Stretch Your Knowledge of Artificial Intelligence

By Stephanie Dannehl, Bertrand Community Schools

Hey Siri…What time is it? Siri is just one of many examples of artificial intelligence that makes our lives easier and more efficient. AI powers many programs and services that help us do everyday things such as connecting
with friends, using an email program, or using a ride-share service. Artificial intelligence can be defined as a machine capable of performing functions like learning, reasoning, perceiving, problem-solving, and understanding language. The computer has to learn how to respond to certain actions, so it uses algorithms and historical data to create predictions.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning will continue to be a part of our daily lives so we need to prepare students for future careers by giving them opportunities to learn and create with AI. ISTE and General Motors along with AI4All are currently developing curricula to support AI education. This spring I had the opportunity to be a part of the ISTE and General Motors cohort and learned effective ways for our students to use and create with AI. Here are a couple of things you can do with your own students.

Google Quick Draw is a great tool to introduce machine perception. When you start this program, the computer asks you to draw something in less than 20 seconds. As you draw, you can hear the computer actively guessing what you’re drawing, while becoming more accurate in future guesses.

Rebot.me is a free tool to create a chatbot and then embed it in your own webpage. I worked with some fourth graders and they created their own chatbot focused on Nebraska.

Indeed, AI can perform some tasks faster and more effectively than we can. Teachers are not the only professionals who are wary that AI could be used to replace them. AI will be able to support professionals and conduct tasks that allow us time to focus on important issues that AI cannot address. AI is only a tool: however, it’s a valuable tool that can be used in the classroom by teachers an students to extend and enhance learning.