A group of New England Innovation Academy students have developed a mobile app that highlights deforestation trends in Massachusetts as part of a project for the Day of AI, a curriculum developed by the MIT Responsible AI for Social Empowerment and Education (RAISE) initiative. The TreeSavers app aims to educate users about the effects of deforestation and was showcased during the 2024 Day of AI global event.
The event, hosted by the Museum of Science in collaboration with MIT, introduced K-12 students to artificial intelligence (AI). It’s a platform that inspires young people to think creatively and use AI to solve problems with a focus on ethical and responsible ways of handling the technology.
The Day of AI curriculum combines AI knowledge with various subjects such as history, civics, computer science, math, and climate change. Accessible all year round, the curriculum has been used in classrooms and homes worldwide, reaching more than 10,000 educators across 114 countries.
Robert Parks, a curriculum developer at MIT RAISE, emphasizes the initiative’s purpose – providing accessible tools for students to meaningfully engage in problem-solving. It aims at presenting students with agency and perspective on local issues in relation to global challenges, like climate change.
The new projects launched as part of the Day of AI program are focused on weather patterns and climate change. The aim is to help students understand the importance of meaningful data set design and collection methods when studying the world around them.
Citing the TreeSavers app as an example, the students successfully used the MIT App Inventor to program the app and present interactive maps of regional deforestation rates across Massachusetts. They also incorporated statistical models to predict environmental impact, thus demonstrating a practical application of AI in addressing environmental issues.
Despite the quick solutions AI provides, the Day of AI curriculum ensures students are aware of issues related to data sourcing, bias, and potential misuse of findings. This pushes for an ethical approach to AI and similar technologies.
The initiative also fosters cooperation at various levels, encouraging students to engage in collaborative problem-solving. The speakers at the 2024 Day of AI stressed the importance of collaboration and cross-disciplinary involvement for STEM education.
Finally, the Day of AI curriculum aims to go beyond teaching the mechanics of AI. It focuses on nurturing a generation of creative problem solvers who can responsibly use AI in their communities and tackle global challenges such as climate change. With this vision, the Day of AI hopes to mould the students of today into tomorrow’s leaders.
