In the context of the Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat (PkM) knowledge sector in 2018, the lecturer team of Computer Science Education Program of UPI that consisted of Dr. Rani Megasari, S. Kom., MT, Erna Piantari, S. Kom., MT, Enjun Junaeti, M. Si., Eki Nugraha, S.Pd., M.Kom. as well as two students as assistants namely Makhrus Lu’ay and Teddy Koerniawan conducted an “AI Programming for Beginners” Workshop on November 10, 2018, at SMK 1 Gebang Cirebon. This activity carries the title “Preparation Program Generation with Artificial Intelligence Based Technology as the Foundation of Future Technology” which targets middle school students as participants. Workshop participants consisted of class X, XI, and XII students of SMK 1 Gebang Cirebon.

This PKM activity aims to introduce Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its use to students through examples of AI applications and teach block programming specifically designed to make it easy for beginners to develop their creativity in realizing artificial intelligence-based technology ideas. To facilitate students’ understanding of the concept of artificial intelligence, the team conducted a Cozmo robot demo that has the ability to face recognition and imitates human behavior, can also be programmed using block programming.

Figure 1. Cozmo Robot demo session

Followed by a practice session using one of the block programming namely Snap! to understand the concepts of speech synthesis, speech recognition, and machine learning.

Figure 2. Students try machine learning applications for object recognition.

Students and teachers are also given the opportunity to online discussion with Dr. Ken Kahn from Oxford University who is the developer of eCraft2Learn, the Snap Library! which is used as one of the learning media in this workshop.

Figure 3. Online Discussion with Dr. Ken Kahn

After getting the learning material, students accompanied by assistants try directly to make a simple program in Snap! Furthermore, students are given several written questions related to the material that has been submitted, the results of which will be processed as an evaluation of learning by the team.

Figure 4. Students are guided to create simple AI programs using Snap!

On the day of the activity, the team departed from Bandung at 5.30 WIB and arrived at the location sometime before the scheduled time to start the workshop, which was at 10:00 WIB. Gebang Cirebon 1 Vocational School is located in the East Cirebon area, around 25.5 KM from downtown Cirebon. This school was chosen as an example of a school in West Java whose area is outside the city of Bandung. A similar workshop was held by the Department of Computer Science Education in March and April 2018 by inviting students from schools in the city of Bandung and surrounding areas but using facilities owned by Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia. Thus, the Workshop activity at SMK 1 Gebang Cirebon was the first activity held with facilities owned by the school, which was one of the targets of the team’s observation. In this activity, the team coordinated with Yudi Hardimulya, S.Pd., One of the teachers from Gebang 1 Vocational School as well as alumni from the Computer Science Education Department. The activity ended with a group photo session and finished at 16:30 WIB. The team returned to Bandung the next day.

Figure 5. Workshop Team

Figure 6. Submission of the charter to the school represented by Yudi Hardimulya, S.Pd.

Figure 7. Group Photo Session

Written By: Dr. Rani Megasari, S.Kom., M.T.