stemWORKS ai cAMP

This is my teacher landing page for my STEMworks AI camps for middle school students.
Maui Dec 18-21st

AI-Fueled Creativity for Middle School Students: Thank You for Joining Us!

A big mahalo to all the students and schools who participated in our AI workshops on Maui! It was inspiring to see so much creativity unleashed as students used tools like Adobe Firefly to bring their stories, comics, and business ideas to life. Together, we explored how AI can spark new ways of thinking and problem-solving, and I’m excited to see where these new skills will take you!

Know Someone Who Could Benefit from AI?

If you think someone in your network—whether it’s a school, a teacher, or a team—could benefit from AI-powered creativity and learning, feel free to share this page with them. I also offer personalized professional development training for individual campuses.

For more information or to schedule a session, click here to email me at gabrielyanagihara@gmail.com. Let’s keep the AI momentum going!

Click HERE to email me any AI questions or training inquiries. 

Back to School AI with STEMworks v01 2024

About our Partners

STEMworks Hawaii

The mission of STEMworks™ is to provide students and teachers resources, inspiration, and tools that empower them to improve their community and the world. A statewide program led by Women in Technology (an initiative of the Maui Economic Development Board), STEMworks™ pursues its goals through a variety of offerings including the STEMworks AFTERschool™ program, STEMworks™ internships, STEMwork™s THINKit™, STEMworks™ teacher professional development, STEMworks™ Energy, and the Hawaii STEM Conference.

Gabriel Yanagihara

Born and raised in Hawaii, Gabriel Yanagihara is an experienced educator with a background in computer science, creative media, and video game design.  In addition to teaching, Gabriel is an advocate for Professional Development and Community Outreach, and gives Keynotes, Teacher Trainings, and PD workshops on topics including Esports, Minecraft, Virtual Reality, and Machine Learning AI tools. 

BRINGING FANTASY TO LIFE: HOW CHATGPT AND AI ILLUSTRATION ENRICHED MY 4TH GRADE DUNGEONS & DRAGONS CREATIVE WRITING CLASS

In a world where education constantly evolves with technology, I've discovered an innovative way to nurture creativity in my 4th-grade classroom. By integrating ChatGPT and AI-powered illustration tools into our Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) creative writing sessions, we've embarked on a magical journey, transforming imaginative narratives into vivid, tangible experiences.

1. The Fusion of AI and Creative Writing:

Our adventure begins with descriptive writing exercises. Students are tasked with creating characters, settings, and scenarios fit for a D&D universe. But there’s a twist – each description is brought to life through AI-generated illustrations, using ChatGPT4.

2. From Words to Visual Wonders:

Students type their character descriptions into ChatGPT4, and the AI responds with stunning, illustrative interpretations. This visual feedback excites the students, giving them a tangible connection to their creations. It’s fascinating to see their faces light up as their words transform into detailed images, from valiant knights to mystical landscapes.

3. Enhancing Storytelling Skills:

The AI illustrations serve as a springboard for deeper storytelling. Students use their characters and settings as the foundation for crafting short stories. These stories are shared in the class, fostering a collaborative and supportive environment where each narrative is celebrated.

4. Translating Tales into D&D Campaigns:

The real magic happens when these stories are fed back into ChatGPT. The AI tool takes these narratives and translates them into D&D campaigns, adjusted to a 5th-grade reading level. This not only makes the content accessible for our young writers but also introduces them to the structure and elements of game design.

5. The Role of D&D in Education:

Dungeons & Dragons is more than a game in our classroom. It's a tool that teaches problem-solving, teamwork, and narrative structure. By integrating it with AI, students learn the value of technology in creative expression and storytelling.

6. Witnessing Growth and Engagement:

One of the most rewarding aspects of this project is observing the students’ growth. Their descriptive writing skills have improved remarkably, and their ability to think critically and creatively has been enhanced. Moreover, the enthusiasm they show in each session is palpable – a testament to the engaging power of combining traditional storytelling with cutting-edge AI technology.

7. Preparing for a Tech-Forward Future:

This initiative is more than just a classroom activity; it's about preparing students for a future where technology and creativity intersect. By introducing them to AI tools like ChatGPT in a fun and educational setting, we're equipping them with the skills and confidence to navigate the digital world.

Our journey in blending AI with creative writing in a D&D-themed classroom has been nothing short of magical. As an educator, it’s thrilling to see how technology like ChatGPT can enhance learning, ignite imagination, and bring student creations to life in the most enchanting ways. In our class, every student is a storyteller, every story a gateway to new worlds, and every AI-generated illustration a bridge between imagination and reality.