AI and IoT in STEM Education

• The AI4STEM Curriculum focuses on the application of AI in educational robotics and introduces the 5 Big Ideas in Artificial Intelligence using the Internet of Things (IoT) in STEM education.
• The project number is 2022-1-FR01-KA220-SCH-000085611 and was created on August 24, 2023, by Sofia Sousa, Ana Barroca, and Joana Santos (SCHOLÉ).
• The document is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Module Introduction and Description

• The module explores Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its modern applications, aiming to help teachers integrate this theme into elementary and secondary classrooms by exploring the interaction between AI and the Internet of Things (IoT).
• Teachers can find basic AI information, its applications in everyday life and with IoT, examples, and activity suggestions, focusing on the AI4K12 initiative's 5 Big Ideas, especially Societal Impact.

Glossary of Key Notions and Concepts

• Artificial Intelligence (AI): Combines computer science and robust datasets to enable problem-solving, performing tasks that typically require human intelligence, like visual perception and decision-making.
• Robot: An automatically operated machine that replaces human effort, regardless of resembling human beings.
• Capacity-based AI: Classified into Artificial Narrow Intelligence, Artificial General Intelligence, and Artificial Superintelligence, based on learning and application capabilities.
• Functionality-Based AI: Classified based on how it applies learning to process data, respond to stimuli, and interact with its environment, sorted into four functionality types.
• AI4K12 project: Focuses on teaching AI in K-12 in the US, aligning with CSTA standards for computer science.
• Internet of Things (IoT): Uses computer tools to automate real-world processes, reducing the need for human participation by enabling computing devices to transfer data over a network.

Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI)

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the ability of machines to mimic human intelligence using computer programs, applied across various products and services to simplify lives.
• AI development focuses on algorithms and systems for tasks requiring human intelligence, like reasoning and problem-solving.
• AI learning occurs in three ways; Supervised, Semi-supervised, Unsupervised.

Types of Artificial Intelligence

• Various AI types exist, each with applications, challenges, advantages, and limitations.
• Classification is based on Capacity-based and Intelligence and Functionality-Based.
• Capacity-based AI includes:
  • Artificial Narrow Intelligence (ANI): Executes specific actions, like image recognition in self-driving cars or AI assistants.
  • Artificial General Intelligence (AGI): Learns, thinks, and performs tasks like a human, such as virtual assistants like ChatGPT.
  • Artificial Superintelligence (ASI): Seen in science fiction, exceeds human intelligence after reaching general intelligence.
• Functionality-Based AI includes:
  • Reactive Machines: React to requests in real-time without memory, like spam filters or Netflix recommendations.
  • Limited Memory: Stores past data to make predictions, improving performance, such as chatbots or self-driving cars.
  • Theory of Mind: Picks up on emotions and subtle environmental changes, which is still under development.
  • Self-Aware: Reaches a singularity, thinking independently.

Task for the Classroom - AI in the Classroom

• To introduce AI, teachers can present images of AI applications and encourage students to identify and discuss their uses.
• Images can include robots, virtual assistants, facial recognition apps, self-driven cars, and chatbot websites.
• Students should learn to discuss and understand what AI is, recognize different AI types, and identify similarities and differences among them.

Application of AI in Everyday Life

• AI is integrated into daily routines, from phone unlocking via facial recognition to personalized recommendations, making tasks easier.
• AI is used in sectors like healthcare, finance, and transportation.
• AI algorithms are used in search engines, social networks, and virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa.
• The automotive industry uses AI in autonomous transportation like Tesla.
• Medicine uses AI for medical diagnoses and anomaly detection.
• Educational platforms use AI to adapt content to students' needs, such as Khan Academy.
• Smart homes use AI for thermostats and safety systems.

Task for the Classroom - AI in Everyday Life

• Teachers should lead students in discussing their reliance on AI in daily life, covering benefits, smart home devices, AI use at school, and areas for AI improvement.
• Students learn to identify AI in their routines, discuss its uses, and understand its widespread presence.

AI and the 5 Big Ideas

• The "Five Big Ideas" by John Haugeland summarize AI's key concepts, providing an overview of AI development principles.
• The Five Big Ideas:
  • Perception: Computers perceive the world via sensors, enabling practical applications of 'seeing' and 'hearing'.
  • Representation & Reasoning: Agents maintain representations of the world for reasoning with AI.
  • Learning: Computers learn from various inputs; machine learning helps find data patterns.
  • Natural Interaction: AI agents need humanistic qualities such as conversation and facial expressions.
  • Societal Impact: AI has a positive and negative impact that must be balanced in daily life.

Societal Impact in AI

• AI significantly impacts society, from the economy to daily life with both benefits and challenges.
• Effects in various areas:
  • Health and Medicine: Improves accuracy and reduces costs.
  • Transport: Improves safety and provides accessibility.
  • Education: Enables personalized learning.
  • E-Commerce: Creates personalized product recommendations.
  • Accessibility: Provides technologies for people with disabilities.
  • Cyber Security: Detects cyber threats and attacks.
  • Ethics and Privacy: Raises ethical and privacy issues.
  • Government and Global decision-making: Improves public administration.
• The societal impact of AI can be positive or have biases leading to different outcomes.

The Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence

• The Internet of Things (IoT) is connected with AI to process and respond to real-world events.
• Sophisticated AI can recognize the state of an event, such as turning on a light when a switch is pressed and it is dark.
• AI helps improve IoT capabilities and broaden its applications.
• AI is used in different ways to improve the following;
  • Robots in Manufacturing: Facilitate data transmission and smarter functioning via AI algorithms.
  • Self-driving Cars: Predict pedestrian behavior.
  • Smart Thermostat Solutions: Manage temperature based on preferences.

Task for the Classroom - IoT and AI

• Students should brainstorm examples of combined IoT and AI use and explain their respective roles.
• Examples include a smart parking system assigning convenient spots based on data analysis and a healthy diet monitoring system providing healthy lunch choices via sensors.
• Students understand and communicate differences between IoT and AI, identify combined applications, and understand their roles.

Ethics in Artificial Intelligence

• As AI becomes more common, it facilitates tasks and lowers risks but also raises ethical concerns.
• It raises important factors such as fairness, data responsibility, privacy, climate degradation, human rights, etc.
• Ethical matters include; The potential invasion of privacy and reliance on AI preventing the development of social skills.

Task for the Classroom - Ethics and AI

• Teachers should show school equipment using AI, asking students to describe and discuss its benefits and drawbacks.
• Students divide into groups to define positive and negative aspects, delivering safe rules for use.
• An “Ethics in the classroom” anchor chart will be created with student suggestions.
• Through this task, students describe ethical issues related to AI and their impact on society, create guiding principles, and gain conscience about the risks and positive/negative aspects.