Day of AI Australia’s Curriculum and Champion Coordinator, Jess Xu gives us all the details about what’s new in the 2025 program!
You joined Day of AI Australia in November 2024 to coordinate the curriculum updates for 2025 and expand the Classroom Champion program. Tell us a bit about yourself, Jess!
Hello! I’m Jess Xu and I’m thrilled to be part of the Day of AI Australia team. I’m currently a third year at UNSW, studying a Bachelor of Advanced Mathematics and Computer Science at UNSW, with a major in Applied Mathematics. I’ve always been passionate about technology and AI, especially how it can be leveraged to enhance education and make complex topics more accessible to students of all ages. I believe that AI literacy is not just about understanding algorithms and models, but also about developing critical thinking skills to navigate the ethical and societal implications of AI in the real world.
In my role at Day of AI Australia, I work to ensure that our curriculum remains relevant, engaging and accessible for students. This involves researching emerging AI technologies and trends, incorporating real-world case studies and designing hands-on activities that bring AI concepts to life. Additionally, I’m focused on expanding the Classroom Champion program, which provides dedicated support for teachers, equipping them with tools and confidence to deliver high-quality AI lessons.
Which is your favourite lesson in the 2025 program and why?
My favourite lesson in the 2025 program is the AI and the Natural World lesson. The lesson is particularly exciting because it explores how AI can help us understand and address environmental challenges. It connects AI to climate science, emphasising how AI can analyse massive datasets, predict weather patterns, and even track pollution and biodiversity.
I love how this lesson encourages students to think critically, not just about AI’s benefits, but also its potential environmental costs, like energy and water consumption in data centers. It’s a great way to show students that AI isn’t just about technology, but also about solving real-world problems!
So what else is new and different with the 2025 program materials?
This year, we’ve made some exciting updates! We’ve refreshed the AI Literacy Foundations lessons with new case studies and interactive activities to make learning even more engaging.
We’ve also expanded our program to include lessons tailored for Years 1-2 and 3-4, ensuring younger students can start developing AI literacy early.
Another major addition is the Beyond AI Literacy series, which builds on the foundational AI concepts towards AI fluency. These lessons take a deep dive into topics like Elections and AI, AI and the Natural World, and expanded ethics discussions—including AI Ethics Debate and Creating AI Guidelines. These also include guidelines on developing AI-related projects in the classroom.
What are the biggest challenges when it comes to preparing the materials for school students?
One of the biggest challenges is designing hands-on activities that are both engaging and thought-provoking. We want students to develop critical thinking skills, not just have fun trying out AI tools. Another challenge is ensuring that the materials are age-appropriate—what works for high school students isn’t always suitable for primary school learners, so we carefully tailor lessons to different age groups.
Finally, some topics, like elections, might initially seem uninteresting to students. The challenge is finding ways to make these topics interactive and relevant, helping students see real-world connections and encouraging them to think deeply about AI’s role in society.
How do you find fresh case studies and hands-on exercises to include in the lessons?
We rely on a mix of strategies to keep our materials up-to-date and relevant. Given the rapid pace of AI advancements, it’s crucial that our content reflects the latest technological developments, ethical discussions and real-world applications.
A key part of this process is collaborating with a network of industry partners, including UNSW, Microsoft and CDC, who are doing cutting-edge work in AI here in Australia. We also stay informed by monitoring news, blogs and research papers to spot emerging trends and real-world applications of AI.
Most importantly, we ensure that every case study we select is directly relevant to the lesson content, helping students see AI’s impact in areas that matter to them.
Who else is involved in refining or developing lesson materials?
Our lesson development is a highly collaborative effort, bringing together educators, researchers and industry experts to create high-quality lesson materials. Our Teacher Advisory Group plays a crucial role in shaping the material, providing feedback and insights into what will work best in real classrooms. Their feedback helps ensure that lessons are not only pedagogically sound but also practical, accessible and engaging.
Additionally, we consult with subject-matter experts to ensure the depth and accuracy of our materials. For example, academics from the UNSW School of Education have provided guidance on lesson materials, and a privacy specialist reviewed our new Safety, Privacy and Consent lesson to ensure it meets best-practice standards in digital ethics, data protection and responsible AI use.
What do you think teachers and students will be most excited about in the 2025 program?
I think teachers and students will be especially excited about the Beyond AI Literacy lessons. These deep dives allow students to explore AI’s role in topics like elections, environmental science, and ethics in greater depth. The new AI Ethics Debate lesson is also a standout–it gives students a chance to engage in meaningful discussions about AI’s impact on society, helping them develop critical thinking and ethical reasoning skills.
For younger students, the introduction of Years 1-2 and 3-4 lessons is a game-changer, providing a fun and accessible way to introduce AI concepts early.
What has been the feedback so far from teachers about the program?
The feedback from teachers has been incredibly valuable in shaping the 2025 program. Our Teacher Advisory Group has played a key role in refining the new lessons and making targeted improvements to the AI Literacy Foundations series, ensuring the content remains both relevant and engaging for students.
Teachers have shared that they love the real-world case studies and hands-on activities because they help students connect AI concepts to everyday life. These interactive elements, such as project-based learning and ethical discussions, have been particularly well received, making AI feel more tangible and applicable beyond the classroom.
The early response from teachers to the Beyond AI Literacy lessons has been really positive, with teachers noting that the lessons are valuable tools for encouraging deeper discussions about AI’s role in society, ethics and sustainability.
Overall, the response has been both positive and insightful, and we deeply appreciate every teacher’s time and valuable feedback.
Access the 2025 Program
With flexible, hands-on lessons designed by experts, it’s never been easier to inspire the next generation of tech thinkers. Give your students an introduction to AI they’ll never forget.
