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Building AI Literacy in Elementary Schools: Teach Students to Question, Not Just Prompt
Tuesday, October 13, 2026 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EDT
Building AI Literacy in Elementary Schools: Teach Students to Question, Not Just Prompt
Presented by Dyane Smokorowski, Experienced Educator, Coordinator of Digital Literacy, Wichita Public Schools (KS)
Sponsored by PebbleGo by Capstone
Learn more about earning a CE certificate and our accessibility features.
How should districts introduce AI to elementary students without sacrificing safety, critical thinking, or the role of the educator?
This edWebinar helps district and school leaders move beyond the question of whether students should encounter AI and toward a more intentional conversation about how to introduce it responsibly. Attendees will explore the foundations of age-appropriate AI literacy and consider what young learners need to understand before AI becomes another everyday learning tool.
Led by digital literacy leader Dyane Smokorowski, the recorded session challenges common assumptions about AI and demonstrate how curiosity, skepticism, and student agency can become the foundation for responsible AI use. Through practical classroom examples and interactive activities, attendees will see how AI can give students something to think about rather than doing the thinking for them.
Viewers can learn how to:
- Frame AI literacy as an extension of critical thinking
- Establish developmentally appropriate expectations for elementary AI use
- Evaluate AI tools through the lenses of safety, privacy, transparency, and student agency
- Create purposeful, scaffolded opportunities for students to interact with AI
- Keep teachers at the center of AI-supported learning
Viewers can also see how a purpose-built AI inquiry experience can support safe, age-appropriate exploration through Ask PebbleGo. District leaders can leave with practical considerations they can use to guide AI conversations, evaluate tools, and build a more thoughtful path toward implementation.
This recorded edWebinar will be of interest to K-5 teachers, librarians, school leaders, district leaders, and education technology leaders.
About the Presenter
Dyane Smokorowski (Mrs. Smoke) is an accomplished educator, having been inducted into the National Teacher Hall of Fame in 2019 and named the 2013 Kansas Teacher of the Year. As Coordinator of Digital Literacy in the Wichita Public Schools, she fosters a student-centered classroom that builds skills in communication, planning, research, and project implementation. Mrs. Smoke also creates engaging professional development opportunities for teachers. She believes in instilling a love for innovation, communication, and technology to help students and educators thrive in the global community. Mrs. Smoke's guidance inspires students and teachers to reach their full potential and make a positive impact on the world.
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PebbleGo is a part of The Capstone Suite, a comprehensive literacy solution that bridges gaps between curricula and student access. With an array of multimodal digital and print literacy products, educators can differentiate instruction to help students build knowledge, develop foundational skills, and engage deeply with curriculum-connected content.
