Date: 2 April 2026
Venue: Darlin Sofola Cinnamon Centre
Partnership School: Surulere Girls Senior Secondary School
The AI Literacy outreach session, delivered by the AI4AI team in partnership with Surulere Girls Senior Secondary School at the Darlin Sofola Cinnamon Centre, successfully introduced 11 female secondary school students to the foundations of Artificial Intelligence and the principles of responsible and ethical AI use. The interactive workshop blended core AI concepts, real-life applications, hands-on activities, and thoughtful ethical discussions to build critical thinking and digital responsibility in an intimate, highly engaging setting.
The session began with warm introductions followed by a pre-evaluation form. It was facilitated entirely by the AI4AI team and maintained a vibrant, student-centered atmosphere throughout. Students showed strong curiosity, active participation, and genuine eagerness to explore AI responsibly.
Pre-Session
Following introductions, the program opened with students completing a pre-evaluation form. This important step enabled the facilitators to gauge the group’s existing knowledge of Artificial Intelligence and tailor the content to meet their specific needs and interests.
AI Literacy Session
The core presentation began at the heart of the workshop with a clear and relatable introduction covering:
- What Artificial Intelligence (AI) is
- The mission and work of AI4AI
- Simple, everyday explanations of AI
Students were warmly invited to share their own understanding and prior experiences with AI tools. The diverse baseline of knowledge in the room created an immediate spark of curiosity and set a highly engaging tone for the entire session.
AI Around Us
Students explored how AI is already woven into their daily lives, from school tools to popular mobile applications. This segment transformed AI from an abstract concept into a familiar reality. Students enthusiastically shared examples of AI tools they already use, making the discussion lively, relatable, and personal.
A key focus was placed on responsible AI use in education and daily life. The core message was:
“AI should augment, rather than replace, human critical thinking.”
Facilitators emphasized using AI as a supportive tool while preserving originality, critical thinking, and academic honesty.
To bring these ideas to life, the trainer facilitated a Practical AI Use-Case activity. Students collaboratively developed a hypothesis for using AI-powered cameras to detect and track littering on school premises. This relatable, real-world scenario naturally led into deeper conversations about AI ethics and potential biases in detection systems. Students confidently presented their ideas, demonstrating creativity and critical thinking.
Understanding Generative AI
The session then introduced Generative AI, covering:
- What it is
- Different forms (text, images, etc.)
- How tools like ChatGPT and similar platforms work
Many students were already familiar with these tools, which made the segment highly interactive as they actively contributed their own experiences.
Interactive AI Activity
Students participated in a hands-on exercise using Google’s QuickDraw. This practical activity vividly demonstrated how AI systems recognize patterns and learn from user input, further reinforcing the concepts in an engaging and memorable way.
Responsible Use & AI Ethics
A significant portion of the workshop was dedicated to AI Ethics. Students were encouraged to become responsible digital citizens who understand not just the “how” of AI, but the important “why” behind it. The team reinforced core principles for academic and personal use:
- Utilizing AI as a Guide – using the technology for support rather than as a shortcut
- Preserving Originality – maintaining academic honesty and personal voice
- Exercising Critical Thinking – avoiding over-reliance on automation
- Verifying Information – understanding that AI outputs are not always factual
- Proper Citation – acknowledging AI as a source when used to generate ideas
Q&A and Post-Session Survey
The session concluded with a dynamic and insightful Q&A segment, where students asked thoughtful questions and shared reflections. A concise recap of the day’s key takeaways was provided, followed by a post-session survey to measure learning outcomes and shifts in perspective.
Challenges & Learnings
The session ran smoothly with excellent flow. The only notable “challenge” was the students’ remarkable enthusiasm – they expressed a strong desire for the workshop to continue well beyond the scheduled time. The team channeled this positive energy by providing guidance on how students could continue exploring AI resources independently outside the classroom.
Conclusion
The outreach session was highly insightful, engaging, and impactful, delivering overwhelmingly positive feedback while successfully igniting genuine interest in Artificial Intelligence among the learners. The small group size allowed for deeper interactions and meaningful connections, leaving the students empowered as curious, critical, and ethically minded future users of technology.
With the same level of student enthusiasm and thoughtful facilitation, future sessions promise to be equally rewarding. The day highlighted the power of even intimate workshops to spark lasting curiosity and responsible innovation.
