Fostering Upper Elementary AI Education: Iteratively Refining a Use-Modify-Create Scaffolding Progression for AI Planning

Abstract

The growing ubiquity of artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping much of daily life. This in turn is raising awareness of the need to introduce AI education throughout the K-12 curriculum so that students can better understand and utilize AI. A particularly promising approach for engaging young learners in AI education is game-based learning. In this work, we present our efforts to embed a unit on AI planning within an immersive game-based learning environment for upper elementary students (ages 8 to 11) that utilizes a scaffolding progression based on the Use-Modify-Create framework. Further, we present how the scaffolding progression is being refined based on findings from piloting the game with students.