Storytelling and Community Research Intern

New nsf-backed project aims to help middle schoolers decide what to trust in the age of AI. University of Denver and The Tech Interactive to co-design tool to help students critically evaluate ai-generated information. Denver, CO and San Jose, CA, Sept. 03, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - As artificial intelligence (AI) tools rapidly reshape how young people search, learn, create, and make sense of the world, a new U.S. National Science Foundation-backed project will help middle schoolers build a skill they increasingly need: the ability to determine what information to trust. Students explore how to identify signs of AI-generated images during National AI Day 2026 at The Tech Interactive... The University of Denver and The Tech Interactive have received a $50,000 planning award through the NSF FINDERS FOUNDRY program for "Co-Designing a Developmentally Grounded AI Literacy Tool for Grades 5-8," a project led by Dr. Pilyoung Kim, director of the Brain, Artificial Intelligence, and Child (BAIC) Center at the University of Denver, in collaboration with The Tech Interactive in San Jose. The team will co-design a tool to help students independently and critically evaluate AI-generated information. Additional team members include Lauren Sabour, educator at Denver Language School; Merrick Weaver, parent at Denver Language School; and Monchu Chen, technologist at Google. The award is part of NSF's first-ever FINDERS FOUNDRY investment, which provides nearly $2.5 million to 50 interdisciplinary teams working across K-12 formal and informal learning spaces. NSF describes the program as a way to strengthen collaboration among educators, caregivers, technologists, and researchers to design evidence-based innovations for a digital, AI-driven future. Together, the cross-sector team will bring research, classroom experience, family perspective, technology expertise, and informal learning design into one co-design process. The goal is to create a tool that reflects how students actually encounter AI-generated information at school, at home, and in daily life. "Young people are already encountering AI-generated information on a regular basis," said Katrina Stevens, president and CEO of The Tech Interactive. "The question is whether they will know how to question it, verify it, and understand the human choices behind it. This project is about helping students build agency, not fear, as they grow up in an AI-driven world." The award comes at a pivotal moment for AI literacy. Students in Grades 5-8 are old enough to explore digital tools and information independently, while still developing the critical reasoning skills they need to evaluate sources, identify bias, and understand when technology should or should not be trusted. "Middle school is a powerful moment for AI literacy," said Kim. "Students at this age are curious, thoughtful, and ready to wrestle with big questions about technology, fairness, creativity, and responsibility. By designing alongside educators, families, and students, our goal is to create a tool that supports both understanding and agency." The project builds on an existing collaboration between Kim and The Tech, where she served as a key advisor, developing AI literacy lessons for the organization's National AI Literacy Day activations. Those lessons use hands-on activities and critical questioning to help students understand how AI works, how Artificial Intelligence differs from human intelligence and emotion, and how human bias and decisions shape technology. As part of the planning phase, The Tech will host a working session in downtown San Jose to bring project partners and local teachers together and shape a proposal for a larger NSF development grant. The session is an important step in receiving teachers' input on the design and will focus on uncovering student needs, establishing learning goals, engaging teachers in co-design, and planning for future tool development. NSF FINDERS FOUNDRY supports interdisciplinary teams spanning K-12 formal and informal learning spaces as they develop education technology innovations rooted in real learning challenges. The first-ever cohort includes 50 teams from across the country. Planning awards support early-stage collaboration, stakeholder engagement, data collection, pilot testing, and early validation. Teams that receive planning awards are eligible to submit proposals for larger development awards. About The Tech Interactive The Tech Interactive is a hands-on science and innovation center in downtown San Jose that inspires the innovator in everyone. Through interactive exhibits, immersive experiences, educational programs, and community partnerships, The Tech helps people of all ages build confidence as creative problem-solvers and explore how science and technology can be used to make the world better. The Tech's AI literacy initiatives include hands-on exhibits, classroom lessons, educator resources, and public programs that help learners understand how AI works, ask better questions, evaluate AI-generated information, and consider the human choices behind emerging technologies. As part of San Jose's growing AI ecosystem, The Tech is working to make AI literacy accessible, inclusive, and useful for students, educators, caregivers, and the broader community. About the University of Denver Founded in 1864, the University of Denver is a private university that empowers students who want to make a difference. Recognized as one of the top research universities in the country, DU has more than 200 academic programs serving about 12,000 graduate and undergraduate students. DU students benefit from an experience that channels passion to serve the public good. Visit the University's Newsroom or follow the University on Facebook, LinkedIn and X. About The U.S. National Science Foundation The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that promotes the progress of science by investing in research to expand knowledge in science, engineering and education across all 50 states and territories. NSF supports nearly 2,000 colleges, universities and other institutions through competitive grants aimed at advancing science with broad impacts across the nation and its people. Learn more at nsf.gov. Students take part in a hands-on AI literacy activity at The Tech Interactive, learning how to question, evaluate, and spot AI-generated content. Press Inquiries Katie Barrow publicrelations [at] thetech.org https://www.thetech.org 201 S. Market St. San Jose, CA 95113

