Kai Frazier's journey from a challenging youth to a tech innovator is a testament to her resilience and commitment to educational equity. Her lived experiences as a Black woman have uniquely prepared her to work at the intersection of technology and opportunity gaps facing our nation’s most underserved communities. Through her company, Kai XR, Frazier is pioneering the use of extended reality (XR) to transform how students learn and engage with the world around them.

From Personal Struggle to Educational Advocacy

Frazier’s journey to becoming a tech founder was anything but typical. After struggling with homelessness through her time in high school, this shifted early dreams to a stark reality. It wasn’t until a family friend stepped in that she even thought about college. Her lived experience led to a deep motivation to advocate for students living with the same barriers she once did. This inspired her to research more equitable solutions for them.

Her experience as a history teacher deepened her commitment to educational equity. Frazier witnessed this drastic digital divide within her own student population. All the while, many of them had to work that much harder to have access to what was regular fare in wealthier schools. She acknowledged the fact that too many of her students had never spent time, let alone seen the inside of a science lab. This realization sparked the initial idea for Kai XR: a platform designed to bridge the technology gap and provide all students with access to immersive learning experiences.

Frazier's work extended beyond the classroom. She interviewed a wide variety of people. Among them were the first posted blog survivors of the Rwandan genocide and the very eloquent actor, Samuel L. Jackson. These conversations opened her eyes to the potential that technology can have to improve education and bridge students to real-world experiences. A turning point came when she took a field trip to Stanford’s Virtual Human Interaction Lab (VHIL). VHIL's research into the psychological and behavioral effects of VR and AR inspired her to create a metaverse learning platform that could transform education.

Frazier's overarching goal is clear: "to give students the tools they need to know they can accomplish anything in life." Kai XR is the living example of this mission. She gives students an early introduction to the latest in-demand technologies. This allows them to discover careers and pathways they would have otherwise never dreamed possible.

Kai XR: Transforming Learning Through Immersive Experiences

Kai XR offers a variety of interactive tools specifically designed to boost student engagement and foster positive learning experiences. Among these tools are virtual field trips, collaborative 3D Maker Spaces and interactive assessments. Further, the platform is optimized for access on any network — displayed on 5G mobile devices and smartphones. This provides students the assurance of being able to reliably use the technology at home, including for those with little or no access to Wi-fi. This is especially important for students in underserved communities who often lack access to broadband internet.

Virtual field trips are a foundational component of Kai XR’s educational offering. Such trips create opportunities for students to visit places and have experiences they otherwise couldn’t afford to have. This year, students can engage in a virtual field trip to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture. Engaging firsthand with such a wealth of history and culture will inevitably deepen their experience, expanding their learning journey. The platform integrates metaverse technologies like AI and VR into the classroom, creating immersive learning experiences that make learning more engaging and interactive.

The platform’s influence can be seen in the outcomes of its pilot programs. One pilot program using Kai XR found an increase of 90% in the engagement of students and their self-directed learning skills. On the student experience front, excitement about school jumped 92.5% after using Kai XR. Likewise, 87.5% of teachers observed a large increase in student engagement with the content. In one seven-week pilot program, 547 students actively participated in Kai XR's Metaverse Makerspace, highlighting the platform's ability to foster student participation.

Expert Perspectives and the Future of XR in Education

Thought leaders in the growing field of XR are understanding the incredible opportunity that platforms like Kai XR have to transform education. Jeremy Nelson is current Senior Director of XR, Media Design & Production at the University of Michigan Center for Academic Innovation. He’s one of the world’s leading advocates for the use of XR technology to improve education. About the Author Ricky LaFosse is Associate Director for Compliance and Policy at the institution. He discusses practical tips on how to stay compliant and avoid risks related to XR in higher education.

XR technology is on the verge of bringing that same potential to higher education. Most importantly, it will fundamentally alter the way students learn from and engage with academic content. Yet, there are still significant challenges surrounding the integration of XR into education. XR technology has the potential to integrate with existing educational platforms, curricula, and other digital tools. This transition requires thoughtful design and experience to produce a seamless and impactful learning environment.

Data privacy and security are big issues right now. A recent research from the University of California, Berkeley found that XR technology had the potential of recognizing people with startling precision. This revelation should be deeply alarming to anyone concerned about the improper use of data gathered in the school setting.

The use cases for XR in education are diverse and promising:

  • Enhanced Engagement: XR can transform passive learning into active participation.
  • Accessibility: XR can provide access to experiences and resources that might otherwise be unavailable.
  • Personalized Learning: XR can be tailored to individual student needs and learning styles.
  • Skills Development: XR can provide hands-on experience with emerging technologies, preparing students for future careers.

Kai Frazier’s vision goes far beyond just giving kids access to technology. Her mission is to close the educational opportunity and technology gap for students in low-income communities. Her mission is to provide each student with the same opportunity for a first-rate education, as well as the critical tools needed to be successful in an increasingly technical future. Through Kai XR, she isn’t just making an investment in XR technology. She is further investing in every student’s potential to pursue their dreams.