AI Skills  for teenagers

Welcome & Introduction

Ben Yu introduces the session on using AI effectively, especially ChatGPT. With 20 years in IT and recent experience in AI projects, he also shares his work with the Open Chinese Families Network. Attendees are asked to mute microphones and check Wi-Fi.

The Art of Prompting

Prompts are the inputs to AI, and crafting them well is key. Prompting is both a science and an art—structured thinking combined with creativity unlocks the full potential of tools like ChatGPT.

Learning Through Mistakes

Mistakes are part of learning. You grow by experimenting and by learning from mentors and teaching others, which deepens understanding.

AI in Context

AI is evolving rapidly—like the steam engine, it may start slow but transforms society. ChatGPT has gone from basic to highly advanced in just a few years. Those who learn to use it will thrive.

What is ChatGPT?

• Chat: Conversational interface

• GPT: Generative Pre-trained Transformer

  • Generative: Produces responses

  • Pre-trained: Learned from vast data

  • Transformer: Processes large-scale information
    It predicts words, not understands them—so prompt quality matters.

The GCSE Framework

A structured method for writing better prompts:

• Goal – What do you want?

• Context – Why do you need it?

• Source – What info should it use?

• Expectation – Format, style, detail level

Examples show how detailed prompts yield better results.

Why This Matters

AI can summarize, ideate, create content, and more. Its power lies in how well you guide it. Key takeaways:

• Try, fail, adjust

• Use imagination

• Apply in real life

• Teach others

Practice Exercise

Participants compare basic vs. structured prompts. Example: preparing for a presentation on AI —specific prompts yields better questions.

Another Scenario

Creating a school project: vague prompts give generic results, while detailed ones produce professional, tailored outputs.

Your Turn

Apply the GCSE framework to your own work. Use context and expectations to improve prompt quality.

Group Exercise

Two teams debate NZ’s energy future:

• Team A: Renewable energy

• Team B: Traditional sources
  Use ChatGPT with GCSE structure to gather arguments and compile results.

This AI-driven learning revolution is not only a challenge for students, but also for parents and educators 👩‍👩‍👦. Perhaps the real questions we should be asking are: In the age of AI, what should children learn? How should we guide their choices? The answers may still be uncertain, but that uncertainty is exactly what makes the future worth exploring together. 🌍 

🧠 How Should Our Kids Learn in the Age of AI?

We’re entering a time where AI isn’t just a tool—it’s a collaborator, a tutor, a creative partner. And yet, the way we talk to our kids about learning often hasn’t caught up.

Instead of asking “What do you want to be when you grow up?”, maybe we should be asking:

👉 “What excites you right now?”

👉 “What problems do you want to solve?”

👉 “How can you use tools like ChatGPT to explore your curiosity?”

I tell my kids:

Use AI for your homework—but think critically about the output.

If it’s not good enough, try again. Refine your question.

Don’t just consume—create, question, and imagine.

We don’t know what jobs will exist in five years. But we do know that empathy, creativity, communication, and curiosity will always matter.

Let’s teach our kids to be adaptive learners, not just good students.

Let’s help them build purpose and passion, not just resumes.

And let’s not forget: the best way to prepare them for the future is to help them love learning today.

💬 How are you helping the next generation learn in this AI-powered world?