ECS is proud to introduce a new alternate unit for our curriculum: Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a term that we hear on a daily basis. Yet the topic is not taught explicitly to our learners, while we operate in a world that uses AI with promises of further AI usage to come. The aim of this unit is to demystify the topic of AI, with students gaining an understanding of terminology such as machine learning and deep learning. It is intended to be an alternate unit to either unit 5 or 6.
What does the unit include?
Students will gain knowledge and skills while considering the social, moral, and ethical impacts of AI systems and usage. They explore practical daily applications of AI that are likely to have an impact on their lives. Students design smart cities, homes, and schools and share them with the group.
Students also learn to build, train, and test an AI system through a NVIDIA platform. Students are also encouraged to look at how “the message of AI” is communicated to each of us through images and narratives.
And, as with all ECS units, it comes with an in-depth curriculum pdf download with daily lesson plans, supporting handouts and rubrics, and live links, as well as supplementary teacher resources—all classroom-tested and ready for implementation.
And don’t forget the following supplemental files, which are referenced in the curriculum.
On some browsers, it will download right away. On others, right-click/control-click, then either “Copy Link Address” and paste into your browser for immediate download or “Save Link As” to select the download location.
Acknowledgments
Artificial Intelligence (alternate unit) was written and developed by Beverly Clarke. She is author of the book “Computer Science Teacher – insight into the computing classroom.” Additionally, she is an Education consultant and former teacher.
In writing this unit the following are acknowledged for their contributions in proof reading, checking for technical accuracy, testing activities in the classroom, filming, being sound boards and committed to seeing an AI curriculum available for high school students – Mike Mendelson (NVIDIA), James McClung (formerly of NVIDIA), Joanna Goode (University of Oregon), Alison Lowndes (NVIDIA), Rosie Lane (South Wilts Grammar School for Girls), Peter McOwan (Queen Mary University of London), Paul Curzon (Queen Mary University of London), Liz Austin (NVIDIA), Gemma Bond (Screen Boo Productions) and Neil Rickus (University of Hertfordshire). Morals and Ethics supporting cards were sampled from material by Andrew Csizmadia (Newman University).
Funding for developing the unit was provided by NVIDIA, with support and funding from Scan Computers International Ltd for filming of the unplugged activity videos.