Traditionally, the New Year is a time to reset, refresh, and try something new in your classroom, and top of your to-do list should be to block off 60 minutes for the Hour of AI.
I’ve written before about its previous iteration, the Hour of Code, and the excellent code.org site, which for over a decade has introduced millions of students worldwide to programming. Now renamed the Hour of AI, the project is shifting its focus in tandem with the explosion of Generative AI tools, from teaching machines what to do, to understanding how they learn and make decisions.
So why the change? Coding is still important, but AI is becoming increasingly ubiquitous every day, so developing digital literacy, particularly AI literacy, is mission critical. These are the technologies shaping the world our students will live and work in. Understanding AI isn’t just for computer scientists, it’s becoming a core literacy, like reading or maths.
As with the Hour of Code, the Hour of AI’s beauty is its accessibility and flexibility. No advanced skills required, you can do it anytime, and it’s not tied to a single tool or technology. Teachers can choose from a growing range of activities across platforms, including:
- CSforALL Hour of AI – A collection of beginner-friendly resources and FAQs to help teachers get started.
- Microsoft Education – Engaging AI-focused activities, including the brand-new Minecraft experience.
- AI Literacy Projects – Hands-on lessons that explain how AI works in everyday life.
- Interactive Simulations – Explore machine learning, decision-making, and pattern recognition without writing a single line of code.
Teachers can explore and preview activities and resources designed to introduce AI concepts in a fun, practical way and find the ones that best match their learners’ needs, from curious beginners right up to to tech savvy students.
One such activity is the new Minecraft Education – Hour of AI: The First Night. In this activity, students guide an AI-powered agent through its first night in Minecraft, gathering resources, building shelter, and adapting to challenges. Along the way, they see how AI “thinks” and makes decisions. No coding required, just problem-solving and a look into the logic behind AI.
Find Out More at CSforALL Hour of AI FAQ & Hour of AI and CS Ed Week lessons and resources from Microsoft