Where Young Innovators Discover How AI Changes Everything! 🌍🤖

Location: HKUST – Room 2129C

Course Schedule

Course Overview

This comprehensive 8-week program introduces middle school students (ages 11-14) to the revolutionary world of Artificial Intelligence through deep exploration of real-world applications and hands-on problem-solving experiences. Students will discover how AI is transforming healthcare by detecting diseases earlier than doctors, protecting our environment through ocean cleanup and forest monitoring, revolutionizing transportation with self-driving technology, and creating personalized entertainment experiences. Through interactive challenges, creative projects, and critical analysis, students will not only understand how AI works but also develop the skills to envision and design AI solutions for challenges they care about.

This isn’t just an introduction to AI—it’s a journey into becoming thoughtful creators and critical thinkers about the technology shaping our future. Students will analyze real case studies from companies like Google, Tesla, and Netflix, participate in AI detection challenges with increasingly sophisticated content, and collaborate with Large Language Models to create original stories and solutions.

No prior experience needed—just curiosity about technology and passion for solving real-world problems! 💡✨

Learning Outcomes 🎯

By the end of this transformative educational journey, students will:

Technical Understanding:

• Understand what AI is and recognize its sophisticated applications across industries
• Explain how AI learns from massive datasets and makes complex predictions
• Identify and differentiate between classification, generation, recognition, and prediction tasks
• Apply algorithmic thinking and basic programming logic through interactive coding activities
• Understand the fundamental architecture of neural networks and machine learning systems

Real-World Application Skills:

• Analyze AI’s transformative impact in healthcare (disease detection, drug discovery, surgical robotics)
• Evaluate AI’s role in environmental protection (ocean cleanup, deforestation monitoring, energy optimization)
• Assess AI innovations in transportation (autonomous vehicles, traffic optimization, safety systems)
• Examine AI’s influence on entertainment (personalized recommendations, content creation, game intelligence)
• Design comprehensive AI solutions to address genuine real-world problems

Critical Thinking & Ethics:

• Think critically about AI’s benefits, limitations, and societal implications
• Understand ethical considerations in AI development and deployment
• Evaluate the quality and bias in data used to train AI systems
• Consider the human impact of AI automation and decision-making

Creative & Technical Skills:

• Gain confidence in collaborating with AI tools for creative and practical purposes
• Develop problem-solving methodologies for complex technological challenges
• Build and present AI project prototypes using industry-standard tools
• Communicate technical concepts clearly to diverse audiences

8-Week Course Curriculum 📚

Week 1: AI Revolutionizing Our World 🌟

In-Depth Learning Activities:

• Investigate the historical evolution of AI from 1956 to today’s breakthrough applications
• Master AI detection skills through sophisticated real vs. generated content challenges
• Explore cutting-edge AI applications transforming healthcare (Google’s diabetic eye disease detection, IBM Watson for cancer diagnosis)
• Discover AI’s environmental impact through case studies (Ocean Cleanup’s AI-powered waste detection, Amazon rainforest monitoring systems)
• Analyze AI in transportation through real examples (Tesla’s Autopilot, Waymo’s self-driving technology, AI-optimized traffic systems)
• Examine AI in entertainment through industry examples (Netflix’s recommendation algorithms, Spotify’s music discovery, AI-generated movie effects)
• Collaborate with Large Language Models to create sophisticated interactive storytelling experiences
• Participate in critical discussions about AI’s role in solving global challenges

Deep Learning Focus: Students will build a comprehensive foundation understanding AI as a transformative force across all sectors of society, developing both technical appreciation and critical thinking skills about AI’s current capabilities and future potential.

Week 2: How AI Masters Complex Learning from Data 🧮

Advanced Learning Activities:

• Investigate how data quality, quantity, and diversity directly impact AI performance through real-world case studies
• Explore the complete machine learning pipeline: data collection, preprocessing, training, validation, and testing
• Examine neural network architecture and understand how artificial neurons process information through multiple layers
• Analyze famous AI training datasets (ImageNet, Common Crawl) and understand their role in AI breakthroughs
• Create and train sophisticated AI models using Teachable Machine for image recognition, sound classification, and pose detection
• Compare different AI training approaches and understand when each is most effective
• Investigate bias in AI systems and learn how training data affects AI decision-making
• Participate in hands-on experiments demonstrating how AI “learns” patterns from data

Deep Learning Focus: Students will gain sophisticated understanding of machine learning fundamentals through hands-on experimentation, developing both technical skills and critical awareness of how AI systems acquire their capabilities.

