‘Careers/Skills Talk: Video Games in Scotland: Risks, Opportunities & Myths’

Generative Artificial Intelligence Skills in Schools: Teaching, Reaching and Activating - Instructors Network (GenAISiS T.R.A.I.N.)

We are delighted to have received additional funding from Responsible AI UK. The new project, which runs from January to March 2026, builds upon our successful research initiative, Generative Artificial Intelligence Skills in Schools, which engaged school pupils in the co-creation of animated cartoon stories and an open educational toolkit on ethical AI use, privacy awareness, information and digital literacy, critical thinking and responsible communication. 

GenAiSiS T.R.A.I.N aims to demonstrate clear routes to impact for the delivery of these resources, leveraging synergy and collaboration with a well-established programme of public engagement at Aberdeen Science Centre (ASC), as a basis for building a train-the-trainer open access model for the sustainable delivery of the materials across schools, science centres and public libraries.

As it is now February, we have already completed our first set of engaging activities at ASC as part of the event 'Young Voices, Smart Choices: Exploring AI Together'. The activities opened the door to the fast‑changing world of generative AI, in a fun and engaging way, helping families, educators and young people to explore both the opportunities and the challenges that come with these powerful new technologies.

'Young Voices, Smart Choices: Exploring AI Together' brochure

Through hands‑on activities and creative exploration, the visitors explored:

🎨 Spotted bias and “AI hallucinations” in images created by children with AI
💬 Experimented with prompt engineering to see how wording transforms AI outputs
📚 Explored cartoon video stories voiced by real young people, based on their experiences with AI
🔐 Learned how AI uses data, and how young people can protect their privacy
🧠 Built critical media and information literacy skills to help navigate ‘artificial hallucinations’
🎤 Heard the voices of young people themselves through imaginative characters - their concerns, and ideas about an AI‑enabled future.

We are grateful to be collaborating with the amazing staff at ASC and meeting so many interesting people.

Alex Ritchie, delivering the sessions at ASC

The project Team at ASC

The GenAISiS project collaborated directly with secondary school students and school librarians to create open educational resources that empower young people to think critically, act responsibly and understand their rights when engaging with AI. Our work aligns with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, highlighting every young person’s right to privacy, access to reliable information, and protection from manipulation and harm in the digital world.

For those who are curious about how AI works, concerned about its impact or excited about its creative potential, we are also organising an online course that promises to be fun, and engaging, helping participants to explore important aspects for building an ethical AI future. The course is now fully booked, but we look forward to organising more events in the near future, and there is a waiting list to add your name, if you are interested, via this link: https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/robertgordonuniversity/genaisis-t-r-a-i-n-free-course

About the Programme

This programme is not about teaching children to use AI tools. Instead, we focus on:

• Understanding what AI is and how it works
• Recognising bias, stereotypes, and misinformation
• Protecting personal privacy and data
• Spotting AI hallucinations
• Thinking critically about AI’s impact on society.

All resources have been co‑created with young people and school librarians, making them age‑appropriate, safe and aligned with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

A Unique Feature of This Programme

• Participants will work with real examples of visuals created by young people, who used generative AI tools to explore the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including:Poverty
• Gender equality
• Clean water and sanitation
• Climate action.

These authentic youth‑generated images are a powerful way to discuss bias, representation, fairness, and misinformation- and they form the foundation of several activities in the course.

Week 1 - Introduction to AI & the GenAISiS/ TRAIN Project

A friendly, accessible introduction to generative AI, children’s rights in a digital world, and the role of AI in everyday technologies.

Week 2 - Game 1: Bias Buster & Hallucination Hunters

Participants will explore student‑generated AI visuals tied to the UN SDGs (poverty, gender equality, clean water, climate change). They will learn how to help young people identify:

• Bias and stereotypes
• Cultural misrepresentation
• Visual “AI hallucinations”
• Misleading or impossible imagery

Week 3 - Game 2: Bot or Not?

Participants will test their skills in deciding whether text came from a child, a teacher, or an AI - and learn how to run this critical literacy activity in their own environment.

Week 4 - Game 3: The Great Art Guess-Off

Using youth-created, artist and AI visuals participants will compare:

• AI‑generated images
• Artist-created work
• Child-created drawings

A fun way to teach visual literacy and help children think critically about authenticity and style in digital images.

A series of exciting activities on AI, co-created with young people

Echo Hey-Aye, the first ever AI teacher in our imaginative story

We look forward to meeting everyone in March and starting the activities! Thank you for the great interest.