The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has introduced a 20-hour introductory module on computational thinking (CT) and artificial intelligence (AI) for students in Classes 9 to 12. Developed in collaboration with faculty members from IIT Madras and IIT Jodhpur, the module requires no prior knowledge of AI and focuses on practical, activity-based learning.
Released on October 23, the module uses familiar everyday situations to explain how AI recognises patterns, learns from examples, makes mistakes and processes information. It also aims to equip students with the skills to use AI tools responsibly while recognising their limitations.
NCERT said the module follows an experiential approach involving discussions, practical exercises, experimentation and reflection. Activities can be conducted with or without digital devices, allowing schools with different levels of technological access to participate.
Five Units Cover AI Fundamentals and Responsible Use
The module is divided into five units that introduce students to AI concepts through real-world examples and classroom exercises.
The first unit, AI Is Already in Your Life, helps students distinguish between conventional devices, rule-based automation and learning-based AI. Examples include pressure cookers, FASTag systems and smartphone keyboards that predict words based on learned patterns. Students also examine how AI translation tools can struggle with idioms and cultural context.
The second unit, How Machines Learn from Examples, introduces machine learning through classification exercises. Students train a classifier using images of objects such as pens and erasers before testing it on unfamiliar examples. The activities demonstrate how limited training data can affect a system’s ability to recognise new objects.
The third unit, When AI Gets It Wrong, focuses on inaccurate AI-generated information, misinformation and manipulated images. Students learn to examine synthetic media, verify claims and question confident-sounding answers. The module encourages them to check sources, compare information and pause before sharing unverified content.
The fourth unit, Your Data, Your Rights, Your Responsibility, addresses privacy, consent and data protection. Students examine app privacy policies, identify the information applications collect and consider how personal data is shared, retained and deleted. Classroom scenarios help them assess the risks of uploading personal information and relying on facial-recognition systems.
The final unit, Working with Modern AI Tools, teaches students to use AI as an aid rather than a replacement for independent thinking. Through prompt-writing exercises, students learn to specify requirements, refine instructions and assess whether generated responses are appropriate for their needs.
Students to Maintain a ‘Curious Notebook’
As part of the module, students are encouraged to maintain a “Curious Notebook” documenting their learning. The portfolio includes an AI diary, classifier experiments, verification checklists, privacy analyses and a collection of prompts.
Schools without access to digital devices can conduct paper-based activities, including exercises in which students role-play an AI system responding literally to instructions.
NCERT said the initiative aims to develop informed, confident and responsible technology users while reinforcing the importance of human judgement, creativity and ethical responsibility.
Educators Welcome Early AI Education
Jyoti Arora, principal of Mount Abu Public School in Delhi, described the introduction of AI education from Class 9 as a progressive step. She said it could strengthen critical thinking and problem-solving while encouraging ethical technology use.
Praneet Mungali, trustee of Sanskriti Group of Schools in Pune, emphasised the importance of understanding AI’s applications as well as its limitations. He said early exposure could help develop students’ logical reasoning, creativity and critical-thinking abilities.
The module’s central message is that AI education should go beyond learning to operate digital tools. By encouraging experimentation, verification and reflection, NCERT aims to help students understand how AI works, identify its shortcomings and make informed decisions about its use.
