A university course that engages students in developing AI teaching tools for K-12 learners successfully combines software development, educational research, and AI literacy while producing publishable research outcomes.

Objective: To describe and evaluate a semester-long course where university students develop original software tools to teach K-12 students about artificial intelligence and machine learning concepts.

Methods:

• Course offered over three semesters
• Mix of undergraduate and graduate students
• Seminar-style format with twice-weekly meetings
• 15-week curriculum combining literature review, software development, and field testing
• Data collection through pre/post surveys, interviews, and software usage logs
• Implementation in middle school settings
• IRB-approved research protocols

Key Findings:

• 21 software tools produced over three semesters
• Projects addressed all five AI4K12's Big Ideas
• Tools covered diverse topics including:
  • Sign language recognition
  • Maze-solving algorithms
  • Chemistry lab safety
  • Chatbots
  • Self-driving car simulations
• Multiple student projects led to published papers
• Six tools published as web applications
• High engagement from both university and K-12 students

Implications:

• Demonstrates effectiveness of combining research and teaching
• Shows potential for undergraduate research experiences in AI education
• Creates practical tools for K-12 AI education
• Provides model for similar courses at other institutions
• Builds pipeline of education researchers in AI/ML

Limitations:

• Students struggle with multiple simultaneous challenges
• Time constraints for implementation
• Difficulty in translating AI concepts for K-12 learners
• Learning curve for educational research methods
• Complexity of developing complete software systems

Future Directions:

• Curating online collection of developed tools
• Building curriculum around the tools for K-12 teachers
• Encouraging adoption by other faculty
• Expanding tool collection
• Further research on tool effectiveness

Title and Authors: "A Research-Oriented Course in Developing Tools to Teach AI" by Fred G. Martin, Deepti Tagare, and Ismaila Temitayo Sanusi

Published On: To be presented February 26-March 1, 2025

Published By: Proceedings of the 56th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education V. 2 (SIGCSE TS 2025)

The study provides a comprehensive model for engaging university students in meaningful research while developing practical tools for K-12 AI education, demonstrating the potential for similar programs at other institutions.