Backpropagation

A process used in training neural networks where the model adjusts its internal weights to reduce errors.

Elementary (K–5)
- “Imagine a student getting a math question wrong, then learning the right way and trying again. Backpropagation is how computers learn from mistakes, just like that student!”
Middle School (6–8)
- “Backpropagation is like checking your answers after a quiz. When the AI gets something wrong, it traces back through its steps to figure out what went wrong and adjusts to do better next time.”
High School (9–12)
- "Backpropagation is a learning algorithm used in neural networks. After making a prediction, the AI compares it to the correct answer, calculates the error, and adjusts internal connections (weights) to reduce future errors, similar to refining a process based on feedback.”

Mini-journeys into AI thinking.

Elementary (K–5)
- Give students a maze worksheet. If they go the wrong way, let them trace back and try again. Then connect the idea to how computers “learn” from wrong answers.
Middle School (6–8)
- Have students play a trivia game. After each round, they correct wrong answers and reflect on how their thinking changed. Relate this to how AI corrects its predictions using backpropagation.
High School (9–12)
- Simulate a neural network using a spreadsheet: show how predictions, errors, and adjustments work with simple math. Use a visual demo to illustrate how errors flow backward to improve future outputs.