Generative Artificial Intelligence in K-12 Education
MIT OpenCourseWare presents this project-based class on generative AI technology and its role in K-12 education. The course covers the foundations of transformer architectures, the breakthrough machine learning approach from 2017 that underlies today's text, image, music, and code generation tools. Students examine what these systems can and cannot do, learning to separate genuine capabilities from overstated claims through an analytical framework applied to real successes and failures. Much of the coursework involves building innovative teaching and learning tools that use generative AI, then testing them directly with K-12 students and teachers. The class draws on MIT's Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Media Arts and Sciences programs. Materials are freely available through MIT OpenCourseWare under a Creative Commons license, including the syllabus and project guidelines, though there is no formal certificate attached to this OCW offering.