Intro to AI workshop for families

The challenge

Schools around the world are working hard to intentionally integrate AI into their workflows. As educators, we are asking big questions about how this technology will shape teaching and learning. What is worth preserving? What needs to change, and why?

Across schools, teams are wrestling with these questions in real time. Leaders are drafting AI principles and policies, exploring new tools, and experimenting with how AI might shape workflows, classroom practices, and curriculum. There is a sense that something significant is shifting in education, and schools are trying to respond with care rather than react out of fear.

But in the whirlwind of change, one essential piece of the puzzle is sometimes overlooked: keeping families in the loop.

Families understandably have strong feelings about AI use in schools, and opinions span the gamut. Some families see learning to use these tools as essential for the future. Others worry about cheating, originality, or whether students will stop thinking for themselves. Many are simply unsure what responsible AI use looks like in a school setting.

How schools respond in this moment matters.

What we’ve created

To support these conversations, we’ve created a presentation that schools can use directly with families. The workshop is designed to be fully editable so schools can adapt the content to reflect their own mission, policies, and AI approach. It includes examples schools might share with families, as well as a video walkthrough that guides leaders through the slides and the thinking behind them.

Schools might choose to use the presentation in a variety of ways. For example, they might:

• Record a short video overview to share with families
• Host a live family information session or evening workshop
• Share key sections as part of a school newsletter or blog post

The goal is not to provide a single “right answer” for how schools should approach AI. Instead, it offers a structure that helps schools explain their thinking, invite questions, and build a shared understanding with families.

Here’s how it’s organized:

Start with your school’s mission

We begin with sharing the school’s mission. We firmly believe that a school’s philosophy around AI should be grounded in its core values.

A school that prioritizes legacy and tradition may respond differently than a school that emphasizes future readiness and innovation. Some schools may lean toward careful experimentation, while others may move more quickly toward integrating AI into teaching and learning.

Much of the legwork for thinking through AI already exists within a school’s mission and values. Starting here helps ground the conversation and reminds families that decisions about technology are not happening in isolation. They are part of the larger story of what the school believes about learning.

Understand how students are already using AI

From there, we move into research on how AI is currently being used.

This section provides an opportunity for schools to share student data if they have collected it. Many schools are already surveying students about when, where, and how they use AI tools.

We also include broader benchmarking data that helps families understand how frequently students are engaging with AI across schools today.

This helps ground the conversation in reality rather than speculation. Instead of debating whether AI is coming, families can see that it is already part of the learning landscape and that schools are working to respond thoughtfully.

Why AI literacy belongs in schools

Next, we build the case for why AI literacy belongs in schools.

Rather than ignoring or banning AI entirely, many schools are recognizing that students need guidance in learning how to use these tools thoughtfully and responsibly.

Just as schools teach students how to evaluate sources on the internet, they now need to help students learn how to question AI outputs, recognize limitations and bias, and use AI to support their thinking rather than replace it.

This section frames the conversation, showing families how schools are helping students use these tools thoughtfully and critically.

How our school is approaching AI literacy

The workshop then provides space for schools to explain how they are thinking about their own AI literacy curriculum.

Schools may share the skills students will develop at different grade levels, the types of learning experiences teachers are designing, and how AI is being incorporated into existing subjects.

For many schools, this work is not about adding an entirely new class. Instead, it involves weaving AI literacy into existing disciplines through thoughtful classroom practices and inquiry-based learning experiences.

Policies, tools, and expectations

The final section focuses on the school’s unique approach.

This is where leaders can share policies, use agreements, and the specific tools teachers and students are allowed to use. Schools can also explain how teachers are being supported as they learn alongside their students.

Transparency in this section helps families feel confident that AI use is being guided intentionally rather than left to chance.

Helping families engage with AI at home

We close with a simple take-home resource for families with ideas for how they might explore AI at home.

The goal is not to turn families into AI experts overnight. Instead, it gives them a starting point for conversations and exploration with their children.

Final thoughts

AI is moving quickly, and schools are navigating real uncertainty as they decide how to respond. But one thing is clear, these decisions should not happen behind closed doors. Even if a school is still early in its AI journey, starting a conversation with families is an important first step.

When schools bring families into the conversation, they create the conditions for trust, transparency, and shared responsibility. Families gain a clearer understanding of how AI is being used and why. Schools have the opportunity to explain their values, their safeguards, and the skills they believe students need to thrive in a changing world.

This workshop is designed to make that conversation easier to start. Grounded in your school’s mission and supported by real data, it helps shift the conversation from fear or speculation toward shared understanding.