Yes, high school students can absolutely learn artificial intelligence (AI).
As a rapidly advancing field, AI offers young learners a unique opportunity to engage with cutting-edge technology and develop skills that are crucial for the future job market. In today’s fast-paced tech world, AI is the newest and greatest discovery, with large language models (LLMs) transforming the field and helping people make good money by jumping into this type of market more quickly.
Thankfully, modern tech training teams (even high schools) are integrating artificial intelligence courses into their curriculum. As a result, now is the best time for teenagers fascinated with AI take AI classes for teens. In an industry as young as AI, most people have no more than a year or two of experience. That means teens can capture incredibly quickly with the industry’s primary leaders and join a fascinating career more quickly and efficiently than they expected.
Should Teens Learn AI in School? Yes!
Many high schools have begun integrating AI topics into their computer science courses. These classes typically cover fundamental concepts such as algorithms, machine learning models, and data analysis. Teachers might use simple AI tools and platforms that allow students to see AI in action, such as creating chatbots or simple predictive models. They may also study:
- Common Uses of AI: The world of AI has become even more expansive in recent years. ChatGPT was truly a game changer, and it has influenced a push into more investment in this field. As a result, teens might learn about how AI is used in day-to-day life and the unique ways that they can join this powerful and fascinating career field, particularly as it grows.
- How LLMs are Made: Large language models are a type of low-complexity AI that doesn’t truly make decisions but instead predicts what word will likely come next in a sentence to craft responses. Understanding how these databases are built and managed can help teens transition into this field in many markets, including quality testing and designing.
- Utilizing Python and Other Languages: Teens interested in coding may learn about Python and other languages used in AI. These powerful coding concepts help teenagers create new databases and handle them effectively. Just as importantly, it can improve an AI model’s functioning and ensure that it provides streamlined and effective results.
No AI Classes? Learning AI Outside of School for Teens
For more dedicated AI instruction, students can enroll in after-school programs or summer AI boot camps designed for teens. These programs often offer a more intensive and focused curriculum on AI, including hands-on projects and interactions with AI professionals. Some might come directly from a teenager’s school, while others are private institutions with more specialized learning opportunities. Just a few unique types to take include:
- After-School Classes: Some schools might offer courses after the bell rings for the day. These programs give teens hands-on experience in coding and cover important topics, such as Python and databases. In some areas, teens might attend afterschool programs provided by private training teams instead, which can significantly improve their learning scope.
- College Courses: Teens who live near community colleges can take dual-enrollment programs that give them both high school and college credits. That’s a huge deal because it can get teenagers out of high school, get their hands on college training materials, and learn how to work in this environment more effectively later in their lives.
- Summer Bootcamps: What about teens who want a fast-paced and engaging training experience during the summer? Well, AI bootcamps take no more than a few weeks to finish, meaning teens will be done with plenty of time to have fun. Just as importantly, they can summer bootcamps provide teens with a portfolio of great work to share with others.
Why High Schoolers Should Learn AI
Learning AI helps high school students build various skills and learn multiple complex ideas that can ensure that they fully understand this field. Even if they don’t master these complex ideas immediately (as complete mastery should take some time), getting the grounding lessons you need in these fields can ensure that they move into a college or professional career more easily. Just a few important things that they’ll learn in these courses include:
- Develop Programming Skills: AI requires a strong base in coding, which is essential for any technological or engineering field. Studying artificial intelligence is a smart way for teens to learn many important coding skills and how to use them effectively. Python, in particular, is essential for this important skill set.
- Automate Tasks: Understanding AI can lead students to create programs that automate simple tasks, like sorting data or even researching for assignments. They can even make cool AI programs to automate things like checking their homework for plagiarism, though that’s a pretty advanced skill that will likely come later in their education.
- Enhance Class Performance: AI tools can assist in solving complex problems in subjects like math and science. For example, teens can use AI to solve complex math problems in trigonometry, calculus, and even geometry. They can then use the AI to explain the problem and how to solve it, providing them with a better learning experience.
- Career Preparation: Early exposure to AI can give students a significant advantage in tech-oriented career paths. With artificial intelligence becoming even more important than ever, mastering it early in their careers can help young teens progress quickly to a rewarding field. Many AI jobs make six figures or more, depending on their unique scope.
The Relevance of AI in Various Careers
AI is not just for tech companies; it has applications in many fields. These are some of the highest-earning and most fascinating job opportunities available on the market today. If teens
- Coding and Software Development: AI is integral to developing smarter applications and software. For example, teens can use it to help write difficult lines of coding that they can then test and adapt to their needs. They can also use AI to test for errors or integrate it into their work, such as creating AI to answer questions in games.
- Data Science: AI techniques are used to interpret complex data sets and drive decision-making. For instance, data collectors can use AI to automate their processes and make them easier to sort. In this way, they can immediately weed out entries that they don’t need and make more informed and intelligent decisions.
- Healthcare: From diagnostic tools to personalized medicine, AI is revolutionizing how we address health challenges. For example, imagine a world where an AI model could immediately diagnose a person’s problem and provide an accurate prescription for their care.
