Exploring artificial intelligence in the classroom

On a daily basis, we interact more and more with systems that use artificial intelligence (AI). If you use a virtual personal assistant such as Siri or Google Assistant, receive purchasing suggestions while shopping online, or get movie or music recommendations from Spotify or Netflix, then you’ve experienced AI. Other examples include self-driving cars, facial recognition and speech recognition.

Put simply, AI makes it possible for computers to learn from experience. In order to do this, the computer takes in data and uses it to perform human-like tasks. Using AI, the computer can accomplish tasks by processing large amounts of data and recognising patterns in the data.

As with any technology there is innovation but also risks. This area of the Digital Technologies curriculum can provide some very meaningful discussions and can be incorporated into your classroom program.

AI resources on the Digital Technologies Hub

AI classroom activity: Machine learning
In this article, Dr Joshua Ho discusses how to build an AI system that can exhibit another behaviour that is often associated with human intelligence: learning.
AI classroom activity: Facial recognition
Dr Joshua Ho discusses how he uses an unplugged activity to explore facial recognition.
CS Unplugged: Field guide: AI
CS Unplugged is an online resource for teaching computer science to students. This chapter focuses on AI.
CS Unplugged: AI
Use these activities with your students to explore how a computer follows a set of instructions.
Chatbot, using Blockly or Python
Students write programs to solve problems with code and create word games. In this digital technologies challenge, students learn how to play Mad Libs, Questions, Taboo and Word Chain, and even write their very own pirate chatbot. Can they fool their friends into thinking they're talking to a real person?

New Scope and Sequence units for Year 10

Robotics and Embedded Systems

The Robotics and Embedded Systems unit contains four projects, presented to accommodate a range of student skill levels and interests, teacher backgrounds, and school resources. Select the relevant project for your students, or allow them to choose a project that appeals to them. The projects are: Introduction to robotics, Robotic hand, Electronics, and Sewable electronics.

Managing a group project: Augmented reality

In this collaborative unit, students plan, implement and monitor an augmented reality project, developing project management skills, collaborating with others, and undertaking a specific role.

Making a difference

Credit: Point Cook College

Our eSmart journey

Sally Hill, eLearning Coach at Point Cook P–9 College, explains some of the key stages and elements of the college’s whole school approach to eSafety and being eSmart.

A whole-school approach to coding

What might a whole primary school digital technologies program look like? What resources make a difference? Get advice, unit outlines, assessment ideas, and a host of practical tips in this article by Dan Martinez, Coordinator of Innovation and Learning at St Hilda’s School.

Robotics at Year 9

‘The engagement level of the students was almost 100 per cent every lesson.’

Fiona Clayton is the eLearning Coordinator of the secondary school at Torrens Valley Christian School (TVCS). She explores how the introduction of Robotics EV3s and Raspberry Pis at Year 9 at TVCS has made a big difference to how students respond to digital technologies.

Upcoming webinar: An introduction to the BBC micro:bit

27 June 2018, 4.30pm – 5.30pm AEST
Presented by: Martin Richards, Content Manger of the Digital Technologies Hub, and Tom Bijesse from Code Club

This webinar will provide an introduction to the BBC micro:bit, focusing on visual programming. We will cover:

the micro:bit and the online environment
getting started: loading simple programs on to the micro:bit, such as Name Tag, and using the A,B buttons
introducing the micro:bit to your students. We’ll discuss how to access introductory resources such as Code Club and other tutorials, as well as managing these devices in your class
extension projects/kits. A small amount of extra resources like sensors open up opportunity for STEM projects.

Register now!

Recent webinars

Demystifying AI

Presented by: Dr Joshua Ho and Martin RichardsDuring this session, we focus on AI and how we can teach AI concepts to primary and secondary school students. We explore the underpinning concepts of AI and discuss how we can prepare our students with the skills to demystify AI. Dr Ho also shares his experience on developing AI classroom activities for primary school students.

Current technology trends for secondary schools

During this session, we provide a broad overview of popular classroom technologies in secondary schools, grouping the technologies into categories such as robots and electronics kits.

The recording for this, and all our previous webinars, can be found on our webinars page.

Participate in the Digital Technologies Discussion Forum

You are invited to lend teachers a hand with digital technologies education in Australia by participating in an online discussion forum.

Participating in the discussion forum will help to build a picture of how digital technologies resources are being used in different settings, and to identify further opportunities to support teachers implementing the Australia Curriculum: Digital Technologies.

To find out more and register your interest, please visit the forum.

Upcoming events

See our events calendar for competitions, conferences and professional learning opportunities on offer in 2018.

Digital Technologies workshops; 12–28 June, various locations
Day of STEM: STEM Cup; 15 June – 15 September, national
Digital Technologies and the NSW Curriculum workshops; 19 and 25 June, NSW
Microsoft in Education Webcast; 20 June, NSW
Code Club Teacher Training; 21 June – 3 September, various locations
2018 Primary STEM Expo; 26 June, NSW
Adobe Education Webcast; 27 June, NSW
Introduction to Digital Technologies; 28 June, QLD
EdTechTeam Melbourne Summit; 2–3 July, VIC
Website Building Masterclass; 3–5 July, QLD
Brekkie with a Tekkie Webcast; 4 July, NSW
EdTechTeam Perth Summit; 5–6 July, WA
EdTechTeam Sydney Summit; 9–10 July, NSW
EdTech SA Conference; 10–11 July, SA

Have we missed any digital technologies events happening in your area? Let us know at: digitaltechnologieshub@esa.edu.au so we can add them to our calendar.