PORTFOLIO

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are key disruptive technologies that are affecting many industries, from manufacturing to finance and education. Mostly based on data collections and algorithms, AI and ML are research and application fields that point to make computers that think, view and take decisions like human beings. While in the field of STEAM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) programs on robotics and programming for young students are very popular, there is a lack of initiatives and resources on how to bring AI and ML teachings at the level of the high or vocational schools.

Machine Learning @School Camp is a training on concepts and technologies of Machine Learning addressed to young students of vocational schools. Through the use of open resources, interactive demos and tools, the students experience a design-driven process to learn competences on how to make digital projects based on Machine Learning, and how to ideate and fast prototype solutions that have an impact on people.

The camp aimed:
- to teach ML technologies to students of vocational schools through the organization of a pilot camp at Centro Professionale Trevano - Computer Science section;
- to offer a training based on hands-on activities and a project-based learning approach to support the development of digital skills (creativity and problem-solving) and to connect the students with people’s real needs (and future entrepreneurial ideas);
- to create a set of resources and an open methodology in such a way that it will be possible to replicate the camp at vocational and training schools in Ticino and Switzerland. 

The project proposed the ideation and distribution of a four-days pilot camp within the program of the second year of the informatics section at SAMT Scuola Arte e Mestieri Trevano. The pilot program introduced 23 students of SAMT to the principles of ML technologies and helped them to generate innovative applications. In particular, the goal was to create controllers for video-games based on ML gesture recognition techniques. The students were involved in a series of didactic activities based on lectures, demonstrations and, in particular, hands-on prototyping.

All didactic activities and resources are documented in a website featuring an Open Instructable in four languages (Italian, English, German and French) accessible online at this page https://www.ml-camp.supsi.ch/risorse. Thanks to the release of open education resources the tools and the methods it is possible to implement effective learning activities through a creative and design-driven process.

L'intelligenza artificiale nei progetti di 23 giovani ticinesi, LaRegione, 27.6.2019