IMDEA Networks inspires STEM vocations in Science Week with a workshop to create an intelligent assistant

Over 70 sixth-grade students from Ángel González School in Leganés participated in an activity on machine learning and block-based programming

11 November 2024

Inspiring STEM vocations is one of IMDEA Networks’ main objectives. As part of Science and Innovation Week, organized by the madri+d Foundation for Knowledge, the institute opened its doors this Monday, November 11, to more than 70 sixth-grade students from Ángel González School in Leganés, offering them an engaging introduction to the powerful applications of machine learning.

During the visit, Marta Dorado, Operations & Communications Manager at IMDEA Networks, guided the students in a step-by-step workshop to create an intelligent assistant capable of controlling the lighting and temperature of a virtual classroom using natural language commands. For this activity, they used the ‘Machine Learning for Kids’ tool to develop artificial intelligence systems, which they then integrated into Scratch 3, a block-based programming language designed to make programming accessible to everyone.

This experience allowed students to explore the potential of machine learning: after initially programming the assistant with a basic rule-based system, they encountered the limitations of this approach, as they had to predict each command exactly. To overcome this challenge, they learned to train their assistant using a machine learning model with various examples, enabling the system to recognize and respond flexibly to different commands.

This hands-on approach helped the students gain a firsthand understanding of the value of machine learning in programming, while IMDEA Networks reaffirms its commitment to education and the promotion of vocations in the technology field.