Build Your Own AI Project for Social Good Through This Free Program
As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly integrated into our daily experience, it’s crucial that high quality AI education is available to everyone. AI4ALL is working to increase diversity and inclusion in artificial intelligence, and we are thrilled to take a big step towards that mission with the AI4ALL Open Learning program. AI4ALL Open Learning gives you the tools to work on projects and problems you care about using AI — read more here to get examples of how AI can be used in areas ranging from medicine to art to protecting endangered species. This free, online program is made for high school students who belong to underrepresented groups in AI. This program builds problem-solving skills, technical skills, and helps you gain an understanding of how AI impacts your life and can help you tackle a challenge. AI4ALL Open Learning will be usable either online or in an in-person project team with the support of a facilitator in your community.
“[AI4ALL Open Learning] made me realize AI isn’t some big scary thing, it’s something that I can actually do.”
— AI4ALL Open Learning pilot student
We’re excited to announce that the AI4ALL Open Learning program is now available in beta! Read on to find out what to expect and how you can take part in this new program.
For Learners
Who should participate?
Everyone who is interested in expanding their problem-solving toolbox and learning more about the fast-growing field of artificial intelligence! We particularly welcome high school students who self-identify as part of an underrepresented group in AI to participate in AI4ALL Open Learning. Learners who we invite to participate include but are not limited to:
- Young women or non-binary students
- LGBTQIA students
- Students from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups in AI
- Students from lower-income backgrounds
- Potential first-generation college students
The beta curriculum is built for students with some algebra, probability, statistics, and introductory text-based programming experience. The program is available in English currently. Additional languages will be added over time.
What can I expect as a learner using AI4ALL Open Learning?
As a learner on the platform right now, you’ll get an overview of AI and an introduction to how it is used, lessons on regression (a fundamental machine learning algorithm), and friendly guided projects to create your own machine learning models. You’ll also be prompted to consider the social implications of the technology you’re learning and will learn about important role models in AI.
We’ll be building on these lessons over time, and need your feedback! We’re planning to create a large library of material of varying levels and collaborative projects where you’ll be able to choose a data-driven problem with others based on what you care about. To help spark your imagination about how AI can be used, read more about AI projects that high school students from our AI4ALL summer programs have worked on here.
For Facilitators
Who should participate?
People who are interested in using free AI4ALL Open Learning curriculum and guides to create a supportive learning community and who meet the following guidelines:
- Commitment to inclusion
- Interest in learning alongside students
- Experience with computer programming
- No AI experience necessary
What can I expect as a teacher or facilitator using AI4ALL Open Learning?
Teachers interested in facilitating Open Learning in their classrooms will find guidance, activities, and glossaries to complement your students’ learning on the platform. We have created a model you can adapt to best fit your school or organization’s schedule. You do not need to be an expert in AI to facilitate this curriculum; you will be able to learn along with your students. We’re working on building out a more robust “offline” model and could use your feedback on what works in your classroom and what you would like to see in terms of support and training materials. You can provide this feedback in the “Facilitator Resources” module on the platform.
Facilitators will support learners through AI4ALL Open Learning beta content, which includes:
- an overview of AI and an introduction to how it is used
- lessons on regression (a fundamental machine learning approach)
- friendly guided projects to create their own machine learning models
- exposure to the social implications of the technology they’re learning about
- awareness of a diversity of role models in AI
How can I become part of the Open Learning beta testing program as a learner or facilitator?
AI4ALL Open Learning is currently available in beta. This means that we will be actively seeking your feedback as you use the program so we can build on and refine the program in preparation for our official launch in the fall. During the beta phase, you must agree to provide feedback in order to use Open Learning as a learner or facilitator. On our platform you’ll find two ways to give feedback:
- 1) Course-specific:We’ll ask you for course-specific feedback when you complete a course. We’ll ask about whether or not you would recommend this course, what worked, what didn’t work, and what else you would like to see.
- 2) General beta test feedback:Our general feedback survey — also found under “My Courses and Learning Plans” on the Open Learning platform — is for the program experience overall: your use of the platform, the curriculum, and any offline activities if you used them. Here, we’re looking to understand what you like, don’t like, and what else you would like to see from AI4ALL.
We’re here for you, and we’ll only improve by better understanding what you’d like to see. Even if you don’t complete the material, please fill out the general beta test feedback so that we can learn more about what wasn’t a fit for you. The deadline for feedback for Beta Round 1 is June 30, 2019, although we’re happy to take your feedback as soon as you’re able!
We are so excited for you to learn more about AI and its powerful set of tools and to hear about how you’re using AI to solve problems you care about. We’ll see you on the AI4ALL Open Learning platform!
This program is made possible through a generous grant from Google.org. We are also grateful to our key sponsors, including Capital One and EY.
Get started
Go to the AI4ALL Open Learning program to sign up to be a beta tester. We recommend using the Open Learning Platform on a laptop or desktop at this beta stage.
Learn more about AI4ALL, Open Learning, and our summer programs on our website.