Learning About AI
Middle School students had a visit from Dr. Vahia, father of Anayra and Anishka, to expand upon their AI design unit. He discussed how he has utilized AI to enhance his creativity. He reviewed the students’ understanding of how AI works, provided background on what AI is and how it was developed, and finally offered strategies on how to use it.
Before his visit, students had been introduced to the Unit: “AI in Design,” reviewed the Middle School AI policy, and defined the focus as image generation and idea exploration. The goals of this unit are to help students understand how they can use AI to help create their vision, how AI will change the role of designers, and to understand designers’ ethical AI responsibility.
As a warm-up activity with Dr. Vahia, the students explored creating a realistic self-portrait. Dr. Vahia discussed the process, challenges, and success in this warm-up activity.
Over the coming weeks, the students will develop a set of MS thank-you cards that reflect our community for use throughout the year, develop and review design sketches based on a design specification, and generate IB criterion infographics. Mr. Vahia will return at the end of the unit to help us define our individual ethical AI responsibility, and students will create posters to communicate this.
Here are photos of the visit. Do you recognize anyone in the AI images? 
