AI Workshop Framework for Educators

AI for Thoughtful Teaching & Learning

A hands-on, reflective workshop to help K–8 educators explore AI in meaningful, critical, and creative ways.

Workshop Overview

This framework is designed for K-8 educators to:

• Engage with generative AI tools critically
• Design classroom-ready units
• Gain practical strategies and deeper insights into what AI is and what it means for education

Strand 1: Understanding AI & Machine Learning

Core Question: What is AI, really—and what should educators know about how it works?

Topics Covered

• What AI and machine learning are (and what they aren't)
• How tools like ChatGPT and NotebookLM work behind the scenes
• The human, environmental, and ethical costs of AI
  • Data privacy
  • Bias
  • Surveillance
• Moving beyond hype and fear toward responsible use

Hands-On Activities

• Experiment with AI tools and compare outputs
• Learn how systems process language and identify patterns
• Explore classroom strategies to discuss AI critically

Outcomes

By the end of this strand, participants will:

• Use AI tools with confidence and curiosity
• Ask hard questions about AI's impact
• Help students develop critical digital literacy around AI

Strand 2: Designing AI-Enhanced Learning Around Wicked Problems

Core Question: How can AI support deeper thinking, inquiry, and ethical reflection?

The Approach

Design a unit centered on a wicked problem — a complex, real-world issue that matters in your community or classroom.

Framework: Project-Based Learning (PBL) with:

• Computational thinking practices
• STEAM ethics lens

How AI Tools Support This

Tools like NotebookLM and ChatGPT help students:

• Organize and synthesize research
• Ask deeper, more thoughtful questions
• Consider multiple perspectives
• Reflect on ethical implications of innovation

Outcomes

Participants leave with:

• A fully developed, classroom-ready unit
• Strategies for scaffolding inquiry for students
• A toolkit of AI tools and resources
• Feedback from fellow educators

Strand 3: AI as Cognitive Amplifier and Teaching Assistant

Core Question: How can AI tools work with you—not for you—to support your practice?

Focus Areas

Practical Applications

• Lesson planning and differentiation
• Feedback generation
• Research support
• Unit development

Outcomes

Participants leave with:

• Custom tools ready for classroom use
• Personalized workflows to save time
• AI as a partner in your professional practice

Key Principles

Throughout all strands:

1. AI as amplifier, not replacement — Your professional judgment stays central
2. Critical engagement — Question the tools, don't just use them
3. Ethical awareness — Consider costs, biases, and implications
4. Practical application — Leave with usable resources

Workshop Deliverables

By the end of the workshop, participants will have:

• A classroom-ready unit on a wicked problem
• Custom AI prompts and tools
• Strategies for teaching AI literacy to students
• A personal workflow for AI-assisted planning

Related

• Artificial Intelligence — The technology in context
• Teaching Digital Self-determination — Pedagogical approach
• Anti-Racist Digital Literacy Principles — Equity lens
• Digital Resilience — Sustainable tech practices

The goal isn't just to use AI confidently—it's to question it, too.