Input
The data or prompt given to an AI system to generate a result.
👩🏫 How to Explain by Age Group
Elementary (K–5)
“Input is what you give to the computer to get an answer, like asking a question or giving an instruction.”
Middle School (6–8)
“An input is the starting information that AI uses to figure something out or give a result. It can be words, pictures, numbers, or more.”
High School (9–12)
"Input refers to any data or prompt given to an AI model. The model processes this input to generate predictions, answers, or actions.”
🚀 Classroom Expeditions
Mini-journeys into AI thinking.
Elementary (K–5)
Have students give the teacher step-by-step instructions to make a sandwich, then follow them exactly. What happens when a step is missing or unclear? The instructions are the input. If the input isn’t clear, the output won’t be right either.
Middle School (6–8)
Let students type different questions or phrases into a chatbot or voice assistant. Compare how the responses change based on the input. AI uses your input to generate its response, tiny changes can shift the whole answer.
High School (9–12)
Have students collect examples of AI-generated content (ads, chatbot replies, AI art) and guess what kind of input might have created each one. Then discuss: how does the input shape what’s produced, and what responsibility does the user have? This flips the script. Students reverse-engineer the input, building awareness of how questions and prompts guide AI outcomes.
