Elementary AI foundations · readiness based

E1. Elementary AI Literacy & First Student-Owned Project

Using no-code tools such as Scratch and Teachable Machine, students collect data, compare models under two conditions, and explain errors and limitations in their own words. E1 is not direct KOAI preparation or an automatic portfolio course; it builds readiness and a first student-owned learning record for later AI study.

🎯 Readiness based · Grades 2-3 commonly recommended ⏱ Recommended about 10 hours · online/in person · 1:1/small-group (1:n) 🧩 Reading · basic controls · self-explanation check 📝 Learning record ≠ automatic submission

Published: May 16, 2026 | Last updated: August 30, 2026 · Ended KOAI 2026 official record checked

Choose the AI-portfolio route that matches the student's school goal

CIT supports Apgujeong in-person lessons and online lessons across Korea or overseas. Each route begins with the current school, division and admissions rules.

At a Glance

Track

AI foundation record

Not direct KOAI preparation

Entry basis

Readiness based

Grades 2-3 common, not fixed

Recommended Hours

About 10 hours

Adjusted by class format · varies 6-14 hours

KOAI Mapping

Not direct prep

Recheck future official rules

Learning Goals

By the end of E1, students can explain visually and experientially what AI is and how it learns. They collect data, compare two model conditions, and explain what changed, where the model failed, and what data might be needed next. Korean-English AI vocabulary, computational thinking and data intuition are built alongside that explanation.

E1 is not direct KOAI preparation. The ended 2026 season accepted enrolled students in Grades 7-9 and 10-12; elementary students were not eligible for that season. The value of E1 is a foundation for explaining one's own question, data, experiment and errors, not a promise of future selection. Future eligibility and format must be checked in the new season's official rules.

Who It's For & Prerequisites

Recommended for students who

  • Students for whom Grades 2-3 are a common guide but readiness comes first
  • Students who need practice explaining their own data and model results
  • A student meeting AI for the first time who wants to spark interest through hands-on experience
  • A curious student with no coding experience

Prerequisites

We check whether the student can read short instructions, use a mouse and keyboard, and explain an activity result in their own words. E1 is for students with no Python experience and requires no separate prior coding. Python begins in the next course, E2.

Week-by-Week Curriculum

Below is the standard plan for online or Apgujeong in-person, 1:1 or small-group lessons. Content units may be compressed or extended according to readiness and pace. Core tools: Scratch + ScratchML, Google Teachable Machine, Quick Draw, AutoDraw, AI for Oceans (code.org), Google AI Experiments.

Week Topic Key Deliverable
1-2What is AI: comparing how humans, animals, and machines learnKorean-English AI vocabulary cards
3-4How computers see pictures (Quick Draw, AutoDraw)A first data-collection activity
5-6How computers hear speech (speech recognition experience)A voice-command interactive
7-9Training a first model with Teachable Machine (image classification)One classification model
10-11Bias and fairness (kid-friendly examples)Case discussion notes
12-15Scratch + ScratchML mini-projectAn AI-powered mini-game
16-18Data intuition (reading graphs and tables, collecting everyday data)One data visualization
19-20Presentation to family & friendsPresentation video

※ Weeks are content units; actual time varies by student. Recommended about 10 hours, ranging 6-14 hours.

Assessment & Deliverables

Weekly Deliverables

Students keep Korean-English AI vocabulary cards, a data-collection sheet, a two-condition model comparison, error examples, and bias-and-fairness discussion notes. Public links are used only with guardian consent and where platform age and sharing rules allow; otherwise evidence stays local.

Capstone

Students create one Scratch AI project and one Teachable Machine demo, then explain their question, data source, comparison result, errors, limitations, and help received. Reproducible explanation matters more than the number of outputs.

A learning record does not automatically become a portfolio

E1 outputs are the student's own first AI learning records. Scratch or Teachable Machine results and public links do not by themselves become a KOAI, science/gifted-school, international-school EC, or university submission. Before submitting anything, check the current year, division and school's official rules, allowed format, privacy, copyright and student-authorship requirements.

Student authorship

The student explains the question, data, comparison, revision and their own role

Sources and support

Record data source and consent, mentor or generative-AI help, and limitations

Submission decision

Submit only a format permitted by the current official rules

Official-record boundary · checked August 30, 2026

On KITPA's ended KOAI 2026 official page, the High School first-stage portfolio review was weighted at 40%. The Middle School division did not publish the same 40% portfolio review. This is an ended 2026 High School division record, not a rule for future seasons, other divisions, or school admissions.

Where This Course Fits

E1 is a readiness-based introduction before considering later Python and machine-learning study. See the KOAI Curriculum Hub for the learning sequence, while any competition entry follows the future season's official rules.

Previous Step (Prerequisite)

Readiness check

Reading, basic controls, self-explanation

Current Course

E1. Elementary AI Introduction

No-code AI literacy

Next step

E2. Elementary Python + Data

Start Python

Frequently Asked Questions

What readiness matters more than grade?

Grades 2-3 are a common recommendation, not a fixed starting rule. We first check whether a student can read short instructions, use a mouse and keyboard, and explain their own data and model result in their own words.

Does E1 prepare directly for KOAI?

No. E1 is a no-code AI literacy and first student-owned learning-record course. The ended KOAI 2026 season accepted enrolled middle-school and high-school students, so elementary E1 was not an entry course for that season. Future eligibility and dates must be checked in that season's official rules.

Is it okay if my child has never coded before?

Yes. E1 is designed for students with no Python experience; they explore AI principles using no-code tools like Scratch and Teachable Machine. Python begins in the next course, E2.

Do E1 outputs become a KOAI or school portfolio?

It does not happen automatically. Scratch and Teachable Machine outputs are learning records. The student's own question, data source and consent, comparison criteria, errors, limitations, role, and mentor or AI support must be explainable. Submission is a separate decision only where the current competition or school's official rules allow it.

Who did KOAI's 40% portfolio rule apply to?

The ended 2026 High School division assigned 40% to the first-stage portfolio review. The Middle School division did not publish the same 40% portfolio review. That archived rule cannot be generalized to a future season or to science schools, gifted schools, international schools, or university admissions.

What comes after E1?

Depending on readiness and goals, students may consider E2 (Elementary Python + Data), E3 (Elementary First ML), and later M1. This is a recommended learning sequence, not a promise of KOAI eligibility, selection, or awards; any entry must follow the future season's official rules.

E1 consultation

We check reading, basic controls, self-explanation readiness and goals to choose an online or Apgujeong in-person starting point. Awards, selection and admissions outcomes are not guaranteed.

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