Teacher Only: An Introduction to the CreatiCode AI Curriculum

CreatiCode

Introduction

This AI curriculum comes at a time when artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming every walk of life, with a particularly profound impact on how professional programmers work. In the near future, it’s likely that 90% or more of all code will be written by AI. Human programmers will shift into very different roles: guiding AI agents, initiating complex tasks, and reviewing what machines produce.

But that doesn’t mean coding is disappearing from education. On the contrary, we believe it’s more important than ever, and it should be a core component of every student’s education. Coding teaches students how to think logically, solve problems, and bring their ideas to life. It gives them creative agency in a world shaped by technology. Just as children will always build with LEGO and explore in Minecraft, they will continue to code; not because they must, but because it’s how they learn, create, and play.

So the real question is: how do we keep coding fun, meaningful, and relevant in a world where AI is part of the process? That’s what CreatiCode is designed to explore.

CreatiCode builds on MIT Scratch, the world’s most widely used platform for teaching introductory computer science. It keeps what makes Scratch great: intuitive design, creative freedom, and a learning journey based on the cycle of creating, sharing, improving, and remixing. These ideas come from constructionist learning theory, which emphasizes building knowledge through hands-on exploration and social interaction.

On top of this foundation, CreatiCode adds a full set of tools for teaching AI in a classroom-friendly way. Teachers get resources to run engaging, hands-on lessons, with full control over what students see and do. Whether you’re just beginning to introduce AI or looking to take it further, this guide will walk you through the key ideas, tools, and teaching strategies to get started with CreatiCode.

What Guides This Curriculum

This AI curriculum isn’t just a collection of tools and lessons. It’s built around a set of clear principles designed to help students thrive in a changing world, and to support teachers every step of the way.

First, we believe educators are essential. No AI tool can replace the relationships, insight, and emotional support that real teachers bring to the classroom. Every part of CreatiCode is designed to keep the teacher at the center. Technology should amplify your presence, not sideline it.

Second, we focus on student engagement within a safe environment. Students learn best when they care about what they’re doing, have agency, and can explore hands-on. At the same time, generative AI introduces real risks. That’s why all AI features on CreatiCode are moderated and controlled, allowing for creative freedom in a safe, school-ready space.

Instead of banning AI, we believe students should learn how to use it responsibly, like any other powerful tool. With the right support, they can explore what AI can (and can’t) do, reflect on how they’re using it, and become thoughtful users who are ready to shape the future.

Third, we prioritize doing over memorizing. Many AI curricula focus on abstract theory or concepts. Ours emphasizes building real projects, experimenting with tools, and learning by making. Scratch’s visual format removes coding syntax barriers, so students can focus on design, logic, and problem-solving from the start.

Finally, we encourage students to work together. After each core lesson, students pair up to extend what they’ve learned. These simple collaborations help reinforce ideas, build communication skills, and make learning social and fun. Working with a partner to build and debug supports deeper understanding and more confidence.

Tools That Support AI Learning

CreatiCode includes a full set of classroom-ready tools to help students learn AI in hands-on, creative ways while giving teachers the control they need.

The AI Coding Assistant helps students understand code and answer questions. It includes a Socratic Mode that asks guiding questions instead of giving direct answers, helping students reason through challenges and reflect on what they’re learning. You can choose when to turn this feature on and off, and all interactions are moderated for safety and focus.

The AI Image Generator lets students create custom sprites and backgrounds using text prompts. This supports visual creativity and brings more personality to their projects. Like all features on the platform, inputs and outputs are carefully filtered to keep things school-appropriate.

AI Coding Blocks offer easy access to powerful AI features like ChatGPT, text-to-speech, and hand-gesture recognition. These blocks make complex functionality accessible without overwhelming beginners. Students can focus on ideas and problem-solving instead of technical setup.

Widget Blocks give students the ability to build interactive AI applications using chat windows, buttons, text inputs, and other real interface elements. These tools introduce students to real-world software design by helping them build usable, accessible, and thoughtful digital experiences.

And most importantly, teachers have full control. Through the class dashboard, you can enable or disable AI features, see what students are generating, and guide the learning experience based on your goals. This makes it easy to support digital citizenship and balance freedom with structure.

What to Expect When Teaching with AI

Teaching AI can feel different from teaching traditional programming. Here are a few key shifts to keep in mind as you plan your lessons.

First, AI isn’t always predictable. Unlike regular code that always behaves the same way, generative AI can produce different answers depending on small differences in context. This means it’s a good idea to use screenshots or saved examples when demonstrating in class. It also opens the door to great discussions about how AI works and why it sometimes surprises us.
Second, how students access the AI assistant matters. Full access offers lots of support but may lead to over-reliance. Socratic Mode encourages deeper thinking but can frustrate students who are struggling. Sometimes, turning the assistant off entirely is helpful to build independence. A flexible approach is best.
Third, writing becomes a central skill. Communicating with AI is less about code and more about clear, precise language. Students need to learn how to ask thoughtful questions, give instructions, and reflect on results. Prompting overlaps with writing skills like argumentation and technical documentation. Our curriculum includes practice in prompt design to build this ability over time.
Finally, students will be building tools, not just stories. While Scratch has traditionally been used for animations and games, AI projects often focus on building interfaces like chat apps or interactive tools. This shift introduces students to real software design and prepares them for the types of applications they’ll build in the future.

Concluding Remarks

AI is changing how we code, create, and learn, but it doesn’t replace the need for coding in education. Instead, it gives us new reasons to teach it. Coding helps students think clearly, solve problems, and build ideas from scratch. When paired with AI, it becomes an even more powerful learning experience. With CreatiCode, students don’t just use AI. They learn how to shape it, question it, and build with it, growing into confident creators in a world increasingly shaped by intelligent tools.