Bias in technology
  • How AI shows up in hiring or media
You do not need to do all three. Choose one. Consistency builds confidence.
An illustration of a mother sitting on a couch with her twin daughters, looking at a laptop labeled “Digital Portfolio.” A calendar behind them reads “Tuesday – Janiyah Time,” suggesting weekly AI practice and shared learning at home. Black-Liberation.Tech
Before you leave today, choose your direction. Growth becomes real when it becomes specific.

Next Step

Our communities deserve to shape technology — not just respond to it. Your next step is part of that shaping.​

​Take two quiet minutes to reflect. AI literacy is not just something we learn — it is something we practice.
Write your responses to the following prompts on something that you won't lose:
  1. One new question I have about AI. What are you now curious about?
  2. One action I will take this month. Will you explore a career field? Practice writing stronger prompts? Talk to a family member about AI safety? Start a small project?
  3. One skill I want to build. Critical thinking? Digital storytelling? Data literacy? Prompt design? Research verification?
Write it down. Make it visible. When we write our intentions, we move from inspiration to implementation.
Why This Matters
Communities that document their goals are more likely to act on them. Your learning does not end when this workshop ends. It evolves with your questions, your courage, and your next step.
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  • About
  • Español
  • Lessons
  • Janiyah GPT
    • Intro Workshop
    • Start a Conversation
  • Podcast
  • Explore
    • Safety First
    • Careers >
      • Career Lessons
      • Q & A
    • Interactions >
      • Interaction Lessons
      • Online Communication & Collaboration
      • Social Media & Online Communities
    • Content
    • Tech >
      • Hardware
      • Coding & Programming
  • Search
  • Contact
  • Join Patreon