Empowering K-12 Classrooms with AI: Teaching Effective and Ethical Use

Outline

-Welcome & Speaker Introduction (2 minutes)
• Brief introduction of presenter and knowledge in AI and K-12 education.
• Overview of session objectives and agenda.

-AI In and Out of School (5 minutes)
• Overview of AI’s presence in daily life and classrooms.
• Discussion Question: How do students already interact with AI outside of school?

-The Benefits & Challenges of AI in K-12 Classrooms (5 minutes)
• AI as a learning assistant (e.g., MagicSchool, Grammarly, adaptive learning tools).
• Concerns: misinformation, plagiarism, over-reliance on AI.

-Critical Thinking with AI: How to Teach Students to Use AI Responsibly (10 minutes)
• Evaluating AI-generated content for accuracy and bias.
• Teaching students how to use effective AI prompts.
• Device-based Activity: Hands-on demo of participants practicing prompting an AI tool and discuss the results.

-Ethical Considerations & Classroom Guidelines (10 minutes)
• The role of educators in setting AI policies.
• Ethical concerns: bias, copyright, data privacy.
• Discussion Question: Should AI-generated work be allowed in classrooms? If so, under what conditions?
• Activity: Create 3–5 “AI Classroom Guidelines” for ethical and responsible AI use.
• Peer-to-peer discussion: Discuss created guidelines.

-AI Tools for Educators (10 minutes)
• Overview of AI-powered tools for writing, coding, and creativity (e.g., MagicSchool, ChatGPT, Canva, Scratch, Google Gemini, Suno).
• Real-world lesson plan examples for various subjects.

-Planning AI-Infused Lessons (10 minutes)
• Device-based Activity: Participants draft a lesson idea incorporating AI into their subject area.

-Open Q&A Session & Conclusion (8 minutes)
• Address remaining questions from participants.
• Encourage ongoing exploration of AI in education.
• Provide links to AI literacy resources and lesson plan templates.

Outcomes

By the end of this session, participants will:
1. Understand the role of AI in K-12 education and its impact on teaching and learning.
2. Understand how to evaluate and teach evaluation of AI-generated content for accuracy, bias and equity.
3. Explore strategies for integrating AI tools into the classroom while maintaining ethical considerations.
4. Design AI-infused lessons and activities that differentiate for diverse lessons.
5. Learn how to guide students in using AI critically, responsibly, and creatively.
6. Gain practical lesson ideas and resources for AI integration.

Supporting research

1. Li, H., Xiao, R., Nieu, H., Tseng, Y.-J., & Liao, G. (2024). From unseen needs to classroom solutions: Exploring AI literacy challenges & opportunities with project-based learning toolkit in K-12 education. arXiv. https://arxiv.org/abs/2412.17243

2. Zhou, X., Van Brummelen, J., & Lin, P. (2020). Designing AI learning experiences for K-12: Emerging works, future opportunities and a design framework. arXiv. https://arxiv.org/abs/2009.10228

3. Lee, S. J., & Kwon, K. (2024). A systematic review of AI education in K-12 classrooms from 2018 to 2023: Topics, strategies, and learning outcomes. Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence, 6, 100211. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.caeai.2024.100211

4. U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Technology, Artificial Intelligence and Future of Teaching and Learning: Insights and Recommendations, Washington, DC, 2023. https://www.ed.gov/sites/ed/files/documents/ai-report/ai-report.pdf

5. Casal-Otero, L., Catala, A., Fernández-Morante, C., Taboada, M., Cebreiro, B., & Barro, S. (2023). AI literacy in K-12: A systematic literature review. International Journal of STEM Education, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-023-00418-7

6. Noroozi, O., Soleimani, S., Farrokhnia, M., & Banihashem, S.K. (2024). Generative AI in
education: Pedagogical, theoretical, and methodological perspectives. International Journal
of Technology in Education (IJTE), 7(3), 373-385. https://doi.org/10.46328/ijte.845

7. Ng, D. T. K., Xinyu, C., Leung, J. K. L., & Chu, S. K. W. (2024). Fostering students' ai literacy development through educational games: Ai knowledge, affective and cognitive engagement. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcal.13009

8. Perkins, M., Furze, L., Roe, J., & MacVaugh, J. (2024). The Artificial Intelligence Assessment Scale (AIAS): A Framework for ethical integration of Generative AI in educational assessment. Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice, 21(06). https://doi.org/10.53761/q3azde36

9. Wiese, L. J., Patil, I., Schiff, D. S., & Magana, A. J. (2025). Ai Ethics Education: A systematic literature review. Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence, 8, 100405. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.caeai.2025.100405

10. Twabu, K. (2025). Enhancing the cognitive load theory and multimedia learning framework with Ai Insight. Discover Education, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44217-025-00592-6