Week 3: Decoding the AI Technology Ecosystem 🌐

Technical Deep-Dive Activities:

• Distinguish between Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, and related technologies through detailed analysis
• Understand how programming languages, algorithms, and computational power combine to create AI systems
• Explore fundamental programming concepts (variables, conditions, loops, functions) through AI-focused interactive exercises
• Build increasingly complex coding projects using Google Colab, progressing from simple logic to AI-enhanced applications
• Create an engaging “AI-Powered Penalty Clash” game incorporating predictive elements and adaptive difficulty
• Investigate the hardware infrastructure powering AI (GPUs, cloud computing, specialized AI chips)
• Analyze the software tools and frameworks used by professional AI developers
• Examine the interdisciplinary nature of AI development (computer science, mathematics, domain expertise)

Deep Learning Focus: Students will understand the technical building blocks of AI systems and gain practical coding experience, building confidence in their ability to work with technology and create AI-enhanced applications.

Week 4: Mastering Different Types of Machine Learning 🧩

Comprehensive Learning Activities:

• Compare and contrast supervised learning (learning from labeled examples), unsupervised learning (finding hidden patterns), and reinforcement learning (learning through trial and reward)
• Explore real-world applications of each learning type through detailed industry case studies
• Investigate supervised learning through examples: email spam detection, medical diagnosis, image recognition, language translation
• Understand unsupervised learning through applications: customer segmentation, anomaly detection, recommendation systems, data compression
• Examine reinforcement learning through breakthrough examples: game-playing AI (AlphaGo, OpenAI Five), robotics, autonomous driving, dynamic pricing
• Interact with sophisticated reinforcement learning demonstrations, including maze-solving AI, game-playing agents, and optimization algorithms
• Analyze which learning approaches are most appropriate for different types of real-world problems
• Design learning strategies for hypothetical AI projects addressing various challenges

Deep Learning Focus: Students will develop sophisticated understanding of different machine learning paradigms and learn to identify the most appropriate approaches for various types of problems, building strategic thinking about AI solution design.

Week 5: AI Prediction Systems and Decision-Making ⚖️

Advanced Technical Activities:

• Understand how AI systems make predictions using statistical analysis, pattern recognition, and probability calculations
• Learn essential machine learning terminology: features, labels, algorithms, accuracy, precision, recall, overfitting, underfitting
• Explore the K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN) algorithm through hands-on implementation and experimentation
• Create sophisticated predictive models for various applications: weather forecasting, sports outcomes, movie recommendations, stock market trends
• Investigate how AI systems handle uncertainty and make decisions with incomplete information
• Examine real-world prediction systems: search engines, fraud detection, medical diagnosis, supply chain optimization
• Develop critical thinking about AI prediction accuracy, limitations, and potential for error
• Build and test personal AI prediction models using accessible tools and real datasets

Deep Learning Focus: Students will gain deep understanding of how AI systems process information to make predictions and decisions, developing both technical skills and critical awareness of AI capabilities and limitations.

Week 6: AI Transforming Industries and Society 🔍

Real-World Impact Analysis:

• Healthcare Revolution: Analyze AI breakthroughs in medical imaging (detecting cancer, analyzing X-rays), drug discovery (accelerating medication development), personalized medicine (customizing treatments), and robotic surgery (precision operations)
• Environmental Protection: Investigate AI applications in climate monitoring (satellite analysis, weather prediction), conservation efforts (wildlife tracking, anti-poaching systems), renewable energy optimization (smart grids, energy storage), and pollution reduction (air quality monitoring, waste management)
• Transportation Innovation: Explore autonomous vehicle technology (sensor fusion, path planning, safety systems), traffic optimization (intelligent traffic lights, route planning), public transportation efficiency (schedule optimization, predictive maintenance), and logistics automation (delivery drones, warehouse robotics)
• Entertainment Evolution: Examine content recommendation algorithms (Netflix, YouTube, TikTok), AI-generated content (music, art, writing), interactive gaming (adaptive NPCs, procedural generation), and virtual/augmented reality experiences
• Analyze both transformative benefits and significant ethical challenges of widespread AI adoption
• Participate in structured debates about AI’s impact on employment, privacy, fairness, and human autonomy
• Create comprehensive presentations highlighting AI applications and their societal implications
• Investigate emerging AI applications in education, agriculture, finance, and social services

Deep Learning Focus: Students will connect technical AI concepts to tangible real-world transformations, developing sophisticated understanding of AI’s current impact and future potential while building critical thinking skills about technology’s role in society.

