Technology & Innovation - Issue 12

to suit your setting. You could, for example, present a class of 14-year-olds with a discussion question concerning the rise of inappropriate deepfake images, but opt for a more age-appropriate topic when teaching a class of Y7s. At its core, Experience AI is about enabling everyone to deliver high quality AI learning experiences, without the need to already possess a technical background or specialism in computer science. WhyAI safety educationmatters To further support educators, the Raspberry Pi Foundation is working with the UK social enterprise Parent Zone to provide free training sessions, both in-person and online. These are designed to help educators feel confident in delivering AI content, whatever their existing background or specialism. Educators attending the sessions will explore the Experience AI materials in depth, and learn how to adapt them for their specific classroomneeds. As one participant shared with us, “ I found it really interesting, it was very insightful. I think I learned a lot about AI as a whole and the different ways we use it in our day-to-day lives. They will definitely be good resources to use. I think they’re quite interactive, and that’s really important to engage a class. Young people tend to be quite interested in AI, so it’s a very topical point of discussion.” Find training details at parentzone.co.uk/ ExperienceAI . Experience AI isn’t about turning every student into a computer scientist; it’s about helping young people become informed digital citizens who will be ready to ask questions, challenge assumptions and use technology wisely. Whether they’re learning about the ways in which AI systems use data, or exploring the ethics of deepfakes, students will be encouraged at all times to think more critically about the digital world they’re growing up in. By using these resources, educators can give students the confidence to navigate AI, and maybe even shape its ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mac Bowley is a Learning Manager at the Raspberry Pi Foundation; a teacher in his spare time, he enjoys showing people of all ages how computing works, and when away from screens, is an avid baker ATEACHER’S PERSPECTIVE: AMY’S STORY Amy, head of computer science and leader of digital learning at Talbot Heath School, first discovered the Experience AI programme via an email from the Raspberry Pi Foundation. Always looking for new ways to inspire her students and support her colleagues, she trialled the first three lessons with her Y8 class – a group of girls with mixed abilities. The experience was a positive one from the start, with one activity in particular really standing out. It was an interactive exercise, in which students were tasked with exploring how an AI model distinguishes between apples As someone who had never taught AI before, Amy approached the topic with a ‘ Let’s see how this goes... ’ mindset. Over time, her own confidence grew, both in terms of her subject knowledge and in her ability to explain AI technologies to colleagues across the school. “ Some students were nervous at first, especially with all the hype around AI, ” she says, “ but the resources made the topic more approachable, and gave them the space to explore and gain confidence. ” Amy now recommends the resources to other teachers as a strong foundation for AI education: “ They’re adaptable and well designed, especially for those new to the topic. It’s great to have the flexibility to tweak and tailor things to suit your own lessons. ” future. To explore the free classroommaterials, visit rpf.io/aisafety-ts . Together, we canmake AI education more accessible, engaging, and above all, safe for every learner. and tomatoes. The hands-on task led to some lively classroom discussion, while deepening students’ understanding of how AI systems are trained. Amy valued how flexible and adaptable the resources were. The slide decks, lesson plans and worksheets allowed her to tailor sessions to suit the needs of her class, combining different elements to maintain interest and engagement. Despite some initial hesitation among those students who felt daunted by the concept of AI, the Experience AI materials helped break down barriers and spark genuine curiosity. 49 A D M I N I S T R AT I O N teachwire.net