AI Foundations - AI Notebook
AI Foundations - AI Notebook
Student AI Notebook
Introduction
Welcome to the Artificial Intelligence Foundations course! Throughout the five online modules,
you will have the opportunity to learn about and engage with AI applications.
This document is your AI Notebook and it will be your accompanying guide to complete short
tasks, answer reflection questions, and ultimately work on your AI Design Challenge. Be sure to
have access to it whenever you are working on the course.
Throughout the course, you’ll see references to your AI Notebook. Whenever you see this icon,
there is something for you to do in your AI Notebook:
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Table of Contents
Question Generator 4
Module 1: What is AI? 6
Lesson 1.1: This is AI 6
Lesson 1.2: History of AI 9
Lesson 1.3: AI and HI 13
Module 2: AI and You 14
Lesson 2.1: AI and Humanity 14
Lesson 2.2: Risks of AI 17
Lesson 2.3: Ethics in AI 18
Lesson 2.4: The Design Thinking Method 20
Module 3: Machine Learning in AI 25
Lesson 3.1: Machine Learning and AI Challenge 25
Lesson 3.2: Machine Learning and AI Challenge 29
Lesson 3.3: Machine Learning with Algorithms 32
Lesson 3.4: Machine Learning with Neural Networks 34
Module 4 : Machine Learning in AI 36
Lesson 4.1: Natural Interaction 36
Lesson 4.2: Computer Vision 39
Lesson 4.3: Recommender Systems 41
Lesson 4.4: Autonomous Systems 44
Module 5: Bringing It All Together 46
Lesson 5.1: Project Build Day 1 46
Lesson 5.2: Project Build Day 2 51
Lesson 5.3: Project Build Day 3 57
AI Design Challenge Rubric 59
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3
Question Generator
Analysis Questions based on separating the larger portion of the topic into
smaller components.
4
● How does _____ compare/contrast with_____?
● What evidence can you present for_____?
Example: Do you all agree that someday everyone will know how to
program AI technologies?
5
Module 1: What is AI?
What is AI?
How would you describe AI?
6
What can AI do?
What can AI currently do?
Concerns About AI
Skill Builder: What questions do you have about AI?
Knowledge
Comprehension
Application
Synthesis
Evaluation
Reflect
7
Revisit the K-W-L Chart at the start of this lesson. What have you learned today that can be
added to the “WHAT I HAVE LEARNED” section of the chart?
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Lesson 1.2: History of AI
Evolution of AI
Which events would you consider the greatest in AI advancements for each era?
1900s-1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s-1980s
1990s-2000s
2010s
2020s and
Beyond
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Top Three AI Advancements
List the THREE AI advancements that you consider the most important.
1.
2.
3.
Why did you select these three? What have you learned so far that supports your choices?
What about the future? Think about what technology currently does not use AI. How would
adding an AI feature advance that device?
Create a news headline around one of the major advancements or about a future potential
advancement. Your headline should capture the significance of the advancement.
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Imagining the Future of AI
What if you could interview Futurist Mike Walsh? What questions would you ask him about his
career? What else would you ask about the future of AI?
1.
2.
3.
Do you think all futurists would answer your questions the same? Why or why not?
Reflect
In the first activity, how could you tell whether the conversation was between two humans or a
machine and a computer?
In the second activity, which types of questions helped the interrogator determine whether the
answers were from a computer?
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Think about the purpose of virtual assistants and chatbots. Why do people interact with them?
Does it matter if they can pass the Turing Test? In what situations might it matter? In what
situations might it not matter?
What was Alan Turing trying to prove with the Turing Test? How might the Turing test be useful
for measuring machine intelligence today? In what ways is it not useful?
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Lesson 1.3: AI and HI
Reflect
How can creating art, music, stories or other forms of creative expression alongside AI expand
or limit your creativity? Does the work you produce feel authentic? Are you proud of it in the
same way you would be if you created it without the help of AI?
