Leaders and advocates of STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) take learning beyond just the academics offered in the classroom. Through TryEngineering, IEEE Volunteers are able to make STEM outreach projects a reality that reach school-aged children around the world. TryEngineering empowers educators and supports volunteers by providing STEM resources, including peer-reviewed lesson plans, at no cost. The IEEE Pre-University STEM Grant Program offers the opportunity for financial support to start, sustain, or scale selected STEM outreach projects in local communities. In 2025, 58 programs were selected as STEM grant recipients.
One of these programs was AI Adventure: Discovering Tomorrow Together!, a skills-building STEM program designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of artificial intelligence (AI). Engaging 71 school students, 4 teachers, and 40 volunteers, the workshop was designed to cultivate early interest in AI and foster practical learning through interactive activities. Participants explored 10 basic modules, developed using resources from AI Singapore and IEEE TryEngineering, culminating in a checkpoint‑based exploration challenge game. The initiative focused on helping students understand AI technology and its potential, preparing them for future challenges in this rapidly advancing field. Quizzes and surveys were conducted to measure understanding and gather feedback.
After the program, TryEngineering was able to conduct an interview with the program’s leaders:
What inspired you to create your program and get involved with STEM outreach at the pre-university level?
The program was inspired by the need to make artificial intelligence more accessible and relatable to young learners. It sought to explain AI concepts and show that innovation in this field was not limited to experts, but was open to a creative and curious younger generation. The program also emphasized ethical awareness, helping students understand the responsible use of AI in a data‑driven world. By connecting AI to real life applications, from social media to smart devices, it inspired participants to see its relevance in their daily lives and think critically about how they could use AI to address global challenges.
How did you measure the program’s impact?
The program was evaluated by collecting feedback from participants, which indicated its strong reception and effectiveness. It successfully helped students understand how engineering and artificial intelligence were applied to solve real‑life problems. Participants reported learning new concepts about AI and greatly enjoyed the hands-on, group‑based activities, finding them both fun and engaging. A significant outcome was that the program inspired students to envision themselves as future engineers, AI developers, or tech creators.
- The program achieved an average rating of 4.65 out of 5 from 68 responses, with 77.9% of participants giving it the highest 5‑star rating.
- 74% of participants reported learning new concepts about AI during the event.
- 82% of participants found the AI Explorace activities fun and engaging.
- Over half (51.5%) of participants were inspired to consider careers as engineers, AI developers, or tech creators.
AI Adventure: Discovering Tomorrow Together! was a recipient of the 2025 IEEE Pre-University STEM Grant Program and funded by the IEEE Computer Society (CS). To learn more about TryEngineering and IEEE Computer Society’s partnership, be sure to visit the CS Collection Page.