Activating AI: Understanding leads to Praxis

Outline

Visitors join at any point in the 90-minute window.

- Each interaction lasts 5–10 minutes and includes one short demo, a reflective prompt, and resource access via QR code.
-Facilitator invites participants to share how they might use these activities in professional learning communities or classrooms.
- A quick feedback wall (“How will you use this?”) allows participants to post sticky notes with their intended applications.
- Participants also have an option to engage in 1 of 3 different quick activities designed around the professional learning resources.

Outcomes

- Explain how AI systems use data, probability, and pattern recognition to make predictions and generate outputs.Explain how AI systems use data, probability, and pattern recognition to make predictions and generate outputs.
- Identify free, classroom-ready AI resources from CodeVA’s NSF Equipping for Praxis project that support educator understanding of machine learning and reasoning.
- Apply CodeVA’s unplugged and digital AI learning activities to professional development or coaching sessions at their own schools.
- Discuss strategies for engaging colleagues in reflective conversations about AI integration and its implications for teaching and learning.
- Connect CodeVA’s resources to local curriculum goals or district professional learning initiatives focused on computational thinking or digital literacy.

Supporting research

https://codevirginia.org

https://curriculum.codevirginia.org/library/browse/exploring-ai

Mannila, L., et al. (2025). Framing AI literacy for K–12 education: Insights from multi-perspective and international stakeholders. In Proceedings of the 2025 Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education (ITiCSE 2025) (pp. 1–7). Association for Computing Machinery. https://doi.org/10.1145/3716640.3716650

Tadimalla, S. Y., & Maher, M. L. (2024). AI literacy for all: Adjustable interdisciplinary socio-technical curriculum. arXiv. https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.10552

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Technology. (2023). Artificial intelligence and the future of teaching and learning: Insights and recommendations. U.S. Department of Education. https://tech.ed.gov/ai