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WVU Extension offering free Hour of AI event series to West Virginia students

4-H'er on a laptop at 4-H Visit Day on WVU campus

West Virginia University Extension 4-H is inviting third through 12th grade students to the 2025 4-H Hour of AI, a free series of activities where students can learn about coding, computer science, the responsible use of AI tools and how artificial intelligence really works behind the screen.

O n December 8 -11 from 6 to 7 p.m., students will have the opportunity to attend four different workshops, with new activities each night. Each activity is held virtually, and students of any skill level will be able to learn and participate.

"I want kids to be able to see themselves as someone who can grow up and be not just a person who consumes technology, but a person who creates technology," Emma Gardner, WVU Extension STEM specialist, said. “You can be more than just a consumer in this digital age, you can be someone who creates things.”

T hroughout the Hour of AI, students can learn about facial recognition technology, work with microprocessors, learn about basic coding using Scratch and even program their own “AI dance party” through Code.org. 

Previously known as the Hour of Code, Hour of AI is a part of Computer Science Education Week and is held in collaboration with Code.org, which has engaged more than 100 million students worldwide. With the increased use of AI and AI tools, Gardner believes that teaching students about the possibilities and limitations of AI is essential to not becoming overly reliant on this new technology.

"We want to make sure we're not losing our abilities to think critically and use our computational skills,” Gardner said. “I think it's important for our kids to know how AI works and the strengths and weaknesses of AI so that they can become people who use it responsibly."

Each workshop is completely free and requires no prior experience with coding or computer science. Students can sign up for just one night, a few nights, or all four. 4-H members can register online here; non-4-H members can register here.

Registration for the 2025 4-H Hour of AI is open now through December 11. To learn more about 4-H activities in your community and keep up with the latest in West Virginia 4-H news, follow @WestVirginia4H on Facebook and @wv_4h on Instagram.

If you want to learn more about WVU Extension, visit extension.wvu.edu or follow WVU Extension on Facebook and Instagram.

-WVU-

sg/10/30/25

MEDIA CONTACT: Sam Gorski 
Content Strategist 
WVU Division for Land-Grant  Engagement 
sbg0004@mail.wvu.edu