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Module 2: AI and You
AI for Good
Use the table to capture the ways that AI is being used to help people and improve their lives in
these different industries.
Industry Benefits of AI
Health
Safety
Environment
Education
Transportation
Cities
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Benefits to Humanity
Think Outside of the Box: What are other ways AI can be used to help humanity?
List two or three “what if” questions below. Don’t limit your ideas.
1.
2.
3.
Human-Centered Design
Reflect
As you use explore of the listed tools, either as a user or as a creator, answer these questions:
1. What problems does this tool solve or what task does it support?
2. Who is it for?
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4. What features should be included to better meet the user’s needs?
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Lesson 2.2: Risks of AI
Negative Impacts of AI
How can some uses of AI be harmful to humans?
Types of Bias
Reflect on your personal experience with bias. What are some ways that you have shown bias or
experienced bias? How can practicing empathy, which is assuming the perspective of someone
else, help prevent bias?
Bias in AI-Decision-Making
How can biased decision-making happen in machines?
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Lesson 2.3: Ethics in AI
Ethical or Unethical?
Reflect the Ethical or Unethical survey. Were you surprised by the results? If so, what surprised
you about the results?
Ethics Questions
What concerns do you have about AI and its impact on individuals and society? Share 1-2
ethical questions related to a particular use of AI. What are some ideas you have for addressing
these issues?
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Engage: Evaluate an AI System
Which AI technology did you explore?
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Lesson 2.4: The Design Thinking Method
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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Scenarios and Personas
Scenario 1: Tutor Me
You’ve been asked to build a mobile app that will help connect students and tutors.
● Persona 1: Jack is a high school student and is focused on maintaining a high GPA to
increase his chances of getting into his first-choice college. He is struggling with his
Spanish class and wants to find a tutor. He is looking for someone in his neighborhood
who he can meet with after school, possibly Saturday mornings.
● Persona 2: Samantha is a Spanish-speaking high school student who would like to make
a little extra money by helping other students. She hopes to be a teacher one day and
thinks being a tutor would help her gain experience and build her resume. She would like
to offer her services to students looking for a Spanish tutor.
● Persona 3: Mr. Jasminder Smith is a high school teacher and has several students
struggling with their Spanish assignments. He would like to be able to direct his students
to available tutors to help them improve their grades and catch up with the rest of the
class. He also wants to be able to check the progress of his students to ensure they are
taking appropriate steps to improve.
● Persona 1: Lisa’s small dog got scared by a car during a walk, broke the leash, and ran
away. Lisa desperately wants to find her precious dog as quickly as possible. She wants
to search a list of found pets or post information about her dog so others can help her
find him.
● Persona 2: Didi found a lost dog and wants to find the owner. The pet has no tag, so Didi
cannot call the owner directly. They don’t see any flyers in the neighborhood.
● Persona 3: Petra works at a local pet shelter and truly cares for the cats and dogs that
end up at the shelter. She wants to keep informed of any lost pets in the area in case any
of them arrive at the shelter. She wants to be able to identify lost pets and reunite them
with their owners before they get added to the adoption website.
Scenario 3: Style Me
You’ve been asked to build a mobile app that kids can use to create new outfits from the clothes
and accessories they already own and get advice on what to buy to enhance their wardrobe.
● Persona 1: Sam is a middle schooler who is tired of wearing the same outfits every
week. He wants some advice or ideas for mixing and matching the clothes he already
owns to create new looks.
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● Persona 2: MaryAnn would like to learn more about style and accessorizing her outfits.
She owns a lot of clothes and accessories, but isn’t always sure what looks good
together. She would like help matching tops, pants/skirts, and jewelry.
● Persona 3: Nicki and Jo would like to enhance their wardrobes. They want to purchase
items wisely to match what they already have. They want some advice on pieces they
could buy that would work with multiple items they already have.
Scenario 4: BullyMeNot
You’ve been asked to build a mobile app that kids can use to find help when they are being
bullied or provide resources to others who want to help prevent bullying.
