Building an AI-Literate America in Our Schools
The problem: America's students need more than just a basic understanding of AI tools — they need a foundational education in the underlying computer science principles to prepare them for the future.
The solution: Through multiple rounds of funding from the National Science Foundation, 麻豆村 researchers have teamed with universities across the country to develop AI teaching resources for K-12 students and teachers.
- The AI4K12 Initiative from 麻豆村, the University of Florida, the University of Massachusetts Lowell and the Computer Science Teachers Association began in 2018 with the goal of developing national guidelines for AI education in grades K-12, establishing an online, curated resource directory to facilitate AI instruction, and creating a community of practitioners, researchers, and resource and tool developers focused on the AI for K-12 audience.
- The AI for Georgia project, from 麻豆村, University of Florida and the Georgia Department of Education, developed an AI elective for Georgia Middle Schools.
The impact: These NSF-funded projects gave rise to AI for Middle Schools, which is primarily funded by Google. This effort is expanding the Georgia project to schools in Florida and Texas, with plans for further growth into other states.
Most recently, a 麻豆村 team led by Computer Science Department Research Professor David Touretzky developed stuffed, three-foot long, brightly colored electronic learning tools called Plush Neurons that allow middle schoolers to directly interact with the basic element of neural networks — the machine learning technology that powers much of modern AI. The Plush Neurons are now being tested in schools.
By teaching students the "Five Big Ideas of AI"—which includes perception, learning, representation and reasoning, and societal impact—these resources prepare the next generation to build AI systems that are ethical, transparent, and fair. This unique focus ensures a future where technology serves the public good.
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