- Finance: AI algorithms power things like fraud detection and automated trading systems. That’s huge! Banks struggling to protect their customers’ data could use streamlined artificial intelligence to ensure that only the proper people are trying to access information. It could also speed up trading and help avoid serious financial tragedies.
- Marketing: AI helps personalize customer experiences and optimize marketing strategies. For example, artificial intelligence could help marketing teams track customer information and use it to more accurately pitch details to specific users. That can help streamline the advertising experience and ensure that it goes smoothly for them.
Topics Typically Covered in AI Classes for Teen Students
Artificial intelligence classes typically work like any other complex subject. Teens work through multiple lessons quickly and learn about multiple topics, building off previously mastered ideas to improve their knowledge. As a result, it’s critical to understand this progression and the unique concepts a teenager is likely to master if they move through their course properly.
For Beginners: Important Lessons to Master
In the early stages of their learning, high schoolers will focus on basic (but in-depth) ideas that help them build towards a stronger mastery of AI concepts, such as:
- Introduction to AI: Here’s the basic start for all courses: understanding what AI is and isn't. For example, teens will learn whether LLMs are true artificial intelligence and what kind of other items simply don’t qualify. It’s simple but important to get out of the way.
- Basic Algorithms: Next, teens focus on learning how algorithms form the backbone of AI operations. Complex mathematical formulas help drive data collection and usage and ensure that teens can build on these theories to craft better AI models.
- Simple Machine Learning Models: Using tools like Python's Scikit-learn to create basic predictive models helps teenagers craft simple but effective machine-learning models that make AI easier to use. At this point, teens are ready to move on to complex lessons.
For More Advanced Learners: Getting Better and Better
Progressing through each beginner lesson, teens will gradually master more complex artificial intelligence theories and concepts, including things like:
- Neural Networks: By studying this concept, students will delve into the architecture that drives complex AI applications. They will learn how to craft the basic framework for AI tools and create complex thinking patterns that emulate human behavior.
- Natural Language Processing (NLP): Mastering this skill set helps teens learn about teaching computers to understand and interpret human language. Large language models utilize concepts like these and are the current AI trend to chase.
- Reinforcement Learning: This complex concept focuses on programming models that learn to make decisions. As AI models become more complex, mastering these tools will help teenagers transition into more advanced careers in AI.
NextGen Bootcamp AI Programs for High Schoolers
NextGen Bootcamps offers specialized AI programs tailored to high school students. Designed to supplant a high schooler’s education during a busy summer, NextGen’s bootcamps take only a week or two to complete. That’s a huge benefit for teenagers who want to have fun in the summer. Just as importantly, each course is comprehensive and can be taken in person or online, depending on where a teen is located or what technique they prefer the most.
Python Data Science & AI Machine Learning Program NYC
Python Data Science & AI Machine Learning Program NYC is a two-week course that covers Python, data science, and machine learning—the bedrock concepts that help make AI models hum! Teens learn about basic Python coding ideas and coding tasks, as well as data science ideas like Pandas, Matplotlib, Scikit-learn, and other packages that help make AI production easier. This course is suitable for beginners with no experience in coding.
Note that teens outside of The Big Apple can take Python Data Science & AI Machine Learning Live Online and get the same experience. Teens needing this course need a good computer with a strong internet connection to watch the streamlining video session. NextGen helps set up the class by syncing software on the computer to ensure that it’s handled properly. Courses also come with a free retake, meaning students can take it again if they fail in any way.
College AI Classes and Career Preparation for Students
While there is no specific AP course for AI, many colleges offer undergraduate courses in AI and machine learning. These courses are designed to build on the foundations laid in high school and prepare students for careers in various industries by teaching advanced AI concepts and applications. College AI classes often provide opportunities for internships, which are crucial for gaining experience and entering the workforce. These benefits include:
- Advanced Knowledge: Taking artificial intelligence classes early gives teens the groundwork they need to master this skill. Even a 14-year-old can benefit from this kind of knowledge because learning earlier helps solidify these concepts. Even if they can’t quite get the whole just yet, understanding the many earlier components can streamline this process.
- Faster Education: By taking early prep courses in AI, teens can speed up their education and save themselves money. Just think about it this way. Let’s say that a course from NextGen or a similar company earns teen college credits. They can then skip earlier 101-style courses that might not challenge students or even bore them while cutting back on their school time.
- Better Job Opportunities: Teenagers who are fascinated by LLMs and flabbergasted by how much money AI prompters make ($300,000 or more in many fields) will undoubtedly love learning more about artificial intelligence concepts. Teens with sharp minds and a love of tech will undoubtedly greatly enjoy transitioning into an AI-related career.
- Unique Learning Scope:When teens study artificial intelligence, they’re not just learning about data management, coding, and large language models. They also study neural networks, psychological concepts (such as how people make decisions), and even deep computer theories. All this information is essential to understand when mastering AI concepts.
AI education offers high school students the chance to engage with one of the most promising and fastest-growing fields. By starting early, students can build a strong foundation that will support their academic pursuits and professional careers in a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence. In fact, now is the best time for teenagers to get started because it will help them transition into this field more quickly and give them the background skills they need.