TRACES AI Literacy Workshop Empowers Secondary Students with Foundational AI Skills

TRACES successfully conducted an AI literacy workshop for 18 students at Pui Ching Middle School (PCMS) on September 25. Titled “AI Foundations: Emerging Across Boundaries,” the 90-minute session equipped students with a core understanding of Artificial Intelligence (AI), marking a key step in TRACES’ mission to bring transdisciplinary education beyond the university level and empower the next generation of thinkers, creators, and problem-solvers.

“I never imagined a complicated AI topic could be explained in such a simple and easy-to-understand way,” said a teacher from Pui Ching Middle School.

Exploring AI Through Knowledge

The workshop was designed as part of TRACES’ AI Literacy Series, tailored for curious minds with or without prior knowledge of AI. Structured in four sections, it guided students from the very foundations of artificial intelligence to its transformative role across diverse fields:

• What is AI? – Understanding AI as a concept and its basic applications.

• Differentiating AI from Other Technologies – Comparing rule-based programming with machine learning and pattern recognition.

• Large Language Models (LLMs) – A deep dive into systems like ChatGPT and DeepSeek, showing how they generate human-like responses.

• AI Across Disciplines – Exploring how AI reshapes fields as varied as healthcare, law, philosophy, education, and arts.

Learning by Doing: Interactive AI Exercises

Key concepts were reinforced through interactive exercises:

• Image Classification Challenge: Students tested their ability to recognize cats in increasingly difficult images, moving from clear photos to partial images and finally artistic depictions. This highlighted how Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) are trained to process patterns beyond the obvious.

• AI Brainstorming Session: In groups, students reimagined everyday technologies (like traffic lights or football matches) by incorporating machine learning. Each team presented their ideas in one-minute pitches, building not only technical understanding but also communication and collaboration skills.

• Acting as a Large Language Model: Students simulated the “next-word prediction” process of an LLM by continuing a story one word at a time. At first, they played cautiously (“low temperature”), choosing the most predictable word and they eventually tried a more creative mode where they experimented with unexpected ideas. This exercise demonstrated how AI balances predictability and creativity in text generation.

The workshop had a measurable impact. Pre-workshop surveys showed only 42.9% of students felt comfortable explaining AI to a friend. Afterwards, that number rose significantly to 73.7%.

"Our goal with the AI Literacy Series is to bridge the gap between university-level research and secondary education," said CHAN Chun Hei (King), one of the workshop speakers. "We are committed to empowering the next generation with the knowledge that is shaping our future, and we are thrilled with the positive impact of this session."

"We have two focuses in this workshop: knowledge across disciplines and presentation skills." said SHUM Hou Zit (Damien), another speaker of the event. "In our rapidly changing world, it is no longer enough to just stick to one field, the younger generation most of all. By gaining knowledge in a tech that is actively shaping our future and the wide range of potential it has, we aim to equip students with what it takes to thrive. Beyond that, in the world of tech, we want to stay connected as people, and being able to communicate our ideas to others. I am very proud to see students achieving this in our workshop."

Why It Matters

Artificial Intelligence is no longer science fiction – it is shaping industries, education, and daily life. By introducing AI literacy early, TRACES helps students move from being passive users of technology to becoming active shapers of their academic and professional futures.

Equally important, the workshop showcased the transdisciplinary nature of AI. Far beyond computer science, AI draws from mathematics, linguistics, psychology, ethics, and even art. Students left with a new perspective: that the most impactful solutions often emerge when knowledge from different fields intersects.

Looking Ahead

With the success of this workshop, TRACES looks forward to collaborating with more schools to create transformative learning experiences, fostering a growing community of young scholars and innovators prepared for the future.

About TRACES

TRACES is an undergraduate-led education initiative that fosters quality education and innovation through annual academic conferences, publications, and workshops on cutting-edge topics including AI, drone technology, and interdisciplinary research. It serves as a platform that empowers students to think critically, collaborate across disciplines, and prepare for the rapidly changing world of research and innovation.