A Development and Application of an Artificial Intelligence Education Program Using Nobel Engineering for Lower Grades of Elementary School

Objectives This study aimed to develop and apply an AI education program suitable for lower-grade elementary students using the Nobel Engineering teaching method, and to verify the effectiveness of the developed program. Methods An AI education program was developed based on the ADDIE model and applied to 23 second-grade elementary students. The program's effectiveness in improving students' convergent problem-solving skills was verified using a relevant assessment tool. In developing the program, consideration was given to the developmental stages, learning levels, and interests of lower-grade students. 《The Wolf and the Seven Little Goats》 by the Brothers Grimm was selected as the Nobel Engineering book, and decision tree algorithms and supervised learning models were used as learning strategies to solve the problems within the story. Results The AI education program, designed for lower-grade elementary students using Nobel Engineering, was structured over five sessions with a total of 13 lessons and was implemented in a school setting. As a result, the students were able to propose solutions using decision tree algorithms and supervised learning models when solving the story's problems. Additionally, when lessons involving decision tree algorithms and supervised learning (Teachable Machine) were applied, the repeated practice led to internalization, which resulted in a significant improvement in the students' convergent problem-solving skills, as confirmed by the second post-test. Conclusions The results of this study suggest that AI education programs that consider the developmental stages, learning levels, and interests of lower-grade students are applicable. It is hoped that AI education programs suitable for lower-grade students will continue to be developed. Furthermore, if lower-grade students can internalize the use of decision tree algorithms and supervised learning (Teachable Machine) through repeated practice, their convergent problem-solving skills can improve.