AI as an Elective

Design, Build, Reflect: AI Elective Projects That Transform Student Learning

Consider students in a graphic design class creating not only layouts, logos, or videos. They may be working on AI applications that adapt their design based on audience preferences. Students in media arts may be writing chatbot or virtual assistant dialogue to incorporate into their stories. These sorts of projects don't merely demonstrate to students what AI can do, but also how and why it does it. They also foster ethical thinking, problem-solving, and transferable skills across subjects. AI is becoming the new way of teaching and learning globally and is transforming the way the world thinks.

Why it's Important to Teach AI

AI shows a different side of things with a computer input that does research for you. AI is an evolving source of knowledge that the new generation of K-12th-grade students will need to learn to be successful in today's society. For instance, on page 6 of the book Hands on AI Projects for the Classroom, it says that creativity demands human input, but to get a career in certain fields, you will have to incorporate AI into your work to some degree. This means high schools and middle schools should offer AI workshops as an elective for kids to get a jumpstart on their career with learning AI.

Driven Approach

Students will need to learn how to use AI as its continuing to grow throughout the world, but there are ways to teach it. It's smart to start with lectures and videos, but before you get to that point, you have to start with unplugged activities, as stated on page 7 of the book "Hands on AI Projects for the Classroom."This is a way to teach it while doing fun activities as presentations, artwork, and research projects. Teaching AI in classrooms would also be a learning curve for professors and teachers as well; it's still a fresh piece of technology that is growing every day. As you find ways to expose it in the classroom will help teachers learn AI as well, and it will help teachers create new ways to teach it.