Some users who create a class account on Machine Learning for Kids need to add an API key from IBM Cloud for some uses of the site.
This document explains:
- What type of projects need this API key? What type of users need to provide their own API key?
- How do you create an account on the IBM Cloud website?
- How do you create the type of API key you need?
- What do you do with the API key once you have created it?
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AI technology for text projects in Machine Learning for Kids is provided by watsonx Assistant services in IBM Cloud.

Schools and not-for-profit coding clubs can request a "Managed Class" account on the Machine Learning for Kids so this is all set up for them.

Other users need to create an IBM Cloud account and create a watsonx Assistant service to add to their Machine Learning for Kids class. Creating an IBM Cloud account is free. “Lite Plan” watsonx Assistant services are free but have restrictions on the number of machine learning models you can create with them. Creating “Plus Plan” watsonx Assistant services increases these restrictions. The rest of this document gives you step-by-step instructions for how to do all of this.
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Go to: https://ibm.com/products/watsonx-assistant
Click on ‘Start the free trial’


Enter your personal information

Review and accept the privacy notice

Your IBM Cloud account is now ready to use.
Select a location closest to yourself to create your watsonx Assistant instance. Read the information for available plans (Trial, Lite, Plus, Enterprise…)

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Select plan Lite (recommended)

Remind that: Lite plan services are deleted after 30 days of inactivity.
This is the confirmation screen once you’ve created your Watson Assistant instance:

Copy the “API key” value. This is what you need to put into machinelearningforkids.co.uk
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Login into your Machine Learning for Kids account and click the Teacher link at the top of Machine Learning for Kids to access your Administration page.

Click the Watson API Keys button to provide your API key:
- Push “Add new credentials”
- In the pop-menu select your plan.
- Paste the copied API key
- Push “ADD”

This API key will now be used by Machine Learning for Kids to provide machine learning models (to recognize text) for all users in your class account.
Students will not see your watsonx Assistant API key.
Students will not need to visit the IBM Cloud website.