Artificial Intelligence is rapidly reshaping science, engineering, and
society. Science classrooms need approaches that help students understand the
science behind AI, how it is used in STEM, and how it can support their
learning. In this full-day professional learning institute (PLI), participants
will explore emerging AI standards and how the problem-based storyline
curricular units can anchor AI learning in meaningful ways that support
equitable participation.
During the session, participants will engage with a set of three units:
Sensor Immersion, Self-Driving Cars, and Animal Prosthetics. In this three-unit
progression, students use Micro:bit sensors to investigate real world problems.
They explore meaningful AI concepts including the shift from decision trees to
probabilistic neural networks, the important role of training data, how AI makes
predictions, and the ethical implications of AI. Participants will get hands-on
experience with how it feels to participate in a unit from the student
perspective, allowing participants to understand how the units leverage
students' own questions to support coherence and sensemaking.
TAKEAWAYS:
- A deeper understanding of problem-based, storyline units as an instructional model that supports coherence from the student perspective.
- Firsthand experience with three curricular units focused on AI mechanics and societal impact.
[ Strategies for both helping students figure out how AI works and teaching with AI tools.
- Practical approaches to leveraging AI responsibly to support sensemaking and student engagement.
SPEAKERS:
Greg Benedis-Grab, Kate Henson