UTSA's Summer Camp Empowers Middle Schoolers with AI Skills
UTSA's 'AI For Everyone!' summer camp inspires middle school students to explore AI.
Key Points
- • UTSA's 'AI For Everyone!' camp focused on teaching AI concepts to middle schoolers.
- • Led by Fred Martin, the camp encouraged hands-on activities like creating snack recommenders.
- • Students tackled ethical discussions around AI technologies such as deepfakes.
- • Feedback suggests students want an extended camp, prompting plans for future sessions.
The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) recently wrapped up its four-day summer camp, 'AI For Everyone!', designed for middle school students eager to learn about artificial intelligence. Led by Fred Martin, interim dean for the College of AI, Cyber and Computing, the camp featured hands-on activities that aimed to ignite students' creativity and curiosity in technology.
Participants engaged in various projects, including creating a snack recommender that assessed the nutritional value of snacks. Despite challenges in defining the 'best' snack, the AI concluded that trail mix was the healthiest option. Students also learned to edit and generate multimedia content powered by AI and addressed critical discussions surrounding the ethical implications of technologies like deepfakes.
Feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive, with many students expressing a desire to extend the camp's duration. As a result, Martin is contemplating making this initiative a regular event, potentially expanding it to five days in the future. He emphasized the significance of students connecting with technology and reflecting upon their learning experiences, highlighting the importance of such educational initiatives in fostering the next generation of tech-savvy individuals.