Generative AI for Kids, Parents, and Teac…

My son is going to grow up in a completely different world that is filled with generative AI (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude, LLama, etc.). I think this is a world of possibility, creativity, and deep thought that will enrich the way we think and solve problems. I want to make sure that my son is set up for success in this new world and understands how to use generative AI in a way that helps him learn, create, and solve problems.

Even though generative AI seems obvious to use, it isn't. Really learning to innovate and succeed with generative AI requires a change in mindset about the way we use it and how we solve problems. We have to teach people to think more, not less about what they are doing.

I spent the last year working with my son to empower him with the skills to use generative AI to augment and amplify his critical thinking and creativity. I distilled this teaching into a series of courses that you can use to help teach your kids, either at home or in the classroom, these same skills. This is the first of these courses.

Some of the things that we have done that you will learn to do with your kids:

- Take pictures of anything and have generative AI turn the photos into world records that you can fact check

- Interactively brainstorm how to build anything out of any material using generative AI as your partner

- Invent new games from photos of everyday objects

I teach a course on Prompt Engineering, which is the study of how you converse and solve problems with generative AI that 100,000s of people have enrolled in. I have gotten to hear about how companies all over the world are changing the future of work with generative AI. These courses are specifically designed to help you teach kids to succeed in this new world.

This course is meant for parents and teachers to do with kids. You watch the videos, preview the exercises, and then lead kids through the fun activities. You decide what to show and how to best communicate with your kids. Along the way, not only will your kids learn to innovate with generative AI, but it will reshape how you use it personally.

What's inside

Syllabus

One of the best ways to engage with Generative AI with kids is through photographs. This module will teach you how to prompt with photos and some amazing ways to empower kids with multimodal prompting.

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Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Builds beginner's skills surrounding multimodal interaction with AI

Uses child-friendly examples that make the material accessible

Lacks assessments or graded assignments to test student understanding

Requires teacher or parent assistance when working with younger children

Targeted toward educators and parents as facilitators for learning

Provides a good foundation for understanding the future of generative AI

Reviews summary

Guiding kids in generative ai

According to students, this course is an incredibly well-structured and highly engaging guide for parents and teachers looking to introduce generative AI to children. Learners particularly praise its unique emphasis on fostering critical thinking and problem-solving by teaching kids to view AI as an option generator, not just an answer machine. Many highlight the practical, hands-on activities, especially the multimodal prompting exercises and iterative refinement modules, as highly effective. While some tech-savvy learners found the content a bit basic for their own adult learning, it is consistently lauded for its accessibility and the instructor's clear explanations, making AI concepts tangible and accessible for families.

Some learners wished for additional modules.

"My only minor critique is that I flew through the modules pretty quickly, hoping for more."

Instructor effectively simplifies complex topics with clear explanations.

"The instructor makes complex concepts accessible, and the activities are genuinely fun."

"This course is a revelation! It truly changes how you think about AI..."

"An excellent resource for parents and teachers. It's well-designed, clear, and provides practical advice..."

Content is perfectly designed for its target audience of parents and teachers guiding children.

"It's so well-structured for parents to teach."

"For guiding kids, it's perfect."

"This course made AI fun and understandable for my elementary students. It's truly a valuable resource for educators."

"It's fantastic for showing adults how to teach AI concepts to kids."

Provides fun, practical exercises that make AI concepts tangible.

"My child and I loved the interactive photo challenges. It's so well-structured for parents to teach."

"The multimodal prompting with photos is a game-changer for engaging young minds! This course made AI fun and understandable for my elementary students."

"The activities are genuinely fun. My kids are now so excited about AI, and I feel confident guiding them."

"The lessons are easy to adapt for the classroom, providing practical strategies."

Encourages thoughtful engagement with AI, fostering problem-solving skills.

"It truly changes how you think about AI, moving beyond simple answers to truly engaging critical thinking."

"The 'options, not answers' approach is brilliant and really got my students thinking critically."

"It encourages critical thinking rather than just passive consumption."

"As a teacher, I found this course invaluable. It provides practical strategies to help students leverage generative AI for creativity and problem-solving without just getting answers."

May be too basic for adults with prior technical AI knowledge.

"As someone with some AI background, I found the pace a bit slow, and the content repetitive in parts. It's good if you're a complete beginner though."

"I felt the course lacked sufficient practical depth for a hands-on approach. I was hoping for more specific activities or projects."

"I wish there were a few more advanced topics for parents, but for guiding kids, it's perfect."

"It's more about the pedagogical approach for children than deep AI concepts for adults."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Generative AI for Kids, Parents, and Teachers with these activities:

Review basic coding skills

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Refreshes basic coding skills to ensure students can begin working with Generative AI immediately upon course start

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Rewatch video of how to set up a development environment for a programming language of their choice
Write a "Hello World" program in that language

Seek out a mentor who specializes in generative AI

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Having access to a subject matter expert can accelerate your learning and keep you updated with the latest developments in generative AI.

Browse courses on Generative AI

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Identify your learning goals and areas where you need guidance.
Attend industry events or online forums to connect with potential mentors.
Prepare a brief introduction and request a mentorship meeting.

Compile a list of resources on generative AI applications

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Creating a resource list will help you become more familiar with the available tools and use cases for generative AI.

Browse courses on Generative AI

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Search for articles, tutorials, and videos on generative AI applications.
Organize the resources into categories based on their use cases.
Share the resource list with others.

