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"...society regulates how teens and young people access alcohol, tobacco, driving, and even the ability to vote because we realize that human judgment takes time to form and a considerable amount of experience to make informed decisions that may impact their future. Now there's a way to automate learning with the click of a button and we expect students to not use it?" — Marc Watkins, Rhetorica: If AI Can't Stop a Student From Cheating, How Can It Ever Be Safe? Spotlight on AlaskaYoung Entrepreneurs: T3 Alaska Student Builds a Web Design Company
Timothy Pearson, a T3 Alaska student from Wrangell, is turning his vision into reality with Neek Design, a web development company that blends modern technology with authentic storytelling rooted in his Tlingit and Chippewa heritage. Despite changes in plans, Timothy built a support network of mentors and peers, filed his business paperwork, and launched his first major project: Friendsofanan.org, a full-featured nonprofit website. With creativity, resilience, and cultural roots guiding him, Timothy is shaping a unique path in creative and digital industries. Share What's Happening in Your Community!We want to shine a light on the exciting computer science and digital literacy initiatives happening across Alaska. Are your students building an innovative app? Is your school hosting a coding event, or are you integrating new technology in the classroom? Let us know what's happening in your corner of the state, and you could be featured in a future newsletter. Click the button below to share your story. Curriculum CornerTwo Truths & AI Game
A brand new classroom game from Common Sense Education asks students to distinguish between AI-generated and human-created content. This activity is part of the Digital Literacy & Well-Being Curriculum, which helps students develop critical thinking skills around AI technologies. This game provides a fun way to test their AI detective skills while also building their critical thinking abilities. CoCo Build - A Shared Digital Space by MIT
CoCo Build is a free online learning tool designed for students in grades K-12 that focuses on computer science and generative AI. It allows users to explore foundational concepts of AI by building their own models with personalized data. The platform facilitates real-time collaboration, enabling students to work together on creative projects in a shared digital space. Features include live coding environments, private community creation for classrooms or groups, collaborative project development, and built-in video and audio for seamless communication. CoCo Build emphasizes a social platform without individual profiles, promoting a peaceful and creative environment for users to collaborate and innovate together. Interactive Resource DatabaseWant to explore more resources, lessons, and curriculum related to AI, CS, and Digital Literacy? Check out this interactive database of curated resources aligned to grade levels, subject areas and resource types. Upcoming EventsPresidential AI Challenge - Deadline Approaching!
The Presidential AI Challenge seeks to inspire young people and educators to create AI-based innovative solutions to community challenges while fostering AI interest and competency. Students and educators of all backgrounds and expertise are encouraged to participate and ignite a new spirit of innovation as we celebrate 250 years of independence and look forward to the next 250 years. Open to K-12 Youth, and Educators. Submissions due by January 20, 2026. AI For A Better World - Applications Open February 17, 2026
Day of AI provides comprehensive resources for educators, students, and families to support this challenge. AI For A Better World, developed in collaboration with MIT Solve, invites students in grades 6-12 to explore how artificial intelligence can improve their communities and the broader world. Students identify real problems they see or experience and consider how AI can empower them to propose credible, meaningful solutions. Applications will be submitted through the MIT Solve platform, which opens for submissions on February 17, 2026. Selected student teams will be invited to present their solutions to a panel of experts at the MIT Media Lab in Cambridge, Massachusetts in July 2026 as part of the national celebration of youth innovation. Swift Student Challenge - Submissions Open February 6, 2026
Get ready! Submissions for the Swift Student Challenge will be open February 6–28, 2026. This challenge offers students an opportunity to showcase their creativity and app development skills. Students can use iOS/MacOS devices to participate. Learn how to get ready for the Swift Student Challenge Submission period: February 6–28, 2026 Upcoming Webinars
America's Youth AI FestivalIn partnership with MIT RAISE, the America's Youth AI Festival celebrates the creativity, leadership, and innovation of students across the United States who are shaping the future of AI. The Festival is hosted across Boston and MIT's Cambridge campus. Theme: Empowering America's youth to aspire and inspire through AI innovation, shaping the next 250 years of technological leadership and creativity. Grand Prize: Win an all-expenses-paid trip to MIT from July 17-19, 2026 (Eligible for students ages 14 and up) Visit dayofaiusa.org/festival for more information. News & OpportunitiesAmazon Future Engineer ScholarshipThe Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship application is open and designed for high school seniors who know how to code (or are learning) and plan to pursue computer science or a related technical field.
Full eligibility details and application instructions are available at amazonfutureengineer.com/scholarships. AI Adoption in Education: International InsightsA new OECD-Fondazione Agnelli paper explores how artificial intelligence can be strategically deployed to address Italy’s most persistent educational challenges, including reducing early school leaving, closing the gender gap in mathematics, and supporting students with an immigrant background. The paper argues for a dual focus on fostering AI literacy and cultivating "uniquely human" capabilities, such as empathy and critical thinking, that remain irreplaceable in an automated world. Read the full report to discover international best practices and a comprehensive policy roadmap for navigating the opportunities and risks of AI adoption in schools. Professional DevelopmentTech Tuesdays: CS & AI Office Hours
Curious about Artificial Intelligence? Navigating Computer Science or Digital Literacy standards? Or just want to brainstorm ideas for your classroom? Join Anthony White (AKDEED) for informal drop-in office hours every Tuesday in January and February. This is an open space for Alaska educators and administrators to ask questions, share challenges, or just listen in on the conversation regarding Computer Science, AI, and Digital Literacy. Can’t make this time? No problem. Book a 1:1 meeting that fits your schedule here.
When: Tuesdays, January 6 - February 24, 2026 ASTE 2026 Conference - Registration Now Open!
The Alaska Society for Technology in Education (ASTE) is excited to share that registration is now open for ASTE 2026, taking place February 14–16 in Anchorage. ASTE is Alaska’s only statewide ed-tech conference and offers valuable professional learning for K-12 educators, administrators, and program leaders focused on technology integration, digital skills, AI literacy, and career-connected learning. ASTE is also accepting nominations for the ASTE Leadership Awards, which recognize outstanding students, educators, administrators, and tech professionals. In addition, the iDidaContest is open for student and educator-created digital media projects, offering an excellent opportunity to showcase student creativity, technical skills, and real-world applications. Thank You for Participating in Alaska CS/AI Education Week!
Thank you to all the educators across Alaska who participated in the Hour of CS/AI, December 8-12, 2025! Your commitment to bringing Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence education to Alaska students is inspiring. If you missed any of our live sessions, recordings are available at education.alaska.gov/computer-science. You can also continue exploring the Hour of CS/AI activity catalog with hundreds of creative activities at HourofAI.org. We'd love to hear about the activities you completed with your students! If you have stories, photos, or student work you'd like to share, please send them to anthony.white@alaska.gov. Your experiences could inspire other educators and learners across the state.
✉️anthony.white@alaska.gov This newsletter is an initiative of the Division of Innovation & Education Excellence. We feature free, open-source resources. You are receiving this email because you signed up to receive information on K-12 computer science and digital literacy. |