AI for Young Learners (Jump Start Guide)
Description
AI for Young Learners
Balancing Tech Use with Authentic, Off-Screen Experiences By Nneka J. McGee
ISBN: 9798888370896
Release Date: January 2026
Length: 6 pages
Support young learners in understanding AI concepts – with and without technology – so they can safely and responsibly navigate a world increasingly driven by AI and emerging technology.
Students in early childhood programs and elementary schools are often exposed to technology but need support in learning how to use it safely and effectively. At the same time, many tools available to older students are not appropriate for young learners due in part to laws and regulations, including the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
While concerns about technology use by children are understandable, young learners must gain knowledge about how artificial intelligence (AI) works, so they’re prepared to interact online and begin learning how to use technology responsibly. This practical guide helps teachers and parents/guardians prepare young learners for a future driven by AI and other emerging technologies. The guide makes AI learning accessible and developmentally appropriate for young learners, centering on real-life examples, conversation starters and unplugged activities that meet them where they are.
The guide:
- Introduces Kid-Adult-Partner (KAP) activities to encourage co-learning among children and their caregivers or teachers, emphasizing shared discovery over top-down instruction.
- Equips families and teachers with tools to build AI-ready mindsets and classrooms that prioritize ethical use, safety and curiosity.
- Helps shift early education from a mindset of consuming digital content to understanding and shaping the systems that surround us.
With this guide, educators and families can better ensure that all children are equipped to navigate our AI-powered future.
Audience: Early childhood and elementary school educators and care providers; parents and legal guardians
About the author
Nneka J. McGee, Ed.D., is an innovative educator, researcher and advocate dedicated to creating and promoting pathways that provide students access and opportunities to navigate a future driven by AI and emerging technologies. She’s the founder of Muon Global, which offers strategic storytelling and empowers educators and learners in the AI era. She holds a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction, a juris doctorate and a doctorate in education. McGee is a sought-after speaker on AI in education, and has presented her work at national, state and regional conferences. She’s a board member of HAKing Innovation, which develops technology-focused curriculum for students ages 5 to 14. She also served as an AI practitioner advisory board member for the Engage AI Institute, and was selected as a 2023 EdSAFE AI Alliance Fellow. Her writing has appeared in publications such as Literacy Today (International Literacy Association). The American College of Education has collaborated with McGee as an ACE It Together blogger since 2020.
