The Best Vibes from the White House Office Hours Regarding AI EDU 4 YOUTH
Disclaimer: Everything below is a mix of what I observed and heard during the event. The goal isn’t to pinpoint "who exactly said what," but to share (usually) an outsider's view and overall perspective on these industries. I’m not here to act as a definitive firsthand source—readers should do their own research. I hope this inspires you to attend events, explore new industries, and hear what leaders are presenting. These notes combine my observations with thoughts on how things could run smoother and how ideas connect (IMO). I’m not an expert, you know? Just hanging out in the room with them. Enjoy!Topics: Artificial Intelligence for Youth, Innovation, Technology, Education, Teachers
It’s time to visit the office hours FINALLY. To be honest, I’ve meant to attend many times and yet a thousand things came up each time (and I was intimidated). And then, the related events (to this AI Education Project) the ones I’ve attended… some were CONFUSING. Just sending weird messages that were super random? But, keep marching forward, faced the music - and it ultimately was fantastic. I’m really relieved and happy and truly excited for next week’s office hours - again! And all of the next ones, too, till the projects are due.
Why Attend: The requirements of this program were a little unclear (if you read through them too quickly), so these live office hours are perfect to clarify small details and make sure everything is good to go. (Now it is!) I want to learn more about this competition, gain more confidence with it, and succeed. So, getting involved is a sure way to do it. I’m really happy with this administration so far, from what I can tell on my end, and I want to keep supporting a positive future. I want to help empower kids and families and make life better for everyone. I believe this can be done with media, technology, and intention. I’m a systems thinker and want to try my best to help. I’m not always doing it perfectly, but I’m trying as hard as I can to be useful and even more helpful each day.
Overall Event Reviews: Venue (5/5), Food (4/5), Speaker Content (4.5/5), Networking (2.5/5), Likeliness to Return (5/5)
Photo Collage and Commentary:
Notes from the Event
Intimidating to join. The last one I joined was kinda crazy and then so much of life comes up. So now my goal is to figure out how to be legitimately qualified.
But arriving was instantly so cute and nice. Put into breakout rooms and then you get a chance to hear how others are creating their projects and a chance to ask questions.
This is so well organized!! And really welcoming and super unintimidating, way less than I expected!!
They really want you to succeed.
The community is other teachers and representatives from the White House. Even students, too! And some people are here without questions and just here to listen and learn. Even here due to teachers recommendations, part of groups in their school.
Better prepared for next call to have questions prepared and more knowledge of what to expect.
Not sure which track to be a part of.
Office hours are for specific questions, learning, and making sure you feel confident with your project.
Educators can submit a project. Or serve as a supervising adult to help a student.
So how do you qualify as a homeschool teacher, at least for this? Not too hard!
Really friendly and lots of peopel happy to be here.
Another person has a similar question as me. They’re part time teaching, not full-time. So they want to also know how to submit, do tehy need to be affiliated as a stand alone educator. How does it work?
They’re pulling up the guidelines.
Fulltime K-12, charter, private… or homeschool (if they can provide a dated copy of letter to intent. 1 or more students. Current membership ID. And dated proof of purchase of curriculum for the academic school year.)
Need younger and older students.
But I think I can still
The corporations involved are doing their own things within this and not providing information.
Do you guys work in the White House? No. But they are subcontracted for the department of energy. Helping with the administrating of the program.
this is interesting, how this whole program has been contracted out. It’s kinda good to hear only cause some pieces of it were confusing, narratively… but this has the complete oppostive vibe. so it makes me just feel happy and hopeful. its what I wanted to see from this program from the start.
The logistics and behind the scenes to flow through the national event is their part. They don’t have a lot of AI tech expertise, but learning a lot by sitting in these office hours.
This will open up a space that current tech people aren’t looking at. Young minds see things differently
TRUEEE. Lately the student I tutor nonstop is having the most profound life questions.
People helping out are nice..
And I realize I need to sell curriculum.
(I’m multitasking with AI as I try to figure out this and it said: “YES. You just accidentally discovered your own business model in the middle of federal compliance. Classic you.”)
lol. cause I realize selling curriculum is such a strong move as an educator.
Make sure you have your complete narrative, reference the rubric, and make sure you can clearly tie each criterion to a part of your narrative.
The judges are going to look at it. They want it to be easy.
They will search as they can, but they’ll probably not spend 2 hours trying to give you more points.
Put small pictures so they can reference + links. To know there is more to see.
- Don’t take for granted that the judges know what’s going on. They could be from anywhere across the country, so you want to spell things out. You need to be very specific and share exactly what the problem and cause are.
The kid in this group is so sweet. He’s talking about how he thinks AI can solve a lot… solve flooding, traffic
Then the lady is like, oh - is flooding really prevalent in your community. he’s like, “not really, but I think AI can help with it” lol and then later they’re like, well the judges want to see this is solving a REAL problem for you. LOL. its so funny. but also good guidance for me as I build out my content.
The staff encourages the kids to keep asking questions, be inquisitive, and be creative. She believes in each group.
How many judges are going to look at all of the projects?
Lots of projects and lots of judges. But the judge must be willing to review up to 15 projects. Each project will be reviewed by multiple projects.
3 or 4 judges will look at yours and then you get the average.
Will judges be completely random? Or will they be matched with projects?
They’re put with areas of expertise.
Different industries, maybe professors.
love that!
If there is a project and it’s about AI + cameras (stuff like that) it wouldn’t make sense to necessarily put it with someone who doesn’t know anything about that technology.
So tehy want for professors to track along, but you may also get assigned with specific industries who can truly assess the actual technology. There will be work on pairing and making things fair.
So first you submit your project and it is reviewed. Then each state winner will go to regional, that will have the project and be via zoom. Presentations and questions and interaction.
Then regional winners will present in person their same project, to the panel of judges.
Dude I’m so excited I am qualified now. This is amazing.
They’re truly checking that everyone is registered and intends to participate. No random people here.
Oh yeah, and someone asked for a recording of the event hosted earlier by a big corporation, also helping out with this competition, but they reported back that the big corporation is NOT providing recordings of those meetings. I’m honestly not surprised, but am surprised and wonder why they’re being so secretive? idk. Or do I? Idk. But let’s keep pushing forward with the goals to help the world… as I think everyone is. But, we all deserve a voice.
Until next time, I wish you the motivation and success to search for opportunities around your area. Search and explore: Who is out there giving talks? There are new things happening all of the time.
Find relatable or interesting topics you like and check them out! Maybe even something hosted at a cool venue, if there’s no other reason to go. Let’s see what you can learn and discover not too far from home. 😊
