BEIJING, September 19 (Xinhua) – At the first branch of Beijing National Day School, sixth graders in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) class are learning coding to build their own intelligent agents with the enthusiasm of budding engineers.
Given the task of understanding AI and its applied logic of real-world applications, students were guided by teachers to create an AI agent that could talk to Qian Xuesen, a pioneer of China's space program. “It makes my thinking more dynamic and creative,” said student Saint-Yufen.
This moving scene reflects the wider shifts unfolding across Beijing, adding to general education at over 1,400 primary and secondary schools this semester, with comprehensive efforts to boost AI literacy among students.
These schools offer at least eight AI classes per grade, leading students to understand the basics of AI, use it responsibly, and ultimately apply it in innovative ways. The course is designed to foster creativity and enhance problem-solving skills through real-life projects, as reported by state broadcaster CCTV.
The move coincides with China's broader national efforts to accelerate AI adoption across the industry.
At the beginning of August, the Council of State released a policy document on the promotion of the “AI+” initiative, setting China's AI development strategy for the next decade.
The policy calls for the integration of AI into all aspects of education, innovating human-cooperative education models, and changing the focus of education from knowledge transfer to capacity building.
Wang Pan, deputy director of Beijing's Board of Education, needs to focus equally on developing scenarios that will allow AI to be explored, perceived and applied while improving AI literacy in children.
Many schools in Beijing have adopted a context-specific approach to cultivating students' AI literacy in a focused and effective way.
For example, Beijing Hong Kong Junior High School organized its AI curriculum into three layers. “The first tier consists of activities such as corporate visits, interdisciplinary projects, events such as mathematics and science festivals, with its main goal being to introduce students to AI. The second tier consists of courses that deeply integrate AI with academic subjects and industry.
Some schools are also considering collaborating with companies to enhance AI education.
Based in Beijing's economic and technological development area, the branch of Beijing No. 2 Middle School has partnered with local high-tech companies to allow students to experience firsthand the latest AI technologies, such as robots and simulated autonomous driving systems.
School teachers work with corporate engineers to develop curricula and teach AI courses.
“We maintain close collaboration with high-tech developers and invite students to mentor high-tech experts and senior engineers from major industries,” said Niu Shaofaua, School Branch.
AI offers opportunities for education innovation, but also poses new challenges. Educators have expressed concern that excessive dependence on AI could lead to intellectual dependence among students.
In response, the Ministry of Education released guidelines for AI education in elementary and junior high schools in May. The guidelines emphasized the need to prevent excessive reliance on technology, prohibit the direct submission of AI-generating tasks for assignments and exam answers, and prevent the misuse of AI in creative tasks.
Experts say AI education remains in the early experimental stages. To ensure a scientifically designed curriculum, a stronger top-level plan is needed, helping students develop a balanced understanding of AI and use it appropriately to enhance both learning and daily life. ■
