The Illinois Science Explorers (I-Sci) program, a public engagement initiative of the Center for Social and Behavioral Science (CSBS) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, recently partnered with the Center for Artificial Intelligence Innovation (CAII) at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA). This collaboration yielded a curriculum segment called “Interacting with AI” which was shared with young learners at the Don Moyer Boys & Girls Club in Champaign on April 30th.
Tailored for students in kindergarten through fifth grade, the event introduced basic artificial intelligence principles in an age-appropriate and engaging way. Through games, stories, and hands-on activities, children were shown they can connect AI to things they do every day and emphasized that anyone can interact with AI no matter their previous experience with technology or computers.
The module started with interactive, easy-to-grasp activities and ended with a group chat with AI. While the kids were having snacks, they talked about what AI is. The leaders then handed out “Real” and “AI” signs for a game where the students guessed whether images on the board were real or AI-generated. According to Paige Duncan, Community Engagement Specialist at the Center for Social & Behavioral Science, “They had a blast and it sparked some great discussion about AI’s strengths and limitations.”
To wrap things up they played with the AI “Bug Chatbot” that was implemented using Illinois Chat platform developed by CAII by sending it pictures of insects for it to identify. The kids were amazed it could name the bugs and share facts about them from just an image. According to Duncan, “We even ran out of time before we could get through all the activities!”
The program was part of I-Sci’s broader mission to ignite interest in science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM) fields among underrepresented youth in Champaign County. “Kids are already interacting with AI daily—whether they realize it or not,” said one of the I-Sci facilitators. “Our goal is to help them understand how it works and feel empowered to shape its future.”
The session at Don Moyer Boys & Girls Club was one of several engagements that combine I-Sci’s community-driven STEAM outreach with various entities on the University of Illinois campus. An example of another partnership was their teaming with NCSA during a session titled “Inspiring Kids in STEAM”. For more on that session read HERE. As this partnership grows, it promises to foster the next generation of thinkers and innovators—starting with the youngest learners in the heart of Illinois.