DOI
https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2019.2956136

Summary
A framework and testing analysis of the teacher guided workshop for the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) methods are presented in this paper. The study focuses on determining whether understanding of basic AI algorithms affects the perception of how AI can affect the lives of common people. The authors provide the description of the workshop in which K-means algorithm and artificial neural networks (ANN) are covered as basic algorithms of AI. The algorithms are implemented in Scratch. The workshop is designed for high school students. Its implementation is validated by analyzing questionnaires of 37 high school students of technological branch who participated in the workshop. After conducting qualitative and quantitative analysis, the authors state that the workshop resulted in more realistic students’ understanding about AI, including potential benefits and limitations.

Relevance for Complex Systems Knowledge
The methods and algorithms of artificial intelligence (AI) are often used nowadays to solve complex problems. However, the society still lacks awareness about the possibilities and limitations of AI. The authors present how AI can be presented to high school students in a workshop. As conventional methods, k-means and artificial neural networks were implemented in the workshop as representatives of unsupervised and supervised learning. After analysis of pre- and post-questionnaires, the authors state that students’ understanding of AI technology improved during the workshop. Students used Scratch in this workshop as this visual programming environment proved to be easy-to-use even for those who do not have any programming experience. Due to its playful environment, Scratch creates engaging experience and enables to develop computational thinking skills, including problem formulation for computer to understand, critical thinking in assessing feasibility of the results, data analysis, etc. It also enables to develop reasoning skills in determining links of the output and modifications of the algorithm by experimenting with the programming code. These skills are of high importance in solving complex problems.

Point of Strength
The authors present the results of artificial intelligence (AI) workshop and its impact to students’ understanding for AI in the real life.