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Bob AI Workshop for High School Students

Introduction to Agentic AI with IBM Bob

Workshop Overview

This workshop introduces high school students to agentic AI through hands-on exercises with Bob, an AI assistant that can autonomously use tools to accomplish tasks. Students will learn how AI agents differ from simple chatbots and experience the power of AI that can take action.

Duration: 90 minutes

Prerequisites: Basic computer literacy, curiosity about AI

Materials Needed: Laptops with Bob access, internet connection

What is Agentic AI?

Traditional AI Chatbots:

  • Answer questions
  • Provide information
  • Have conversations

Agentic AI (like Bob):

  • Takes autonomous actions
  • Uses tools to accomplish tasks
  • Breaks down complex problems into steps
  • Learns from results and adapts

Workshop Structure

Part 1: Getting to Know Bob (10 minutes)

Exercise 1.1: First Conversation

Objective: Understand Bob's conversational abilities

Task: Ask Bob to introduce himself and explain what makes him different from a regular chatbot.

Example prompt: 

Hi Bob! Can you introduce yourself and explain what makes you an "agentic AI"?
What can you do that a regular chatbot can't?

Discussion Points: - What tools can Bob use? - How does Bob break down tasks? - What does "autonomous" mean in this context?

Exercise 1.2: Exploring Your Project

Objective: See Bob use tools to gather information

Task: Ask Bob to explore and describe the structure of your current project folder.

Example prompt: 

Bob, can you explore my current project directory and tell me what files and
folders are here? Create a visual tree structure showing the organization.

What to observe: - Bob uses the list_files tool - Bob analyzes the structure - Bob presents information clearly

Part 2: Creative Projects (25 minutes)

Exercise 2.1: Create an Interactive Game

Objective: See Bob build something interactive and fun

Task: Ask Bob to create a simple browser-based game.

Example prompt: 

Bob, create a fun browser game for me! Make it a simple clicking game where:
- I click on objects that appear randomly on screen
- I get points for each click
- There's a timer counting down
- It shows my final score
- Make it visually appealing with colors and animations

Save it in a folder called "click-game"

What to observe: - Bob handles game logic - Bob creates interactive elements - Bob adds visual polish - The game actually works when you open it!

Discussion: - How did Bob know how to structure a game? - What would you change or improve?

Part 3: Code Analysis & Iteration (20 minutes)

Exercise 3.1: Code Detective & Improvement

Objective: See Bob analyze, debug, and enhance existing code

Task: Ask Bob to read and improve one of the existing project files.

Example prompt: 

Bob, please read the virtual-pet/script.js file and:
1. Explain what the code does
2. Identify any potential improvements or bugs
3. Suggest 2-3 enhancements to make it more engaging
4. Implement one of those enhancements

What to observe: - Bob uses read_file to analyze existing code - Bob explains code functionality clearly - Bob identifies improvement opportunities - Bob makes targeted, surgical edits with apply_diff - Bob can work with code he didn't create

Part 4: Real-World Applications (25 minutes)

Exercise 4.1: Build Your Own Project

Objective: Apply what you've learned to create something unique

Task: Choose ONE project idea and ask Bob to build it with you!

Quick Project Ideas (pick one):

  • Study Quiz: Interactive quiz for a subject you're learning
  • Mood Tracker: Track and visualize your daily mood
  • Decision Maker: Random decision/advice generator
  • Countdown Timer: Timer for an important event
  • Virtual Pet: Interactive pet that responds to clicks (enhance the existing one!)

Example prompt structure: 

Bob, I want to create [your idea]. It should [describe main features].
Make it [describe style/appearance]. Save it in a folder called "[project-name]"

What to observe: - Bob creates a complete, working application - Bob handles multiple files and technologies - Bob makes it visually appealing - You can actually use what Bob creates!

Iteration Challenge: After Bob creates your project, ask him to add ONE new feature: 

Bob, can you add [specific feature] to my project?

What to observe: - Bob reads the existing code - Bob makes surgical changes with apply_diff - Bob preserves existing functionality while adding new features

Part 5: Wrap-Up & Reflection (10 minutes)

Group Share (5 minutes)

  • Volunteers share their projects (open in browser to demo)
  • What was the coolest thing Bob created?
  • What surprised you most?

