Learning to Code, Learning to Care: Promoting Ethics and Agency in Elementary AI Curriculum

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Saturday 11:45 am - Gold 4
  In Roundtable Session: Digital Literacy, Robotics, and Ethical AI in Education

Abstract

This study examines the impact of an informal AI curriculum on elementary students’ understanding of Artificial Intelligence (AI) concepts, ethical reasoning, and agency. Grounded in sociocultural learning theory and the AI4K12 framework, the five-session intervention engaged 5th graders in coding, design, and dialogue centered on fairness, accountability, and bias in AI systems. While AI content knowledge showed only modest improvement, students demonstrated strong and thoughtful ethical reasoning, expressing empathy and civic responsibility in response to AI dilemmas. Findings suggest that even brief informal AI experiences can foster critical engagement with emerging technologies. The study highlights how early exposure to AI, when paired with justice-oriented learning goals, can support more inclusive and ethically grounded visions of AI education.

Authors

• Burak Sahin, University of Nevada - Las Vegas

• Hasan Deniz, University of Nevada - Las Vegas