#20: Forget Screen Time Limits, Teach AI Literacy Instead with Tara Menghini

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What does AI literacy actually look like in a kindergarten classroom?

For Tara Menghini, it starts with no AI tools at all. Tara has built a hands-on progression for teaching kids AI literacy from Kindergarten through 6th grade. All without touching AI chatbots. 

In this episode, she walks Lindy through what that progression looks like K-6: the early lessons on “dehumanizing AI,” how the conversations shift as kids get older, and what changes once sixth graders start debating where their own lines should be drawn.

We also get into:

What a statewide screen time limit would mean for her classroom, and who it would affect most

Why “dehumanizing AI” is one of her core early lessons

The companionship toys and home robots she’s bringing into class discussions

Resources from the episode:

“Doug Unplugged”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0375859217?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback 

Posha Kitchen Robot: https://www.posha.com/ 

Connect with Tara:

@techteachertara:  https://www.instagram.com/techteachertara/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-menghini-a5aa892a7/

To listen to this episode on your favorite streaming platform, click here

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Meet Lindy!

Lindy Hockenbary helps educators and school leaders bring technology and teaching together so every student thrives. With experience as a teacher, tech coach, and curriculum writer, she’s known for making professional learning practical, engaging, and fun.

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