Key Takeaways Discussion (5 minutes)

1. Agentic AI is Action-Oriented - Bob doesn't just talk, he creates and modifies files - Bob uses tools autonomously to accomplish goals - Bob breaks down complex tasks into steps

2. AI as a Collaborative Partner - You provide the vision and requirements - Bob handles the technical implementation - You can iterate and refine together

3. The Future of AI - Agentic AI can help with real work - AI assistants will become more capable - Understanding how to work with AI is a valuable skill

4. Bob's Key Capabilities Demonstrated:

  • File Operations: Creating, reading, and modifying files
  • Code Analysis: Understanding and improving existing code
  • Multi-file Projects: Organizing complex projects with HTML, CSS, JS
  • Iteration: Making targeted improvements to existing work
  • Problem Solving: Breaking down tasks into manageable steps

Quick Reflection Questions

  • What was the most impressive thing Bob did?
  • What surprised you about working with an AI agent?
  • How might you use AI tools like Bob in the future?
  • What are the limitations you noticed?
  • What ethical considerations should we think about with AI agents?

Extension Activities

For Students Who Finish Early

  1. Combine Projects: Ask Bob to combine two of your projects into one
  2. Add Advanced Features: Request Bob add more complex functionality
  3. Explore Different Styles: Ask Bob to redesign a project in a completely different visual style
  4. Debug Challenge: Intentionally break something and ask Bob to fix it
  5. Documentation: Ask Bob to create detailed documentation for one of your projects

Take-Home Challenges

  1. Personal Project: Create something useful for your daily life
  2. Help a Friend: Use Bob to create a tool that would help a friend or family member
  3. Learn Something New: Ask Bob to teach you a new programming concept by building examples
  4. Improve an Existing Project: Take one of today's projects and ask Bob to add new features

Tips for Working with Bob

Do's ✅

  • Be specific about what you want
  • Describe the desired outcome clearly
  • Ask Bob to explain his approach if you're curious
  • Iterate and refine your requests
  • Ask Bob to add features one at a time for complex projects
  • Request explanations of the code Bob writes

Don'ts ❌

  • Don't expect Bob to read your mind
  • Don't be afraid to ask Bob to try again differently
  • Don't skip testing your projects
  • Don't forget to save your work in clearly named folders

Getting Better Results

Instead of: "Make a website"

Try this instead

"Create a personal portfolio website with a home page, about section, and contact form. Use a blue and white color scheme with modern, clean design."

Instead of: "This doesn't work"

Try this instead

"The button on line 15 isn't responding when I click it. Can you check the JavaScript event listener?"

Additional Resources

Want to Learn More?

Questions to Explore

  • How does Bob decide which tools to use?
  • What are the ethical implications of AI agents?
  • How might agentic AI change different industries?
  • What skills will be important in an AI-assisted future?

Instructor Notes

Setup Requirements

  • Ensure all students have Bob access configured
  • Test Bob functionality before the workshop
  • Have backup activities in case of technical issues
  • Prepare examples to show if students need inspiration

Facilitation Tips

  • Encourage experimentation and creativity
  • Emphasize that "mistakes" are learning opportunities
  • Have students share their creations with the class
  • Discuss both capabilities and limitations of AI
  • Connect to real-world applications and careers

Assessment Ideas

  • Have students present their favorite creation
  • Ask students to explain how Bob accomplished a task
  • Discuss what they learned about AI agents
  • Reflect on how they might use AI tools in the future

Time Management

  • Exercises are designed to be flexible
  • Students can work at their own pace
  • Advanced students can do extension activities
  • Core concepts are covered in first 3 parts

Safety and Ethics Discussion

Important Considerations

AI Limitations: - Bob can make mistakes - Always review and test code Bob creates - Bob's knowledge has a cutoff date - Bob can't access external websites or APIs without proper setup

Responsible AI Use: - Give credit when using AI assistance - Understand the code you're using - Don't use AI to bypass learning - Consider privacy and data security - Think about the impact of AI on jobs and society

Academic Integrity: - Using AI as a learning tool is different from using it to cheat - Always follow your school's policies on AI use - The goal is to learn, not just to get answers

Conclusion

Congratulations on completing the Bob AI Workshop! You've experienced firsthand how agentic AI can be a powerful tool for creating, learning, and problem-solving. As AI technology continues to evolve, understanding how to work effectively with AI agents will be an increasingly valuable skill.

Remember: AI is a tool to augment human creativity and capability, not replace it. The best results come from combining human vision and judgment with AI's ability to execute and assist.

Keep exploring, keep creating, and keep learning! 🚀

Workshop created for IBM Bob - An Agentic AI Assistant Version 1.0 - Designed for high school students