● Persona 1: Claire is a middle schooler who gets teased daily for one reason or another.
She doesn’t know how to talk to her best friend, her parents, or her big brother about the
stressful situation. She wants to get help to learn how to cope.
● Persona 2: Nigel has a best friend who gets picked on frequently at school. He would
like to help his friend and learn more about preventing bullying behavior with his peers.
● Persona 3: Tracy suspects her daughter is being bullied at school, but Sasha denies it
when Tracy asks her about her concerns. Tracy would like to find resources for her
daughter to help with the stressful situation.
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Empathy Map
Says Thinks
Persona
Does Feels
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Reflect
How might an activity like this empathy map activity help you to understand and get to know
your users? If this were a real-life scenario, what questions might you ask your potential users?
What might your next steps be?
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Module 3: Machine Learning in AI
Get Inspired
Log information from the tools and applications you explored.
Tool Explored:
URL:
Interesting Solution/Application 1:
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URL:
How it Works:
Interesting Solution/Application 2:
URL:
How it Works:
Who do you want to design your solution for? Who would you like to help increase their
knowledge or improve their skills?
Choose someone:
❏ that you have regular access to
❏ who is willing to be interviewed
❏ who is willing to provide feedback on your prototype
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Step 2: Empathize – Interview, Observe, Research
Write down 8-10 questions below for your interview that will help you understand your user
better. You may not end up using them all. You can use the example questions to start you off.
Interview tips:
● Avoid yes or no questions. Or at least follow up with why and how?
● Use questions that begin with “tell me about the last time you _______?"
● Ask open ended questions that lead to stories, as stories often provide insights to
designers.
● Ask questions about how the user feels about certain situations.
Now conduct your interview! Record notes on your user’s responses. With the person’s
permission, you may also want to audio record the interview.
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5
10
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Lesson 3.2: Machine Learning and AI Challenge
Deep Learning
Briefly explain the relationship between machine learning and artificial intelligence.
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Engage: Train a Machine
Log your information from the activity you selected.
Option Selected:
URL:
Other notes:
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Reflect
What did you find most interesting about machine learning from your explorations today?
Answer in 2-3 sentences.
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Lesson 3.3: Machine Learning with Algorithms
Algorithms
Explain how algorithms are used to teach machines in 2-3 sentences.
Suggested Topics:
● What will I do today?
● What animal is this?
Algorithmic Bias
What are two challenges and solutions related to algorithmic bias in AI?
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Reflect
What did you learn about machine learning from your explorations today? Answer in 2-3
sentences.
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Lesson 3.4: Machine Learning with Neural
Networks
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Engage: AI Design Challenge - Empathy Map
Use the information you gathered from your interview, observations, and research to complete
an empathy map for your user.
Says Thinks
Persona
Does Feels
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Module 4 : Machine Learning in AI
Share three common areas of natural interactions, supporting examples of these areas in
everyday AI applications, and the limitations of these natural interactions.
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Natural Interactions and Human Impact
Can you think of other ways that applications that use natural interactions through speech,
gesture, and affective computing impact humans? Jot down one idea here.
Reflect
Answer the following questions as you reflect on the experience.
2. What area(s) of natural interaction does the program address (speech, gestures, affect)?
3. Was the response to your input expected and accurate? Why do you think that is?
4. How might an application like this be used to help people learn or improve their skills?
These ideas may help you as you plan your AI Design Challenge.
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Lesson 4.2: Computer Vision
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Applications of Computer Vision
Share ways computer vision is used in everyday applications.
Can you think of other uses of computer vision that would benefit people? Share one or two
ideas.
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Lesson 4.3: Recommender Systems
Identify the two types of recommender systems and explain how each type works. Provide
examples of the two types of recommenders.
Complete the table on the next page as you explore the platform.
