Lesson 1: Project Planning and Design (1 hour)

Learning Objectives

• Identify problems that AI can solve
• Plan an AI project from concept to implementation
• Design a project that uses appropriate AI tools
• Understand project requirements and constraints

Materials Needed

• Project planning templates
• Examples of AI projects
• Brainstorming tools
• Student notebooks
• Internet connection for research

Time Breakdown

• Introduction to project-based learning (10 min)
• Identifying problems and opportunities (15 min)
• Project planning process (20 min)
• Project proposal development (12 min)
• Wrap-up and homework (3 min)

Activities

1. Introduction to Project-Based Learning (10 min)

What is Project-Based Learning?

• Learning by doing
• Creating something real
• Solving actual problems
• Applying what you've learned

Benefits:

• Deeper understanding
• Real-world skills
• Creativity and problem-solving
• Portfolio piece
• Fun and engaging!

Project Goals:

• Create something useful or interesting
• Use AI tools you've learned about
• Apply concepts from the course
• Learn through experimentation
• Have fun!

Project Requirements:

• Must use AI/ML in some way
• Should solve a problem or serve a purpose
• Must be documented
• Must be presented
• Should consider ethical implications

Timeline:

• Lesson 1: Plan and propose
• Lesson 2: Begin development
• Lesson 3: Continue development, testing
• Lesson 4: Finish development, prepare presentation
• Lesson 5: Present projects

2. Identifying Problems and Opportunities (15 min)

Where Do Ideas Come From?

1. Personal Problems:

• Something that frustrates you
• Something you wish existed
• Daily challenges
• Example: Organizing photos, finding lost items

2. Community Problems:

• Problems in your school, neighborhood
• Ways to help others
• Improving daily life
• Example: Helping students study, organizing events

3. Interests and Hobbies:

• Something you're passionate about
• Ways to enhance hobbies
• Tools for your interests
• Example: Music recommendation, sports analysis

4. Learning Opportunities:

• Something you want to learn more about
• Experimenting with AI
• Exploring possibilities
• Example: Trying new AI tools, combining technologies

Activity: Brainstorming Session

Individual Brainstorming (5 min):

• Students list problems they face
• List things they wish existed
• List interests and hobbies
• List things they want to learn

Group Sharing (5 min):

• Share ideas with class
• Build on each other's ideas
• Get feedback
• Refine ideas

Idea Evaluation (5 min):

• Is it feasible with available tools?
• Does it use AI meaningfully?
• Is it interesting to you?
• Can it be completed in time?

3. Project Planning Process (20 min)

Project Planning Steps:

1. Define the Problem:

• What problem are you solving?
• Who is it for?
• Why does it matter?
• Clear problem statement

2. Define the Solution:

• How will AI solve this?
• What AI tools/techniques will you use?
• What will the output be?
• Clear solution description

3. Identify Tools and Resources:

• What tools will you use?
  • Teachable Machine?
  • AI APIs?
  • No-code platforms?
  • Other tools?
• What data do you need?
• What resources are available?

4. Break Down Tasks:

• What are the steps?
• What needs to happen first?
• What can be done in parallel?
• Timeline for each step

5. Consider Ethics:

• Any ethical concerns?
• Who might be affected?
• Privacy considerations?
• Bias considerations?

Example Project Plan:

Project: Plant Disease Detector

Problem: Gardeners have trouble identifying plant diseases early.

Solution: Image classification app that identifies plant diseases from photos.

Tools:

• Teachable Machine (image classification)
• Plant disease image dataset
• Simple web interface or app

Tasks:

1. Collect/gather plant disease images
2. Train model in Teachable Machine
3. Test model accuracy
4. Create simple interface
5. Test with real users
6. Document and present

Ethics:

• Accuracy important (medical implications)
• Should not replace professional diagnosis
• Privacy of user photos

Activity: Create Your Project Plan

Students work on their project plans:

• Use planning template
• Define problem and solution
• Identify tools and resources
• Break down tasks
• Consider ethics
• Get feedback from teacher/peers

4. Project Proposal Development (12 min)

Project Proposal Format:

1. Project Title:

• Clear, descriptive name

2. Problem Statement:

• What problem are you solving?
• Why does it matter?

3. Solution Description:

• How will you solve it?
• What AI will you use?

4. Tools and Resources:

• What tools/platforms?
• What data?
• What other resources?

5. Timeline:

• What will you do each lesson?
• Milestones

6. Success Criteria:

• How will you know it's successful?
• What does "done" look like?

7. Ethical Considerations:

• Any concerns?
• How will you address them?

Activity: Write Project Proposal

Students write brief proposals (1-2 pages):

• Use proposal template
• Include all sections
• Be specific and clear
• Submit for teacher feedback

5. Wrap-Up and Homework (3 min)

Key Takeaways:

• Projects should solve real problems
• Planning is important
• Use appropriate tools
• Consider ethics

Homework:

• Finalize project proposal
• Gather any needed resources
• Come ready to start building next class!

Preview: Next lesson - We'll start building your projects!

Differentiation Strategies

• Younger students: Simpler projects, more guidance, structured templates
• Older students: More complex projects, more autonomy, deeper analysis
• Struggling learners: Provide project ideas, pair with partner, more scaffolding
• Advanced learners: Encourage innovation, more complex tools, independent research

Assessment

• Quality of project proposal
• Feasibility of project plan
• Understanding of planning process
• Consideration of ethical issues

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