AK CS and Digital Literacy
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"In November 2024, the quantity of AI-generated articles being published on the web surpassed the quantity of human-written articles. After only 12 months [after ChatGPT's launch], AI-generated articles accounted for nearly half (39%) of articles published." Alaska Computer Science and AI Education WeekDecember 8-14, 2025, is Alaska Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Education Week! This celebration recognizes that computing technology is an integral part of modern culture and that AI literacy is now an essential component of 21st-century education. Alaska's broadband infrastructure buildout creates unprecedented opportunities for all Alaskan to access high-paying, technology-related jobs from their home communities, thereby strengthening local economies. Celebrate with the Hour of CS/AI - December 8-14, 2025Join classrooms worldwide in celebrating Computer Science Education Week! The Hour of CS/AI provides engaging, hands-on activities to demystify computer science and artificial intelligence, inspiring students to become creators of technology while learning the core principles of responsible, ethical, and safe innovation. Browse the activity catalog with 60+ creative ways to bring CS and AI to life in your classroom. Resources include lessons that teach students what AI is, how it works, and how it can be used for good. View Alaska's collection of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence resources on the AKDEED Computer Science website. Alaska-Exclusive Live Virtual Events During CS/AI WeekAlaska educators and students have access to exclusive live virtual events during Computer Science and AI Education Week. These sessions bring industry experts, university leaders, and innovative educators directly to Alaska classrooms. All sessions are scheduled at times that allow students to participate during the school day, and all sessions will be recorded for viewing at any time. π Monday, December 8 | 10:00-11:00 AM AKSTBuff Nuggets Live: Unleashing Creativity with CS & AI (Grades 6-12) Kick off the week with a dose of "Buff Magic!" Join Brian Buffington, EdTech pioneer, musician, and long-time friend to Alaska's school districts, for a high-voltage session designed to wake up your digital creativity. Known for his "Buff Nuggets" podcast and recognized as a top voice in EdTech, Brian brings a unique perspective to the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and media production. Explore how students can use digital tools to solve problems, tell stories, and engage with the world. π Tuesday, December 9 | 10:00-11:00 AM AKSTHour of AI for Alaska: A LIVE Learning Event! (Grades K-8) | Hosted by Tynker This year Tynker is turning AI on its head and making AI education accessible for everyone! Join this FREE learning event for Alaska teachers AND students, where students will learn along with Tynker coding and AI educators as they explore Tynker's FREE Hour of AI lessons. In this 45-minute session, we'll open with a Live Lumio activity, then students will walk through the basics of one of these amazing Tynker Hour of AI activities. We'll meet special guests, take student questions from the audience, and have a blast! (We might even give away a Tynker T-shirt!) π Tuesday, December 9 | 1:00-2:00 PM AKSTHour of AI Comes Virtually to Your Classroom (Grades 3-5) | Hosted by Alaska Staff Development Network Join Alaska's Statewide Celebration of Hour of AI 2025! Teachers can log in with their classroom and join other 3rd-5th grade classrooms across Alaska for a live, interactive exploration of Artificial Intelligence. Enjoy a short, engaging discussion on "What is AI?" followed by an interactive Code.org lesson designed to deepen student understanding. Discover how AI learns, responds, and inspires creativity through a hands-on guided lesson. Special Guest: Tammy Morris will lead this dynamic session. π Wednesday, December 10 | 10:00-11:00 AM AKSTWelcome to the Golden Age of Building Software AI is changing how software gets built and is creating new opportunities for anyone interested in technology. Andrew Lee, a self-taught software engineer with experience as both an individual contributor and a manager, will share how the field is shifting, how to work effectively with AI, and why this is the best time to bring ideas to life. π Tuesday, December 10 | 4:00-5:00 PM AKSTDemystifying AI Workshop (Educators) | Hosted by Day of AI Join Day of AI, a national organization powered by MIT RAISE (Responsible AI for Social Empowerment and Education), for an introductory 60-minute session for educators on what artificial intelligence is, how it works, and some of the opportunities and risks of this new technology. Day of AI brings free and open-source AI tools, curriculum, assessments, and teacher professional materials developed by MIT RAISE to students and educators everywhere. π Thursday, December 11 | 10:00-11:00 AM AKSTUnreal Futures: Preparing Students for Careers in Interactive 3D (Grades 6-12) | Hosted by Epic Games There's never been a more exciting and empowering time to be a creator. Jobs are changing and new careers are emerging in every industry, powered by new technological advancements. Real-time technology is one of the innovations set to transform the world we live in. Interactive 3D powers the games we play, the movies we watch, and the virtual worlds we spend our time in. The tools that drive Fortnite also help architects visualize buildings before they're built and surgeons simulate difficult procedures. With Unreal Futures, students will get access to insight from industry leaders and real-life projects using Unreal Engine. π Friday, December 12 | On DemandFuture Ready: Exploring CS Pathways with UAA Leaders (Grades 6-12 & Educators) | Hosted by UAA Curious where a career in technology can take you right here in Alaska? Join Kenrick Mock, Dean of the College of Engineering, and Frank Witmer, Associate Professor of Computer Science, for an exclusive look inside the University of Alaska Anchorage. This session moves beyond the classroom and into the lab, highlighting how Alaskan experts use technology to solve complex problems. Whether you're interested in robotics, biometrics, or environmental science, tune in to discover the potential of Computer Science in Alaska and how UAA can be your launchpad for the future. All sessions will be recorded and available for viewing at education.alaska.gov/computer-science Upcoming Events & CompetitionsPresidential AI Challenge - Deadline January 20, 2026The Presidential AI Challenge is a national competition where K-12 students, educators, mentors, and community teams solve real-world problems in their communities using AI-powered solutions, with the chance to showcase their projects on a national stage. This 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. Project Submission Deadline: January 20, 2026 Learn more about the challenge or review the Presidential AI Challenge Guidebook. American Computer Science League (ACSL) - Register by December 31!ACSL organizes computer programming and computer science contests for K-12 schools, organizations and local groups. This year marks their 48th year of continuous operation! Last year, over 7,000 students from 21 countries on 6 continents participated.
