Build an Impactful AI Project as a Middle Schooler
Ever wonder how self-driving cars work? Or if chatbots will be able to hold human-like conversations? Or how can AI be leveraged to tackle some of today’s biggest issues including climate change and social justice?
Inspirit AI students will work collaboratively in small groups of 5-6 students to implement a mentor-led socially impactful AI project.
Project Highlights from 2023
Disease Diagnosis
Students delve into the applications of AI in healthcare, including diagnosing medical conditions and tracing the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chatbots for Good
Students learn how chatbots and voice assistants like Siri and Alexa are built, and then deploy their own versions.
Self-Driving Cars
Students understand the different technologies that go into self-driving cars, and train their own models to navigate the road.
Sustainable Apps
Students think about the ways AI can be applied to environmental sustainability, and build their own recycling sorter app.
Project Curriculum Developers
Meet some of our exceptional team working to develop exciting new projects based on their own research and expertise in AI.
Kayla Holman
Education: MIT, Master’s in Computer Science
MIT, Bachelor’s in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
Research Experience: Kayla’s expertise lies in robotics—she previously worked on autonomous driving at Cruise and robotics software at Vecna Robotics. She also researched methods for factory line operators to effectively work alongside robots.
Greta Farrell
Education: MIT, Bachelor’s in Mathematical Economics, Minor in Public Policy
Industry Experience: Greta has experience teaching in a variety of schools—urban, rural, suburban, as well as public, charter, private, and boarding. Before joining Inspirit as a curriculum developer, she taught middle and high school math at Khan Lab School.
Erica Yuen
Arts and Humanities Projects
Education: MIT, Master’s in Computer Science
MIT, Bachelor’s in Computer Engineering
Research Experience: Erica’s work focuses on Human-Computer Interaction, computer vision, image processing. She also has research experience exploring how we can use machine learning to enable creativity.
“Pioneers is my favorite program to teach.
I love the enthusiasm every student brings—they are all so excited to learn! I’ve watched students develop lifelong passions for AI and gain the skills necessary to pursue those dreams. I love giving students that opportunity.”
– David McCowin, Instructor & Curriculum Manager, Yale Student
Middle School Program Offerings
AI Adventurers: Level 1
Grades 2-5
AI Fundamentals
Paper Programming
Block-Based Coding
UX/UI Design Basics
Storytelling
AI Creators:
Grades 5-7
Real World AI Applications
AI + Ethics
Block-Based Coding
UX/UI Design Basics
Project-Building
AI Pioneers:
Grades 7-8
Python Programming
AI Algorithms + Techniques
Web App Deployment
NLP Chatbot Creation
AI + Social Good Projects
