Artificial Intelligence (AI) workshop activities

This set of resources contains two engaging unplugged workshop-style activities, designed to promote discussion and increase understanding around the theme of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The two workshop activities are:

AI facial recognition activity

This activity encourages discussion around the potential of facial recognition, by looking at the data that an AI system would collect. The workshop begins with a discussion of the meaning and nature of AI. The activity then moves to considering how humans are usually naturally good at recognising faces, then comparing this with how an AI may use feature extraction in facial recognition. Students then build their own database of features using the ‘monster recognition cards’ to ascertain whether this works in practice.

Generative AI art activity

AI is being increasingly used for creative activities. For example, AI diffusion models can generate a new image by altering an existing image in certain ways that we tell it to. This is a type of generative AI. This workshop guides students through step-by-step tasks to create their own unplugged ‘generative’ piece of art. Discussion tasks allow for exploration around the concept of ownership of creative works where an AI is used, reflecting on this topic of debate among content creators today.

Both sets of activities are suitable for a whole class, or groups of students. Materials required are minimal and easily accessible, including items such as paper or whiteboards, and pens, pencils and crayons. Students do not need their own laptops or devices as the activities are unplugged, although the teacher or group leader will require the means to show a presentation on a screen to the group. Some printing will be required during preparation beforehand.

Detailed teaching guidance notes and a classroom presentation are provided for each workshop. Any worksheets or materials requiring printing are included towards the end of the relevant teaching guidance files.

These resources contain AI generated imagery.