Primary Students and AI: Nurturing Digital Literacy from an Early Age: 05, 12, & 19 May 2027

15:00 – 17:00 London time on each day

Facilitated by John Mikton

This online training will consist of 3 synchronous workshops outlined below. Participants will need to attend all 3 to obtain the completion certificate.

“She is always there. She never says no. She always has a nice voice.”

This comment from a Year 3 student shows how naturally AI is entering children’s lives. From friendly voice assistants to personalized online experiences, young learners are already using AI often without even knowing it.

These three interactive 120-minute online workshops are designed to support international school educators. We’ll explore simple, meaningful ways to help primary students understand the digital world around them.

Through discussion, group activities, and real examples, you’ll explore ideas together and create classroom activities that help children be curious, think carefully, care about others, and start using digital tools responsibly.

Workshop 1: How Young Children Meet AI in Everyday Life

Children aged 3–11 are already meeting AI through apps, toys, games, search tools, and learning platforms, often without realising it. As AI tools become more capable and agentic, they may also suggest, create, organise, or guide next steps. In this workshop, we will explore what this means for teaching and learning, and how to talk about AI with young learners in simple, age-appropriate ways.

Workshop 2: Guiding Children to Think Critically About AI Ethics

This session looks at how we can help children think about fairness, truth, kindness, and responsibility when using digital tools. As AI tools begin to suggest ideas, shape choices, or carry out tasks, children need support to question what they see and use. Through classroom examples and discussion, we will explore practical ways to guide ethical conversations in primary school.

Workshop 3: Using AI Tools in the Primary Classroom

In this session, we will explore how AI tools can be used carefully in the primary classroom. We will look at examples that support creativity, planning, feedback, and inquiry, including tools that can organise information, suggest next steps, or support parts of a learning process. We will also consider privacy, equity, accuracy, and the importance of human oversight, so AI use stays connected to students’ needs and school values.

In each of these workshops, participants will engage in collaborative, hands-on activities designed to reinforce learning and apply the concepts shared in the sessions. These activities, conducted in breakout rooms, will allow educators to explore and adapt AI-related strategies to their specific educational contexts.

About the facilitator

John Mikton has three decades of experience in education and media technology, and currently serves as Digital Learning Facilitator at the International School of Geneva – La Châtaigneraie. With a career spanning leadership roles such as IT Director, Director of eLearning, Head of Education and Media Technology, and Deputy Principal, he has worked in international schools across Africa, Asia, and Europe, always with a focus on integrating digital fluency into meaningful teaching and learning practices.

John is an experienced facilitator and trainer, and currently a Course Facilitator with the ECIS Middle Leader Certificate Programme, supporting aspiring middle leaders to develop essential leadership competencies. He is also a trainer and course designer at the Principal Training Center, and coach for the Faria Education Group, guiding teams in enhancing digital strategy and leadership.

John is co-host of the International Schools Podcast, contributing to conversations on innovation and leadership in international education. He is recognized with the ISC Research Award in both 2021 and 2022. Explore portfolio and professional projects at https://beyonddigital.org.