Empowering the Next Generation: Teaching Kids about AI and Its Impact

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When I think about teaching my children about AI, I am admittedly nervous. What if they start using ChatGPT to do all their homework and school assignments? My kids are 10 and 12, and I certainly have many worries. Won’t AI prevent them from developing the critical thinking and literacy skills they need to succeed academically? Do they have the skills to critically assess whether the information provided by AI is factual or accurate?

While it's easy to become protective when it comes to AI and consider not letting them use it, AI is here to stay and continues to grow in its capabilities and presence in our society. Kids will be exposed to AI either through their peers or their use of technology. So, what is the best path forward, and what exactly do kids need to learn about and do with AI? Here are some important topics and essential questions that will help provide kids with an intentional grounding in AI to prepare them to use it productively and responsibly.

What is AI? Many kids have heard about AI, but when asked what it is, they might struggle to explain it. A foundational understanding of what AI is and what it is not will help them identify and understand the various types of AI and how it is being used across different fields and industries.

How is AI built and how does it work? Large language models, neural networks, and machine learning are key components of AI. Understanding what happens behind the scenes with AI will help kids think critically about how AI works.

How does AI use data, and what are the ethical implications? Kids must understand the limitations and characteristics of the data used for AI. It's crucial for them to see that data can be biased and imperfect, and to recognize the impact this has on AI outputs.

How is AI being used and impacting society? Understanding the diverse applications of AI will help kids see the risks and benefits of AI and encourage them to think critically about its best uses.

What can I create with AI, and how do I use it productively? Experimenting with various AI tools for different tasks is a fun and engaging way for kids to learn about AI. It's important to scaffold these experiences with age-appropriate tools and tasks. They should also explore prompt engineering, or the art of writing effective prompts for AI, to get the best outputs.

How do I build AI? There are numerous projects for students to build AI, such as creating recommendation engines or chatbots. This helps solidify their knowledge of AI by understanding what goes into building AI systems.

While this is certainly not an exhaustive list, it helps me to think about developing thoughtful and varied learning experiences about AI aimed so students have foundational skills related to this  ever-evolving field.  I am currently working on developing a framework to support self-directed learners learn about AI called the AI Adventures Pod.  It is not a linear curriculum, but rather a dynamic one based on developing personalized pathways and a curious and passionate learning community around a technology that is taking the world by storm.