Introduction to Kai Frazier and Kai XR
Kai Frazier took a daring leap by making a metaverse learning platform, empowering elementary and middle schoolers as a method to put money into the long run of learning. Frazier founded Kai XR, described as a learning tool “bridging the gap between technology and access for all students,” in keeping with its website. She became convinced that the answer lies in technology, particularly Extended Reality (XR).
The Inspiration Behind Kai XR
Frazier visited Stanford, positioned just half-hour from Oakland, CA, where she gained insights from its Virtual Human Interaction Lab (VHIL), which, in keeping with its website, examines the psychological and behavioral effects of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR). “That’s where the entire XR technology and the research is occurring,” Frazier told AFROTECH at ED Farm’s Future of Learning Summit 2025.
Frazier’s Background in Education
Frazier has a passion for history that has translated right into a background in education spanning over twenty years. She began her profession as a teacher assistant, later becoming an educator at An Achievable Dream Middle and High School after which at Manassas Park City Schools. “When I began having my very own classroom, I taught English language arts, I taught U.S. history, I taught world history,” Frazier said on the summit, which was held in Birmingham, AL, from June 4 to June 5. She also took on responsibilities on the National Museum of African American History and Culture on the Smithsonian Institution for nearly seven years, in addition to on the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
The Challenges Frazier Faced
Frazier eventually made a pointy pivot in her profession when she moved to Oakland. This shift stemmed from an statement she made within the classroom, which revealed several obstacles she felt compelled to deal with. She felt that for college kids to know their history, they needed to see it firsthand. “My students don’t have quite a lot of technology. We didn’t have buses for the sphere trips, so we just didn’t get to go anyplace. And it was hard to show history like that,” Frazier said on the summit.
Building Kai XR
She added, “So once I saw that museums weren’t really there yet and the colleges weren’t in a position to be there, I said, ‘Well, perhaps I can really do that for the children.’ So I sold my house, my automotive, and every little thing I owned, and I moved across the country from D.C. to Oakland. That’s where I used to be received by a stupendous community that said, ‘You’re here for the children. How can we aid you?’ In every corner, Oakland helped me.” As for constructing Kai XR, Frazier sought support from the Kapor Center at a time when she didn’t even know how one can code but was wanting to learn as much as possible about becoming a tech founder. By 2018, she launched Kai XR.
Features of Kai XR
The platform includes virtual field trips, collaborative 3D maker spaces, and interactive assessments, in keeping with an outline on LinkedIn. “Kai XR prepares students for the fastest growing field on the earth, which is STEM,” Frazier told AFROTECH.
Partnering With Ed Farm
Montgomery Public Schools has partnered with Kai XR, in collaboration with Ed Farm, to organize K-12 and adult learners for advancements in technology. In Spring 2024, the initiative launched a seven-week pilot program with 15 Ed Farm educators, engaging 547 students through Kai XR’s Metaverse Makerspace. “The makerspace was an enormous help with reinforcement of the usual. Students were in a position to showcase what they understood from the lesson and rejoiced creating the scene. Many were excited to share with other classmates,” Ashley Dixon, a seventh-grade social studies teacher at Brewbaker Middle, said in an announcement shared with AFROTECH.
Outcomes of the Pilot Program
Students also participated in virtual field trips, interactive quizzes, reading prompts, and hands-on 3D design challenges. Outcomes from the pilot included a 90% increase in student engagement and self-directed learning, a 92.5% increase in student excitement, and 87.5% of teachers recognized a spike in student interest in subject material. “Students were excited in regards to the virtual tour of the University of Alabama. It gave them the chance to explore the campus and get a feel for the environment before actually visiting in person. This experience sparked curiosity and made the thought of faculty more real and accessible to them,” sixth-grade Goodwyn Middle teacher Sonya Thomas told AFROTECH in an announcement.
Introduction to Innovation Mixed Reality Masterminds Program
Furthermore, Kai XR also launched the Introduction to Innovation Mixed Reality Masterminds program in partnership with Ed Farm and Alabama Power. Students can ideate sustainable solutions to resolve the coal ash crisis and see them delivered to life through the metaverse. At the summit, Frazier noted of this system, which launched in Spring 2025, “They learn how one can critical think and problem solve. They learn how one can apply what they’re learning at school to the on a regular basis the actual world and in addition they learn to make use of their STEM skills in a extremely cross-curricular way.”
Conclusion
Beyond these efforts, various schools are actually entering their fourth 12 months of utilizing the technology and resources made available by Kai XR. Frazier’s dedication to providing modern learning solutions has made a big impact on the education sector, and her work with Kai XR is a testament to the potential of technology in enhancing student learning and engagement. As the metaverse continues to evolve, it can be exciting to see how Kai XR and similar platforms shape the long run of education.
