AI Tools in Action: Empowering Future Innovators and Bridging the Gender Gap in STEM at Strawberry Fields High School

May 13, 2024

The “Prompt Hacking” workshop was an engaging and immersive event for young girls in grades 8 and 9 at Strawberry Fields High School. A group of motivated students from Plaksha University took the stage to challenge gender-based biases in computer literacy. The Girls and Women who are a part of the STEM Club at Plaksha University (GWiST) led this initiative to educate and empower young girls in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), aiming to create an inclusive and thriving ecosystem that facilitates the advancement of girls and women in STEM endeavors. This workshop represented a step toward bridging the STEM gender gap and building a cohort of future change-makers in STEM careers.

The students participated in interactive activities designed to familiarize them with the world of chatbots, including ChatGPT and GitHub, with the goal of promoting gender equality and empowerment in STEM subjects. The workshop began with an introduction to chatbots and their applications across various industries. It provided the students with an understanding of one of the most significant breakthroughs in recent decades and allowed them to experience it firsthand. An overview of Large Language Models (LLMs) and GPT was provided, followed by an opportunity for students to engage with an online platform that prompted GPT to accept certain incorrect facts about the world.

Related quizzes were conducted periodically during the two-hour workshop, and students participated in interesting experiments in music, art, and filmmaking, using AI web tools, making the learning journey and basic awareness even more engaging for our young students.

The students recognized that from customer service to healthcare, chatbots have become ubiquitous in today’s digital landscape, making understanding them a valuable skill for aspiring technologists.

As the workshop concluded, the sense of empowerment in the room was palpable. The girls left inspired and excited, armed with newfound knowledge and confidence in their abilities. More importantly, they left with a renewed sense of possibility, knowing that they too could make their mark in the world of STEM.