You will uncover the ways in which YouTube or Google Play uses AI. For each distinct feature,
describe:
1. the data that is being used to influence the recommendation algorithm
2. what the algorithm is trying to learn from that data,
3. what is the algorithm “optimizing” for. In other words, what does the platform want you
to do; what are the goals? For example, online shopping platforms may be “optimizing”
for items clicked because they want you to buy products.
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Feature Data What is it trying to What is it optimizing
“learn”? for?
Suggested search
(autofill)
Recommendations
Comments section
Search results
Ads
Auto play
(YouTube only)
Now scroll to the bottom of the page and select and read the Privacy section of the platform
(bottom middle on Google Play, bottom left-hand sidebar YouTube). How is your data being
used? How do you feel about that?
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Lesson 4.4: Autonomous Systems
Autonomous Transportation
Identify the examples of autonomous systems in everyday AI applications.
Reflect
Why did you make some of the decisions you made during the MIT Moral Machine activity?
What do you see as some limitations of autonomous vehicles? What are some ethical questions
regarding autonomous vehicles?
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AI Design Challenge
Over the past few lessons, you have been exploring different machine learning tools and
applications. You have also been spending time with your target user(s) to gain insights about
their needs and preferences. Now it is time for you to begin focusing on the specific problem
that you are solving for your user. Review any notes from observations, interview responses,
and your empathy map. Use insights from those sources to craft your problem statement.
Problem Statement:
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Module 5: Bringing It All Together
Ideate
Braindump instructions:
1. Reread your problem statement from the previous lesson (previous page).
2. As you generate ideas keep your problem statement in mind and respond to the
challenge question:
How might we use the power of machine learning to help people increase their knowledge
or improve their skills?
3. Set a timer for five minutes and write at least five ideas below.
Idea #1
Idea #2
Idea #3
Idea #4
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Idea #5
Take another five minutes to refine the ideas for your solution. Write up to three ideas for your
solution that can be designed within a limited timeframe (about one hour total) and using one of
the tools that you are comfortable with.
Idea #1
Idea #2
Idea #3
Choose an Idea:
Choose one idea to focus on as you prototype a solution.
Briefly summarize the idea for your solution in a few sentences and be sure to identify the tool
that you will use.
Example
My AI solution will help someone learn yoga poses. I will train a ML model using Teachable
Machine to recognize different yoga poses. The tool’s confidence level at identifying the pose will
help the person know if they have done the pose correctly and how they can adjust their position
to increase the machine’s confidence level. A high confidence level means that the person is
doing the pose correctly.
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Your AI Design Challenge Idea:
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5. What ethical considerations are included in your solution? Is there potential for the
solution to harm anyone or introduce bias?
9. What decisions or outputs will your tool generate? Will it take any further action after a
decision is made?
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10. Map the user’s experience with the tool. What key steps will the user complete while
interacting with your tool? Describe what the user does first, what happens next, and so
on. It is okay if you need to supplement the tool with instructions for the user. For
example, you may tell your user to complete a task and the tool will indicate whether
they are correct by classifying an image, sound, or pose with a high level of confidence.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Example
1. The user does a yoga pose in front of the computer webcam.
2. The program indicates the name of the pose and the confidence level that the
name of the pose is correct.
3. The user keeps practicing the pose until the confidence level is high and they are
satisfied that they have done the pose correctly.
4. The user repeats this process with another pose.
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Lesson 5.2: Project Build Day 2
Prototype
This lesson is dedicated to working on your prototype. Your prototype should be complete by
the end of today’s lesson.
*Although it is called a “paper prototype” you may also choose to create a digital prototype
using a drawing tool on your device or a presentation tool like PowerPoint or Google Slides.
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Paper Prototype – Storyboard Template
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Lesson 5.3: Project Build Day 3
Test
Tips for testing with your user(s):
● Take detailed notes in your notebook as you observe and ask questions during testing.
● When you test your prototype, allow your user to experience the solution without
explaining it. Give only basic information to get them started, but let them explore how it
functions. If you are testing a paper prototype, allow your user to examine the visual
representations and read the explanations for each step.
