A new immersive learning platform, Plush Neuron, is about to change the game for how middle school students learn about and interact with artificial intelligence. This unique 3-foot, prototype-collaborative learning instrument is colorful, inspiring and hands-on. Most importantly, it finally empowers our youngest learners to first see, then feel, and ultimately influence AI decision-making in real time.
Plush Neuron has three inputs on one end, which are called “dendrites.” These inputs come loaded with buttons that students can squeeze to fire complex weighted input signals to the rig. You can vary the amplitude of these signals with a front panel rotary switch. This new feature allows students to test AI by changing how much influence each element has on the AI’s decisions. We hope this tactile interaction will help to demystify these complex neural networks and make them feel more approachable for younger audiences.
Christina Gardner-McCune, a professor at the University of Florida, was awarded Plush Neuron for field testing. Amber Jones, a computer science education consultant, became one of the first beta testers alongside her. Will Hanna, a passionate and accomplished computer science teacher, was another member of this cohort. Their feedback will be instrumental in honing the device before larger scale use in the classroom.
Plush Neuron made its world premiere at the Educational Advances in Artificial Intelligence Symposium (EAAI-25). It demonstrated its capabilities to be a monumental educational tool. We all got a chance to play with the device during an AI4MiddleSchools Cohort curriculum workshop in Atlanta. There, teachers were trained on how to implement it in their classrooms.
Creating Plush Neuron plushies required teamwork among many different experts. The electronic hardware was designed by Cody Soska and the software was programmed by Touretzky. Soska later presented Plush Neuron at the International Symposium on Academic Makerspaces (ISAM) at the University of California, Berkeley, further highlighting its educational value.
Plush Neuron’s soft, squidgy exterior was purposefully sculpted to convey a sense of touch. This unique design feature helps shield the internal wires and electronics. It makes sure that the scope is something that students can realistically take on. Plush Neuron is a tactile complement to Neuron Sandbox, an immersive, web-based resource designed by Touretzky. Neuron Sandbox guides students as they explore increasingly difficult decision problems, all while visualizing how a computer works to find solutions.
One of the most remarkable things about Plush Neuron is its power to exemplify ethical concerns in AI. It speaks to the value of deliberating impacts. This helps foster informed and engaged students who consider the broader implications of technology on our world.
Our ultimate mission with Plush Neuron is to demystify AI for pre-teens while being fun and informative. The cool new artificial intelligence tool tnlens makes complicated concepts in neural networks easier to understand using exciting interactive play. It’s a great opportunity to inspire the next generation of tech-savvy learners.