How do we talk to our youngest learners about artificial intelligence when they are already encountering recommendation engines, smart speakers, and generative image tools every single day? In this episode of GaETC: The Podcast, host Dr. Lee Green sits down with Trista Clark, Computer Science Specialist at Trip Elementary School in Gwinnett County Public Schools, to break down what authentic, age-appropriate AI literacy looks like in elementary school.
Managing a specials rotation across a massive school of over 1,700 students, Trista shares how Gwinnett's CS for All initiative introduces computational thinking, unplugged logic, robotics, and digital ethics starting all the way in kindergarten. She explains why waiting until middle or high school to teach AI ethics is too late, how to help kids view AI as a pattern-matching machine and people-pleaser rather than an all-knowing oracle, and how to introduce concepts like machine learning and dataset bias using accessible tools like Quick, Draw! and Google's Teachable Machine.
Trista also gives an exclusive sneak peek into her upcoming GaETC 2026 session, where she is sharing three completely turnkey, classroom-ready lessons covering AI foundations, algorithmic bias, and generative illustration for student writing. Plus, she takes on our game, "How Well Does Gemini Know Trista Clark?", sparking great conversation about student critical thinking, classroom monitoring, and the essential comfort of a Friday night recovery meal.
Catch Trista Clark live at GaETC 2026 on Wednesday at the Georgia International Convention Center. Make sure to download the official conference app to bookmark her session and stop by the Circuit Lounge to say hello.