Week 7: Design Thinking for AI Solutions 💡

Advanced Problem-Solving Activities:

• Identify complex real-world problems that could benefit from AI solutions through systematic analysis of community, environmental, and global challenges
• Learn comprehensive AI solution design methodology: problem definition, stakeholder analysis, technical feasibility assessment, ethical consideration, implementation planning
• Understand the complete AI development process: problem scoping, data requirements analysis, algorithm selection, system architecture design, testing strategy, deployment planning
• Determine specific data requirements for AI systems: data types, collection methods, quality standards, privacy considerations, bias mitigation
• Create detailed project proposals for AI solutions addressing problems students care about: climate change, education accessibility, healthcare equity, social justice, environmental protection
• Analyze successful AI implementations and understand factors contributing to their success or failure
• Consider ethical implications, potential unintended consequences, and societal impact of proposed AI solutions
• Develop project timelines, resource requirements, and success metrics for AI solution proposals

Deep Learning Focus: Students will apply design thinking methodology to develop comprehensive AI solution concepts, integrating technical understanding with creative problem-solving and ethical reasoning.

Week 8: Building, Testing, and Presenting AI Projects 🏆

Comprehensive Project Development:

• Build functional AI project prototypes using accessible but sophisticated tools: Teachable Machine for custom model training, Google Colab for AI programming, MIT App Inventor for mobile AI applications, and Scratch for AI game development
• Implement complete project development cycles: planning, building, testing, debugging, refining, and optimizing AI solutions
• Test AI solutions with real users and iterate based on feedback, understanding the importance of user-centered design in AI development
• Prepare professional-quality presentations showcasing AI projects, including problem definition, solution approach, technical implementation, results analysis, and future development possibilities
• Present projects to classmates, parents, and potentially industry professionals, developing communication skills for technical audiences
• Provide and receive constructive feedback using structured evaluation criteria focusing on creativity, technical execution, real-world applicability, and presentation quality
• Reflect on the complete learning journey and identify areas for continued AI exploration and development
• Celebrate achievements and build confidence in continued technology learning and creation

Deep Learning Focus: Students will experience the complete AI development lifecycle from concept to presentation, gaining practical experience with industry-standard tools and developing confidence in their ability to create meaningful AI solutions.

Course Features ✨

Advanced Digital Tools Used: 🧰

• Teachable Machine for creating sophisticated custom AI models (image recognition, audio classification, pose detection)
• Google Colab for AI programming, data analysis, and machine learning experimentation
• MIT App Inventor for developing AI-powered mobile applications
• Scratch for Machine Learning for visual programming with AI components
• Industry-standard AI platforms for demonstrations and exploration
• Real-world AI APIs for hands-on experience with professional AI tools
• Interactive simulations of complex AI algorithms and neural networks
• Professional AI development tools adapted for educational use

Sophisticated Learning Approach: 📝

• Case study analysis of real AI implementations across industries
• Project-based learning with industry-relevant challenges and authentic assessments
• Collaborative problem-solving in teams mimicking professional AI development environments
• Peer evaluation and feedback using criteria aligned with industry standards
• Guest expert sessions with AI professionals sharing real-world insights
• Ethical reasoning exercises developing responsible AI development mindsets
• Critical analysis activities examining AI’s broader societal implications
• Creative synthesis projects combining technical skills with innovative thinking

Industry-Relevant Skills Development: 🎯

• Technical proficiency with AI tools and programming concepts
• Problem-solving methodology applicable to complex technological challenges
• Communication skills for presenting technical concepts to diverse audiences
• Ethical reasoning about technology’s impact on society
• Collaborative skills essential for modern technology development
• Critical thinking about AI capabilities, limitations, and appropriate applications

Requirements 📋

• Computer or tablet with reliable internet access and webcam capability
• Modern web browser (Chrome or Firefox recommended for optimal tool compatibility)
• Google account for accessing Colab, Teachable Machine, and other educational tools
• Enthusiasm for exploring complex technological concepts and real-world problem-solving
• Willingness to engage in collaborative learning and peer feedback
• No prior coding, AI, or advanced technical experience required
• Commitment to completing weekly projects and participating actively in discussions

Join This Transformative Tech Adventure! 🚀

Limited spaces available to ensure personalized guidance, meaningful peer interaction, and optimal learning experiences for all students.

This course offers an unprecedented opportunity for middle schoolers to understand the AI revolution reshaping our world while developing sophisticated technical skills, critical thinking abilities, and creative problem-solving approaches essential for future success in an AI-driven society.

Students will emerge with not just knowledge about AI, but practical experience creating AI solutions, deep understanding of AI’s real-world impact, and confidence in their ability to contribute meaningfully to technology-driven solutions for global challenges.

Register now to embark on this comprehensive exploration of AI’s transformative potential and your role as a future innovator in the age of artificial intelligence! 🌟

All digital tools used are professional-grade platforms adapted for young learners, ensuring authentic industry experience while maintaining age-appropriate interfaces and content. Expert instructor guidance provided throughout each session with personalized support for individual learning needs and interests. 👨‍🏫👩‍🏫

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. 👨‍🏫👩‍🏫