15 other activities

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Practice Creating Prompts

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Build a foundational understanding of creating prompts for Generative AI to maximize the tool's effectiveness.

Browse courses on Prompt Engineering

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Review the basics of prompt engineering, including elements like context, instructions, and desired output.
Practice writing prompts for different purposes, such as generating ideas, creating content, or solving problems.
Experiment with different prompt formats, such as natural language, structured data, or code.
Get feedback on your prompts from others to improve their clarity and effectiveness.

Follow tutorials on using a prompt engineering toolbox

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Helps students learn about different prompt engineering techniques and how to best apply them

Browse courses on Prompt Engineering

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Find and bookmark a recommended prompt engineering toolbox
Watch videos tutorials on each technique
Experiment with each technique on their own

Participate in peer review sessions

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Allows students to engage with each other and provide feedback on their progress, which can help them improve their work

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Find a peer group to review work with
Share their work with the peer group and ask for feedback
Provide feedback to other members of the group

Practice using generative AI to generate and select ideas for problem-solving

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Repetitive practice will reinforce your understanding of how to effectively use generative AI for problem-solving.

Browse courses on Generative AI

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Identify a problem or challenge.
Use generative AI to generate a range of potential ideas or solutions.
Evaluate and select the most promising ideas.
Repeat the process until you have a satisfactory solution.

Practice Writing Prompts

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Provides consistent practice to develop fluency when interacting with Generative AI.

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Write a prompt that asks the AI to generate a poem about a specific topic.
Write a prompt that asks the AI to generate a story with a specific plot.
Write a prompt that asks the AI to generate a code snippet to solve a specific problem.

Follow tutorials on using generative AI for brainstorming

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Seeking tutorials will augment your learning by broadening the perspective on generative AI use cases.

Browse courses on Generative AI

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Identify a specific topic or problem you want to brainstorm about.
Search for tutorials on generative AI for brainstorming.
Follow the steps in the tutorial to use generative AI for brainstorming.
Evaluate the output and reflect on how generative AI can enhance your brainstorming process.

Create a cheat sheet of useful prompts

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Provides students with a reference tool they can use throughout the course to help them improve their prompts

Browse courses on Prompt Engineering

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Brainstorm a list of questions they have about using generative AI
For each question, generate a prompt to help them find the answer
Format their work into a user-friendly cheat sheet

Attend a workshop on advanced techniques for using generative AI

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Workshops provide a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience and learn from experts in the field of generative AI.

Browse courses on Generative AI

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Identify workshops that align with your learning interests.
Register for the workshop.
Attend the workshop sessions.
Complete any assignments or exercises.
Follow up with the instructors or fellow participants to continue learning.

Practice writing prompts for different use cases

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Gives students practice writing prompts for a variety of use cases, which will help them become more proficient in using generative AI

Browse courses on Prompt Engineering

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Find a list of different use cases for generative AI
For each use case, write 3-5 prompts that could be used to achieve that use case

Create a visual or written guide on using generative AI for critical thinking

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By creating content, you strengthen your understanding of the key principles of generative AI for critical thinking.

Browse courses on Generative AI

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Identify the key principles and concepts of using generative AI for critical thinking.
Choose a format for your guide, such as a blog post, infographic, or video.
Develop the content of your guide, including examples and explanations.
Review and refine your guide, ensuring it is clear and concise.
Publish or share your guide with others.

Solve Problems with Generative AI

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Develop problem-solving skills by using Generative AI as a tool to explore different perspectives and generate creative solutions.

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Identify a problem or challenge that you want to solve.
Use Generative AI to generate ideas and potential solutions.
Evaluate the generated solutions and select the most promising ones.
Implement your chosen solution and test its effectiveness.
Reflect on the process and identify areas for improvement.

Develop a plan for an innovative project that leverages generative AI

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Developing a detailed plan will provide you with a roadmap to implement your innovative project and explore the transformative potential of generative AI.

Browse courses on Generative AI

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Define the scope and objectives of your project.
Identify the specific ways in which you will leverage generative AI in your project.
Research and select the appropriate generative AI tools and resources.
Develop a timeline and budget for your project.
Create a communication plan to share your project with others.

Build a Generative AI-Powered Chatbot

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Constructs a practical application that leverages Generative AI for real-world use.

Browse courses on Generative AI

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Choose a specific use case for your chatbot.
Design the chatbot's interface and functionality.
Integrate Generative AI into your chatbot.
Test and refine your chatbot's performance.

Create a Guide to Generative AI for Beginners

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Enhance your understanding of Generative AI by creating a comprehensive resource that explains its concepts and applications to others.

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Research different aspects of Generative AI, including its history, types, and potential benefits.
Organize your findings into a logical structure that is easy to follow for beginners.
Write clear and concise explanations, using examples and illustrations to make concepts more accessible.
Proofread your guide carefully and seek feedback from others to ensure its accuracy and readability.

Participate in a hackathon or competition focused on generative AI

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Participation in such events will expose you to innovative applications of generative AI while fostering creativity and collaboration.

Browse courses on Generative AI

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Research upcoming generative AI hackathons or competitions.
Form or join a team.
Develop an innovative project idea.
Implement your project using generative AI.
Present your project to a panel of judges.

Career center

Learners who complete Generative AI for Kids, Parents, and Teachers will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

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Generative AI for Kids, Parents, and Teachers

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Guiding kids in generative ai

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