Why are you offering this class?

High school students are using AI, and most are doing so without guidance. As a result, teens are forming habits that undermine critical thinking, academic integrity, and independent learning. They need help navigating an AI-saturated world.

How does this work connect to your career as a professor?

At USC, I have the privilege of working with high-achieving students. They have made it clear to me that AI complicated their high school experiences. Using their input, my experience as a Fellow for USC's AI & Society Center, and my own research, I built this class to address students' needs. It is an extension of my work as an educator.

What will teens learn?

This workshop is practical and realistic. Teens will learn AI study tools, deep-level functions, and develop career readiness for AI in the workforce. Meanwhile, they will build strategies to avoid overreliance. This workshop gives teens the skills to use AI responsibly, think for themselves, and make informed decisions in a world where AI is already shaping how they learn and interact.

Why is this class important?

Adults invented the internet, smartphones, and social media. These technologies were given to children without much guidance or protection. Research and experience have shown us the consequences. The launch of AI is following the same trend. This class is a way to empower teens to understand and safely adapt to this new technology.