Where Young Innovators Discover How AI Changes Everything! 🌍🤖

Course Schedule – Online Zoom Sessions

Course Overview

This engaging 8-week program introduces middle school students (ages 11-14) to the fascinating world of Artificial Intelligence and its practical applications in solving real-world problems. Students will explore how AI works, learn basic concepts through hands-on activities, and discover AI’s impact in healthcare, environment, transportation, and entertainment—all while developing critical thinking skills about technology’s role in our changing world.

No prior experience needed—just curiosity and enthusiasm to learn! 💡✨

Learning Outcomes 🎯

By the end of this educational journey, students will:

• Understand what AI is and recognize its applications in everyday life
• Explain how AI learns from data and makes predictions
• Identify different AI tasks like classification, generation, and recognition
• Apply simple decision-making logic through basic coding activities
• Design their own AI solution to address a real-world problem
• Think critically about AI’s benefits and challenges in society
• Gain confidence in their ability to create with technology

8-Week Course Curriculum 📚

Week 1: What AI Is and Why It Matters 🌟

Learning Activities:

• Explore the evolution of AI and meet the pioneers who created it
• Distinguish between real and AI-generated images through interactive challenges
• Discover practical applications of AI in everyday life
• Create stories with AI assistance using simple language models

Students will build a foundation of AI knowledge and gain excitement about its potential to solve problems in our world.

Week 2: How AI Learns from Data 🧮

Learning Activities:

• Understand how data quality affects AI performance
• Explore the training and testing phases of machine learning
• Examine how neural networks process information through layers
• Create a hand gesture detector using Teachable Machine

Students will grasp fundamental concepts of machine learning by training their own simple AI models through user-friendly interfaces.

Week 3: Understanding the AI Ecosystem 🌐

Learning Activities:

• Discover the differences between AI, machine learning, and deep learning
• Learn how programming forms the foundation of AI systems
• Explore variables, conditional statements, and loops
• Build a simple “Penalty Clash” game in Google Colab

Students will understand the technical building blocks of AI and gain hands-on experience with basic coding concepts that power AI applications.

Week 4: Types of Machine Learning 🧩

Learning Activities:

• Compare supervised, unsupervised, and reinforcement learning
• Explore real-world examples of each learning approach
• Interact with a reinforcement learning maze-solving AI
• Identify appropriate learning methods for different problems

Students will understand different approaches to machine learning and when each type is most effectively applied to solve specific challenges.

Week 5: How AI Makes Simple Predictions⚖️

Learning Activities:

• Understand how AI makes simple predictions
• Learn basic machine learning terminology
• Create a hands-on project demonstrating predictive capabilities
• Develop critical thinking about how AI processes information

Students will explore the K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN) algorithm and create a model capable of simple predictions.

Week 6: AI in the Real World 🔍

Learning Activities:

• Examine AI applications in healthcare, environment, transportation, and entertainment
• Analyze both benefits and ethical challenges of AI implementation
• Participate in case study discussions about AI’s impact
• Create informative posters highlighting AI applications

Students will connect AI concepts to tangible real-world applications and begin considering the societal implications of widespread AI adoption.

Week 7: Designing AI Solutions 💡

Learning Activities:

• Identify real-world problems that AI could help solve
• Learn the process of planning an AI solution
• Determine what data would be needed for their AI system
• Create a detailed project plan for their AI solution

Students will apply design thinking to develop conceptual AI solutions for problems they care about, considering practical requirements and limitations.

Week 8: Building and Sharing Projects 🏆

Learning Activities:

• Build AI project prototypes using accessible tools
• Test and refine their AI solutions
• Present their projects to classmates
• Provide and receive constructive feedback

Students will experience the full cycle of AI project development from concept to presentation, gaining confidence in their ability to create with technology.

Course Features ✨

Digital Tools Used: 🧰

• Teachable Machine for creating custom AI models
• Google Colab for basic coding activities
• ScratchJr or similar block-based coding platforms
• AI-powered creative tools for story generation
• Interactive demos of reinforcement learning

Learning Approach: 📝

• Interactive demonstrations and hands-on activities
• Game-based learning through coding challenges
• Collaborative problem-solving exercises
• Project-based assessment with peer feedback
• Real-world case studies and applications

Requirements 📋

• Computer or tablet with internet access
• Web browser (Chrome or Firefox recommended)
• Google account for accessing online tools
• Curiosity about technology and problem-solving
• No prior coding or AI experience required
• Enthusiasm for learning and creating!

Join This Exciting Tech Adventure! 🚀

Limited spaces available to ensure personalized guidance and optimal learning experiences for all students.

This course offers a unique opportunity for middle schoolers to understand the technology that’s reshaping our world, while developing valuable skills for the future.

Register now to embark on this exploration of AI and its potential to solve real-world problems! 🌟

All digital tools used are free, web-based, and designed specifically for young learners with age-appropriate content and interfaces. Live instructor guidance provided throughout each session. 👨‍🏫👩‍🏫