Exploring Interests and Innovation in Middle School Clubs

If you walk into the MacArthur Campus on a Tuesday morning between 8:30 and 9:15 am, you’ll notice the building buzzing with extra excitement. That’s because it’s the weekly clubs period. From Lego Robotics to Helping Dogs to Creative Writing to Geography to Music Production, Clubs offer middle schoolers another opportunity for choice as well as a chance to spend time with students in other grades.
 
This year, Librarian Jamila Felton and Assistant Head of Middle School Leah Corradi are partnering with many club leaders to explore how AI tools can enhance the club members’ experiences. Over the past two weeks, members of the Lego Robotics team have learned about AI ethics and prompting as they work toward completing the research challenge that is part of the First Lego League competition they are planning to attend later this year. Students engaged with MagicSchool AI tools and Harvard Graduate School of Education’s GrAIdients tool to deepen their understanding of AI use and their research topic, which centers on understanding archaeology.

The goal is to visit as many clubs as possible so students can learn about and explore AI in the context of high-interest, real-world challenges and projects.