Black Boys Code Durham - Building with Artificial Intelligence

Our March workshop moves students from learning about Artificial Intelligence to actively building with it. Participants transform their trained AI models and design blueprints into real, working creations, experiencing firsthand how AI powers games, apps, and conversations. It’s an exciting step from theory to hands-on innovation.

In the Beginner Track, students turn their emotion-recognition AI models into interactive game controllers, building a dynamic Scratch game where their own facial expressions control what happens on screen, imagine smiling to make a character jump or reacting to trigger new movements. They see how AI vision connects directly to code in real time. Meanwhile, in the Advanced Track, students transform their chatbot ideas into fully functional Python programs. They write the logic that allows their chatbot to greet users, understand input, make decisions using conditionals, and carry on multi-topic conversations, just like real AI assistants. This is where ideas evolve into intelligent systems built entirely by the students themselves.

This workshop is FREE, and all learning materials are provided, students simply need to bring their curiosity and readiness to build.

Beginner Track - AI & Game Development

This is where creativity meets code. Students combine their trained AI emotion models with Scratch programming to build their first interactive, AI-powered game. Using a visual, block-based coding environment, learners create a “Smile to Jump” game where facial expressions control gameplay, smiling makes the character jump!

The session follows a complete-build approach, ensuring every student leaves with a fully playable game built from start to finish.

Key Activities

• Recap of the AI journey (Training → Game Building)
• Introduction to the Scratch platform
• Creating Scratch accounts
• Learning core Scratch blocks (motion, looks, events)
• Importing Teachable Machine models into Scratch (TM2Scratch extension)
• Coding sprite movement controlled by emotions
• Focused build time
• Testing and playing completed games

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

• Navigate the Scratch programming environment confidently
• Understand block-based coding logic
• Connect an AI model to Scratch using extensions
• Create a functional emotion-controlled game
• Debug simple coding challenges

Materials Needed

Black Boys Code will provide guidance and structured support throughout the session.

• Laptop with internet access
• Scratch account (created during session)
• Access to trained AI models from February
• TM2Scratch extension guide

Deliverables

• Completed “Smile to Jump” AI game
• Saved Scratch project link

Advanced Track - Chatbots & Python Programming

Students translate their chatbot blueprints into real, working programs using Python. Through hands-on coding in Replit, learners build conversational chatbots that can listen to user input, process it, and respond intelligently.

The workshop introduces essential Python concepts including variables, input/output, conditionals (if, elif, else), and loops. By the end of the session, every student will have a chatbot capable of handling multiple conversation topics.

Key Activities

• Review of Python fundamentals (print, input, variables, conditionals)
• Understanding conversational input/output flow
• Setting up the Replit coding environment
• Building chatbot structure (welcome message, conversation loop, responses)
• Implementing if/elif/else logic
• Adding 3+ conversation topics
• Creating exit conditions
• Testing and debugging code
• Saving final projects

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

• Write functional Python input and output code
• Apply conditional logic effectively
• Use loops for continuous conversations
• Implement basic pattern matching
• Debug syntax and logical errors
• Build a working conversational chatbot

Materials Needed

Black Boys Code will provide guidance and structured support throughout the session.

• Laptop with internet access
• Replit account (free tier)
• Python starter templates
• Chatbot blueprints from February
• Debugging checklist and code comment examples

Deliverables

• Fully working Python chatbot (3+ conversation topics)
• Replit project link
• Commented Python code
• Test conversation screenshots

If you’re unsure who your Chapter Leader is, please contact [email protected] to get connected and learn how you can support your local team.

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