Broadening artificial intelligence education in K-12: Where to Start?

Moving from steam and waterpower, electricity and assembly lines, and computerization, to the adoption of cyber-physical systems, the Internet of Things and the Internet of Systems executed as intelligent machines, the world now dives into a new era called by some the Fourth Industrial Revolution. New discussions are conducted regarding what implications this has for the education of today’s generation—and that of those in the decades to come. As artificial intelligence (AI) branching from computer science (CS) is becoming more ubiquitous and seamless behind the scene in our daily life, many countries have dedicated significant amounts of resources in order to fuel research to maximize their leverage of this continually developing technology. This renewed interest in AI has sparked discourse about the importance of AI knowledge, concepts, and computational skills for young people, and about the introduction of CS education in K-12. This article aims to reshape the concepts of AI through the lens of historical development in computing industry and education, and to uncover a new direction for AI education in K-12 around the globe.