AI textbook to develop real intelligence

THE nation’s first set of textbooks on artificial intelligence has had a trial run in Jiading District.

According to the publisher East China Normal University Press, the series will have 10 volumes with six volumes published so far. Each has its own theme with 12 to 14 main chapters and 2 to 4 chapters of activities.

Editor Wang Jiqing said yesterday the books have been used in three schools and has been well received by students.

“By learning artificial intelligence systematically, students can grow into the new era when robots and artificial intelligence will be commonplace,” said Wang.

The textbooks not only teach the students computer skills, but also engineering, along with information and technology literacy, emphasizing practice and encouraging innovation.

This series covers the educational demands of students from primary school to high school on AI and provides a systematic a framework of AI knowledge.

Practical tasks help students at all levels to understand the basics better and generate creative thinking while building the curiosity that spawns innovation.

Last year the State Council introduced the next-generation artificial intelligence development plan, asking AI courses in primary and secondary schools, but there are still some difficulties in the AI education industry.

“Although the government is now giving great support to AI education, we still face challenges on the development of AI education, such as the lack of a place in the curriculum system at schools, lack of properly trained teachers and teaching resources,” said Pang Jianxin, vice president of Shenzhenbased AI and robotics company UBTECH which assisted in formulating the textbook.

Fan Lei of Capital Normal University said the popularity of AI is growing and it’s good to see a textbook which covers many learning stages.