Five Big Ideas FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about the "Five Big Ideas in AI"

This page refers to the "Five Big Ideas in AI" list developed by the AI4K12 Initiative. The list is published in the form of a poster that is available in several languages:

• English
• Chinese
• Korean
• Portugese
• Turkish

Why are there only five big ideas?

CSTA’s experience developing the 2011 and 2017 national standards for K-12 computing education showed that five big ideas was the right number, balancing the need for depth with the need for simplicity. We followed their lead.

Why are the big ideas presented in this particular order, starting with perception?

The numbers are just for convenient reference. They do not indicate the priority or significance of their respective topics. Nor do they indicate the order in which big ideas must be introduced in a curriculum that aligns with the guidelines. In many cases we expect curriculum modules on complex topics (e.g., self-driving cars, or AI and healthcare) to reference all of the big ideas.

Why are the big ideas numbered?

The numbers are just for convenient reference. They do not indicate the priority or significance of their respective topics. Nor do they indicate the order in which big ideas must be introduced in a curriculum that aligns with the guidelines. In many cases we expect curriculum modules on complex topics (e.g., self-driving cars, or AI and healthcare) to reference all of the big ideas.

Who is responsible for this list?

This list was developed by the AI4K12 Steering Committee (David Touretzky, Christina Gardner-McCune, Fred Martin, and Deborah Seehorn) in consultation with the AI4K12 Working Group and Advisory Board, and additional input from members of the AI4K12 mailing list.