The Tech Interactive hosts largest National AI Literacy Day event on Friday, March 27. Nearly 1,000 Bay Area students, educators and community members participate in AI exploration, with Weekend activities to follow. San Jose, Ca, March 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - The Tech Interactive, a world-renowned science, technology, and education center in the heart of Silicon Valley, is hosting the largest National AI Literacy Day event in the country, welcoming more than 1,000 K-12 students from across the Bay Area for a day of hands-on learning focused on artificial intelligence. Simultaneously, educators, innovators, and community leaders will gather for the Third Annual AI Literacy Day Summit, now open to the public, exploring how AI is transforming education and the future of work. National AI Literacy Day is Friday, March 27, 2026. Now in its third year, National AI Literacy Day is a nationwide initiative designed to empower students, educators, and families with the tools to engage with AI safely, ethically, and creatively. Organized in partnership with aiEDU, EdSafe AI Alliance (InnovateEDU), and Common Sense Media, the initiative brings communities together through immersive experiences and conversations about artificial intelligence. Hundreds of events will take place across the country, highlighting the urgent need for AI education and collaboration. "At The Tech Interactive, we believe everyone should have the opportunity to understand the technologies influencing their lives," said Katrina Stevens, President and CEO of The Tech Interactive. "AI literacy is not just about skills. It is about curiosity and critical thinking. We want people to understand that all technology, including AI, is built by humans, and to see themselves as problem-solvers who can shape it for the better. National AI Literacy Day shows what is possible when educators, industry, and communities come together around that shared goal." The AI Literacy Day Summit, taking place from 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Friday, March 27, will bring together leaders from education, government, and industry to explore how to prepare students for an AI-driven future. Highlights include: Opening remarks: Dinesh Nirmal, Senior Vice President, Software, IBM Fireside Chat: Kim Smith, Founder and CEO of LearnerStudio, on how learning systems must evolve in the age of AI Moderated by Peggy Yin, PhD Student, Stanford University Create + AI Lightning Talks: Hiroshi Mendoza, Founder of Read Sidekick, an AI-powered literacy tools and human-centered design, Dr. Diana Neebe and Jake Moffat of Sacred Heart Preparatory, on co-designing process-based analytical writing, and Adam Siegel, Founder of UGood?, an AI-driven Tier I attendance and student engagement system. Education Panel: AI in Education: The Possibilities, the Pitfalls and Shaping the Future Featuring Rudy Escobar of Stanislaus County Office of Education, Dr. Vanessa Monterosa of NewSchools Venture Fund, and Dr. Tara Nattrass of Lenovo Moderated by Dr. Pati Ruiz of Digital Promise Community Panel: AI Literacy for Families and Communities: Building Capacity Across San Jose Featuring Dr. Yingjie Liu of San José State University, Eduardo Arellanas Loeza of Breakthrough Silicon Valley, Albert Glee, City of San José Privacy and AI Officer, Abby Shull of San José Public Library, and Kristine Schaan of Sourcewise Student Voice Panel: Student-Led AI Literacy: Lessons from a High School Tech Internship Program Featuring Kip Glazer, Principal and author of Ready to Lead with AI, along with student leaders Myra Jain, Nikita Narang, Sophia Zhang, Yash Maheshwari, Claire Schwarzhoff, and Dhruv Vijay, highlighting how students at Mountain View High School are helping shape responsible AI use in schools Throughout the day, nearly 1,000 students will participate in interactive field trip experiences designed to demystify AI and spark curiosity. Through hands-on, screen-free activities, students will explore how AI systems learn, how machines interpret information, and how to think critically about the role of AI in their daily lives. AI Literacy Weekend at The Tech Interactive The same experiences will be open to the public during AI Literacy Weekend, March 28-29. Included with general admission, families and visitors of all ages can step into the role of learner, experimenting with activities like spotting AI-generated images and exploring how machines interpret what they see and respond to everyday questions. Designed for curious minds, these experiences make AI approachable while inviting deeper exploration of how it shapes our world. Visitors can also catch a showing of "Cities of the Future" in The Tech Interactive's IMAX Dome Theater. Professional Development Opportunity for Educators Educators can continue the learning on Saturday, March 28, with a hands-on workshop exploring NGSS-aligned lessons designed to build AI literacy across grade levels. From understanding how AI models address real-world challenges to introducing concepts like computer vision, participants will engage in both unplugged and tech-enabled activities while examining the opportunities and challenges of using AI in the classroom. The workshop also includes a behind-the-scenes look at AI experiences at The Tech and access to National AI Literacy Day resources to bring back to their schools. Embracing its role as a leading hub for science and technology education, The Tech Interactive has expanded its commitment to AI literacy with the opening of Dream Garden, an AI-powered immersive exhibit, and AI Sandbox, a dynamic, ever-evolving gallery where visitors of all ages can explore and engage with AI in meaningful ways. The Tech has also released a robust set of AI education resources for Grades K-12, including AI Adventure: The 'Zine and standards-aligned lesson plans, discussion guides, and videos, available for free at thetech.org/ai. For educators and parents eager to join the AI literacy movement, a library of free resources and live and on-demand professional development series from many national organizations are available at https://www.ailiteracyday.org/. The National AI Literacy Day is made possible by the generous financial and in-kind support from The Siegel Family Endowment, Google, IBM, and Booz Allen. Note: Photos and video will be made available following the event. Contact [email protected] for more information. On AI Literacy Day at The Tech Interactive, nearly 1,000 students dive into hands-on field trip experiences that demystify AI, explore how machines learn and interpret information, and build critical thinking about AI's role in everyday life. About The Tech Interactive The Tech Interactive is a family-friendly science and technology center in the heart of downtown San Jose. Our hands-on activities, experimental labs and design challenge experiences empower people to innovate with creativity, curiosity and compassion. The Tech is a world leader in the creation of immersive STEM education resources to develop the next generation of problem-solvers locally, nationally and globally. We believe that everyone is born an innovator who can change the world for the better. Press Inquiries Katie Barrow publicrelations [at] thetech.org https://www.thetech.org 201 S. Market St. San Jose, CA 95113