Da Vinci Students Demystify AI: Learning, Building, and Creating Chatbots in the Classroom
At Da Vinci Schools, the future is now as students dive deep into the world of artificial intelligence (AI) through hands-on, creative workshops that reveal the math and logic behind the technology shaping our daily lives.
High school students from across Da Vinci schools, including Communications, Connect, Design, and Science, recently participated in a Character ChatBot workshop co-facilitated by Russell Stoll and Tim Regalado, who are leading AI initiatives and training at Da Vinci, along with Dr. Christyna Serrano from UC Berkeley and PlayLab. PlayLab is a Da Vinci educational partner supporting teacher professional development and innovation in the AI space.
The session began with students openly discussing their views on AI, exploring its possibilities and ethical dilemmas. Dr. Serrano then broke down the science behind large language models like ChatGPT, explaining how these systems use mathematical patterns—not magic—to predict and generate language.
To promote healthy technology habits, students engaged in "Turning to Tech," an activity that challenged them to reflect on how, when, and why teens turn to digital tools like chatbots for support. This exercise encouraged balanced, mindful tech use, equipping students with the skills to navigate the digital world thoughtfully.
But the real magic happened when students became creators. Working in pairs and small groups, they designed and built their own character-driven chatbots using PlayLab. The range of creations was as diverse as the students themselves: one chatbot helped peers find school resources, another dove into spirited video game discussions, while others dispensed jokes and encouragement in the voices of beloved cartoon characters. Some bots were practical, some purely fun, but each one showcased the students’ creativity and empathy.
Through this immersive experience, Da Vinci students came to see that AI is built on logic and collaboration, not mystery. They left the workshop with a deeper understanding of technology—and a sense of empowerment to shape the digital world themselves.
More than 80 Da Vinci students have participated in recent AI workshops.
A few insights from participating students:
"This activity helped me to grow academically and personally as I learned that AI can be a really good tool for generating ideas, along with other things, to help push me along with my homework and activities. However, I also learned that AI should not be used to replace human work, as it is important to come up with your own ideas and to be creative. This class also taught me the importance of how AI is created and how I should take that into consideration when using AI." --DVS 9th grade student
"Learning about AI today has helped me prepare for future career pathways I might follow. Also, AI will get stronger in the future, too, so learning about it now would definitely give me a basic understanding to help me use it better now, as well as in the future." --DVC 9th grade student
"Today I would say the most important thing I learned would be the benefits and dangers of AI. I've been too dependent on artificial intelligence, so today taught me more about what I should and shouldn't be doing when using AI. I would also say another important thing I learned was how us teens or people in general find comfort in opening up to something that's not actually there. Lastly, learning how it works and how it's all math and our words are translated to numbers." --DVD 9th student.
