Exploring children’s visions for an AI-enabled education

Yve Smith

doi:10.1145/3773077.3813780

Exploring children’s visions for an AI-enabled education

Yve Smith

School of Design Arts and Creative Industries

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

Abstract

This PhD project explores how children aged 7–11 envision AI-enabled education when supported by foundational AI literacy and scaffolded speculative design. Using a participatory Research through Design approach, it develops and studies workshops in which children engage with diverse AI concepts through creative and tangible activities, generating and iteratively developing future-oriented ideas over time. These ideas are further developed into research artefacts and presented as boundary objects to inform and engage educators, researchers, and policymakers. The project aims to generate insights into children’s perspectives on AI in education while advancing methods for engaging young participants in shaping emerging technologies.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	IDC '26: Proceedings of the 25th Annual ACM Interaction Design and Children Conference
Place of Publication	New York, NY, United States
Publisher	ACM
Pages	1398-1401
Number of pages	4
ISBN (Electronic)	9798400722837
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1145/3773077.3813780
Publication status	Published - 21 Jun 2026
Event	IDC 2026: 25th Interaction Design and Children Conference - Brighton, United Kingdom Duration: 22 Jun 2026 → 25 Jun 2026 Conference number: 25 https://idc.acm.org/2026/

Conference

Conference	IDC 2026: 25th Interaction Design and Children Conference
Abbreviated title	IDC '26
Country/Territory	United Kingdom
City	Brighton
Period	22/06/26 → 25/06/26
Internet address	https://idc.acm.org/2026/

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Keywords

AI literacy
children
participatory design
research through design
speculative design

Access to Document

10.1145/3773077.3813780Licence: CC BY

3773077.3813780Final published version, 430 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Exploring children{\textquoteright}s visions for an AI-enabled education",

abstract = "This PhD project explores how children aged 7–11 envision AI-enabled education when supported by foundational AI literacy and scaffolded speculative design. Using a participatory Research through Design approach, it develops and studies workshops in which children engage with diverse AI concepts through creative and tangible activities, generating and iteratively developing future-oriented ideas over time. These ideas are further developed into research artefacts and presented as boundary objects to inform and engage educators, researchers, and policymakers. The project aims to generate insights into children{\textquoteright}s perspectives on AI in education while advancing methods for engaging young participants in shaping emerging technologies.",

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author = "Yve Smith",

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booktitle = "IDC '26: Proceedings of the 25th Annual ACM Interaction Design and Children Conference",

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AB - This PhD project explores how children aged 7–11 envision AI-enabled education when supported by foundational AI literacy and scaffolded speculative design. Using a participatory Research through Design approach, it develops and studies workshops in which children engage with diverse AI concepts through creative and tangible activities, generating and iteratively developing future-oriented ideas over time. These ideas are further developed into research artefacts and presented as boundary objects to inform and engage educators, researchers, and policymakers. The project aims to generate insights into children’s perspectives on AI in education while advancing methods for engaging young participants in shaping emerging technologies.

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KW - children

KW - participatory design

KW - research through design

KW - speculative design

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105043611847

U2 - 10.1145/3773077.3813780

DO - 10.1145/3773077.3813780

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EP - 1401

BT - IDC '26: Proceedings of the 25th Annual ACM Interaction Design and Children Conference

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CY - New York, NY, United States

T2 - IDC 2026: 25th Interaction Design and Children Conference

Y2 - 22 June 2026 through 25 June 2026

ER -

Exploring children’s visions for an AI-enabled education

Abstract

Conference

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

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