America's Youth AI FestivalThe America's Youth AI Festival celebrates the creativity, leadership, and innovation of students across the United States who are shaping the future of AI. In partnership with MIT RAISE, this festival empowers 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 and to learn about national challenges and events. News & OpportunitiesChatGPT for Teachers - Free Through June 2027OpenAI is introducing ChatGPT for Teachers and making it free through June 2027. This initiative recognizes that teachers play a critical role in helping students and families understand how AI can support learning while maintaining education-grade privacy, security, and compliance programs that protect student data and support FERPA requirements. Key features include:
ChatGPT helps teachers save time on tasks like creating lesson plans, writing feedback, and generating quizzes, giving them more time to spend with students. Why Kids Still Need to Learn to Code in the AI EraDespite headlines about declining entry-level tech jobs, learning to code remains essential for young people. As Tarika Barrett, CEO of Girls Who Code, argues in TIME Magazine, when we discourage students from learning computer science, we limit their agency in a world where tech literacy is increasingly essential across all industries. The article highlights how the rise of AI has created a generation gap. Young people are told AI is the future, but they're excluded from the rooms where it's being created and used. We need youth voices to shape how fair, ethical, and useful AI will be. Computer science education develops more than coding skills. It builds computational and critical thinking capabilities that help students build confidence and trust their voices. We must advocate for young people to have opportunities to learn the skills and build the tools they need to solve today's problems and prepare for tomorrow's jobs. Curriculum CornerHour of AI Curriculum - Free & Open-SourceDay of AI brings free and open-source AI tools, curriculum, assessments, and teacher professional materials developed by MIT RAISE to students and educators everywhere. The curriculum is designed to be accessible and engaging, with activities appropriate for all grade levels and experience levels. Girls Who Code: Free AI Literacy UnitEmpower your learners to shape the future of AI responsibly with Girls Who Code's free AI Literacy Unit. This comprehensive curriculum helps educators facilitate project-based, hands-on lessons with confidence using ready-made educator resources. The AI Literacy Unit includes:
The newest additions to Girls Who Code's Clubs curriculum are designed to help students understand not just how to use AI, but how it works and its implications for society. If you're already a GWC Club Facilitator, you can access these materials in the Facilitator Toolkit on HQ. Free AI Literacy Family ToolkitDay of AI and Common Sense Media have partnered to introduce a free AI Literacy Family Toolkit, designed to help families build foundational AI knowledge together at home. The toolkit includes short videos, conversation cards, and simple, hands-on activities that make it easy for parents and caregivers to spark meaningful conversations about artificial intelligence. Many children are already interacting with AI tools dailyβsometimes without parents even knowing. This resource helps families understand key issues such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, and misinformation, and offers simple ways to discuss them at home. Schools and community organizations can share this toolkit with families using the ready-to-use implementation guide, presentation slides, and customizable templates. Spotlight on AlaskaAlaska's Commitment to CS and AI EducationAlaska Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Education Week represents a significant opportunity for technology education in our state. Key priorities include:
Computer Science Education Week honors U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Grace Murray Hopper, a pioneer of computer programming whose groundbreaking work laid the foundation for decades of technological advancement. This week underscores the importance of preparing every Alaskan student with the skills needed to thrive in an increasingly digital world and contribute to a prosperous and innovative future for our state. 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 during CS/AI Week? 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.
βοΈanthony.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.
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