Join Us for WAICY 2023: ReadyAI Sparks Learning at The Readiness Institute’s Summer Program

In line with our mission at ReadyAI to bolster artificial intelligence (AI) education, we were thrilled to participate in the second week of The Readiness Institute at Penn State’s Summer Program. This innovative week delved into the essential subjects of digital transformation and social-emotional learning — themes of increasing importance in our fast-paced digital world.

You can find a detailed recount of the week’s happenings in the Readiness Institute Blog’s article, “Week Two Connects Learners with Trending Tech and Community.”

Fostering Digital Literacy and Community Wellbeing

In the summer program’s second week, Pittsburgh cohorts delved deep into the realm of digital transformation while Central PA learners navigated through social-emotional learning. Both themes underline the necessity for a comprehensive understanding and responsible usage of emerging technology, thus benefiting individuals and communities.

Through a series of engaging talks, workshops, and site visits, learners were encouraged to deepen their understanding of new technology, focusing on using technological advancements responsibly to foster community wellbeing.

ReadyAI in the Limelight

Dr. Jordan Mroziak and Haotian Fang from ReadyAI were privileged to conduct an enriching workshop for Pittsburgh-based learners. They demystified the complex subjects of AI and machine learning for the next generation of tech enthusiasts. You can watch the presentation here.

Hands-On AI Learning

We introduced students to popular tech tools like ChatGPT and Teachable Machine, providing interactive activities that enhanced their understanding. One intriguing exercise had students writing a short summary about a given topic using either ChatGPT or their own words, with their peers then tasked with determining which was AI-generated and which was human-written. Another exercise is utilizing the Teachable Machine. Students built their own classifiers, offering them practical experience with the ‘Learning’ concept from the ‘Big Five.’

Unveiling the ‘Big Five’ in AI

Our workshop dived into the ‘Big Five’ ideas in AI as identified by the AI4K12 organization: Perception, Representation & Reasoning, Learning, Human-AI Interaction, and Societal Impact. These concepts were made tangible through engaging exercises and real-world scenarios. You can learn more about the ‘Big Five’ from this informative poster on the AI4K12 website.

The Stage Is Set for WAICY 2023

We concluded our workshop by unveiling the World Artificial Intelligence Competition for Youth (WAICY) 2023. This competition is a fantastic opportunity for the students to apply their newfound knowledge and skills. You can find more about the competition on the WAICY website.

Your Invitation to WAICY 2023

We warmly invite all the students from The Readiness Institute Summer Program and young AI enthusiasts worldwide to participate in WAICY 2023. This platform provides an excellent opportunity to put your learning into practice and connect with like-minded peers who share your interest in AI!

As we continue on our journey, ReadyAI is excited to bring AI education to more classrooms, contributing to a more informed, capable, and responsible society. Stay tuned for more exciting initiatives from our end!

Jordan Mroziak is a boundary spanning learning designer, facilitator, and community engagement specialist. Having earned his doctorate in Instructional Technology with an emphasis on creative applications of learning technologies and critical aesthetic pedagogy, his work emphasizes the thoughtful reimagining of learning in order to best build habits around curiosity, empathy, community, equity, and joy.

Most recently, his work for Carnegie Mellon University has deepened his passion for fostering community through relationships oriented towards dreaming a more just and equitable future into existence. Jordan is inspired by scholar-practitioners as divergent as Paulo Freire, Fred Rogers, Maxine Greene, and adrienne maree brown.

In his consulting work, he has provided the successful design and integration of teaching and learning solutions for national and international non-and-for profit sector entities.
Selected projects include designing globally available STEAM maker kits for young children, coaching higher education faculty regarding instructional design/delivery, creating computer science and artificial intelligence lessons for schools in the Middle East, authoring K-12 curricula aligned to state/national standards, evaluating government grants for arts and education programs, and developing multimedia solutions for youth in long-term hospital residency.

Haotian Fang is an undergraduate majoring in Philosophy of Science and Computer Science at University of Pittsburgh. His research interest encompasses Transparency and Trust in AI Systems, Phenomenology, and Cognitive Science. He has worked on multiple projects about K-12 AI Education with ReadyAI, and led the WAICY (World Artificial Intelligence Competition for Youth) in 2021 and 2022.