Fostering the ability to "think with AI" rather than "rely on AI"

Generative AI is becoming an increasingly familiar presence for children in their future learning and social lives.

On the other hand, there is a challenge that using generative AI by simply accepting its output or entrusting the thinking process to AI does not easily lead to the development of thinking and judgment skills.

In this context, what is important is not the utilization of generative AI itself, but for children to pose their own questions, verify information, and deepen their thoughts while making judgments based on evidence. The City Board of Education has been repeatedly asking questions with the aim of fostering the ability to "think with AI."

Developing teaching materials based on pilot practices and research

Since fiscal year 2023, the City Board of Education, in collaboration with the NPO Minna no Code, has been conducting practical research at pilot schools within the city on how generative AI should be utilized in educational activities. Through classes utilizing image recognition AI and text generation AI, efforts are being made to help students experientially understand the mechanisms and characteristics of AI and learn appropriate ways to interact with it.

Furthermore, the city has been designated for the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's "Generative AI Pilot School Project," and research is underway on the safe and effective utilization of generative AI from both educational and administrative perspectives.

Based on these practices and expert knowledge, the teaching materials created this time are structured according to the developmental stages from upper elementary school to junior high school, with content that allows students to learn about generative AI experientially.

Developing a class package for learning generative AI

The created "Generative AI Introduction Class Package" integrates lesson plans, class slides, and worksheets, making it ready for immediate use in schools. It is being introduced to each school starting in April 2026.

Main class content

Upper Elementary School: "Let's Get Along with AI" (4 hours total)

Late Elementary School: "Let's Use AI Wisely" (4 hours total)

Junior High School: "What is AI?" (2 hours total)

The classes cover not only text generation AI but also image recognition AI, and the content is designed to help students understand the mechanisms and characteristics of AI while touching upon the similarities and differences with programming they have learned so far.

A Generative AI Handbook for students to use while checking for themselves

The accompanying "Generative AI Handbook for Students" organizes rules and precautions for using generative AI in language that is easy for children to understand. The handbook includes:

What AI is good at

What AI is not good at Points for thinking about prompts (instructions)

The importance of verifying outputted information rather than believing it as is

It is designed to enable students to utilize generative AI while thinking for themselves.

Generative AI Handbook

From a "shortcut to learning" to a "companion for learning"

The Inzai City Board of Education aims to utilize generative AI not merely as a "tool for getting answers," but as a "companion for learning" that helps children pose questions, verify information, and deepen their own thoughts.

In the future, the teaching materials will be sequentially utilized in elementary and junior high schools within the city, and the achievements and challenges gained from practices at each school will be used to improve classes and school administration.

Furthermore, regarding the use of generative AI in school administration, while giving full consideration to the protection of personal and confidential information, efforts will be made to reduce the workload of teachers and enhance lesson preparation, aiming to secure more time for interacting with children and improve the quality of education.

Contact Information

Inzai City Board of Education, Education DX Promotion Office Chiba Prefecture TEL: 0476-33-4692

Materials: Generative AI Introduction Class Package and Student Handbook https://www.city.inzai.lg.jp/cmsfiles/contents/0000021/21879/AIhandbook.pdf

FACT BOX

  • Source: PR TIMES
  • Category: 教育