● Ask them about their experience or impressions as they are exploring the prototype. You
might ask, “What are you thinking as you explore this tool?”
● During testing of a working prototype, allow them to make mistakes. Don’t correct them
right away if they do something wrong. This is valuable information that you can use to
determine if something is unclear about your solution or how users might interpret it in a
different way.
● Take note of their questions. These questions provide insight into areas that are not
clear in your design and can also provide inspiration for new features.
● Once the user has completed the testing, ask them a few follow-up questions. You may
come up with your own questions, but here are a few examples:
○ How did this solution make you feel? Why?
○ What confused you?
○ What surprised you?
○ What do you wish the tool would do? Why?
Testing Notes
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Reflect
Answer the following questions based on your testing:
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AI Design Challenge Rubric
Element 3 points 2 points 1 point 0 points Points
Given
I completed all the steps to
empathize with a user:
● I chose a target I partially I completed one of I did not
user. completed the the steps required complete any
● I prepared
Empathize steps to to adequately of the steps to
questions.
empathize with empathize with my empathize with
● I conducted an
my user. user. my user.
interview.
● I completed an
empathy map.
I crafted a
problem I crafted a problem
I crafted a problem
statement that statement, but I I did not
statement using insights
used some of the did not rely on complete a
Define from my observations,
insights I insights learned problem
interview responses, and
discovered from the statement.
my empathy map.
during the empathize stage.
empathize stage.
I completed all the ideate
steps:
● I spent time
generating and
refining my idea.
I partially
● I considered the
constraints I would completed the I completed one I did not
Ideate need to work with ideate stages to step during the complete the
to create my select my idea ideate stage. ideate stage.
solution. for a solution.
● I chose one idea to
focus on to
prototype a
solution.
Prototype I completed the prototype I completed a I only completed, I did not build a
steps: portion of the or partially prototype of
● I answered the steps toward completed, one of my solution to
questions around prototyping my the prototype my user needs
my plan for solution. steps.
designing my
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prototype.
● I selected the type
of prototype I
would build
(working or paper)
● I worked on the
prototype of my
solution
I tested my
solution and
I only partially
followed up in
tested my solution
some ways to
and had sought
receive a portion
I tested my solution and limited feedback
of feedback from I did not
received feedback. I also from my users.
Test my users. I complete my
reflected and planned how
completed some test.
to iterate on my design. I did not reflect or
reflection and
plan any further
considered the
iteration on my
iteration still
design.
needed on my
design.
I planned a
prototype design
that was mostly I planned a
based on a clear prototype design
I planned a prototype AI goal. I that was limited in
design with a clear AI goal. I somewhat an AI goal. I
I did not plan a
identified appropriate data identified trained and tested
clear goal or
Knowledge of AI to train and test the AI appropriate data the AI system with
test the system
system. I ensured that the to train and test inappropriate
with data.
data was organized into the AI system. I data. I did not
appropriate categories. mostly ensured ensure the data
that the data was was organized
organized into appropriately.
appropriate
categories.
I identified how AI could be I considered a I only partially I did not use
a creative solution to a solution to a worked at a critical or
Critical and
problem. I considered problem that solution that could creative
Creative
constraints during the used AI. I use AI. I did not thinking efforts
Thinking
design process. Challenges partially recognize in my design
with the solution were recognized constraints or project.
60
constraints
during the
process. I
addressed
addressed
challenges that
challenges as
came up in the
anticipated and addressed they came up in
process. I mostly
during the design process. I the design
forgot about the
mapped and considered the process. I
user during the
user’s experience from remembered at
design process. I
beginning to end. I reflected times the user
only partially
on the insights gained and experience
answered, or did
areas of growth from my during my
not complete, the
design experience. design. I
reflection
answered the
questions at the
reflection
end of the process.
questions at the
end of the
process.
Total Points
61