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2026 AI Educator Summer Institute
The inaugural A.I. Educator Summer Institute begins on July 13, 2026! 
Subject: Cross-Disciplinary clear filter
Monday, July 13
 

10:45am EDT

Source Code Session #5: Let's Chat: Building Personalized Chatbot Activities for Any Classroom
LIMITED
Limited Capacity seats available
The morning "Let's Chat" AI chatbot session will focus on AI Literacy and help provide an overview of varying levels and methods by which AI chatbots may provide scaffolded and collaborative learning opportunities to students who have grown up in the technical age. Students today have access to information faster than ever before. They are accustomed to—and demand—immediate feedback. AI chatbots are especially designed for digital collaboration. By using AI chatbots proactively, with guardrails incorporated by educators, students will learn new content and critical thinking skills simultaneously through creative, relevant, and engaging lessons.

After engaging in the Let's Chat session, participants will be able to build upon current AI Literacy and explore the potential for using AI chatbots to enhance instruction, digital collaboration, student motivation, and engagement.
Speakers
avatar for Amy Fetzer

Amy Fetzer

Social Studies Instructor, Lugoff-Elgin High School, Kershaw County School District
Amy Fetzer, M.A., M.Ed., EdD. Candidate, UofSC.  Mrs. Fetzer has been an educator since 1999 with a masters degrees in Curriculum & Instruction as well as Divergent Learning. She has taught all subjects in grades 2-12 while continuously focusing on the use of manipulatives and technology... Read More →
Monday July 13, 2026 10:45am - 12:00pm EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550

1:15pm EDT

Expansion Pack Session #5X (Part 1): Building Personalized Chatbot Activities for Any Classroom
LIMITED
Limited Capacity seats available
The Let's Chat Expansion Pack Workshop will provide educators with practical strategies for customizing AI chatbots to facilitate AI Competency. Educators will be equipped to utilize AI chatbots, specifically MagicSchool AI, as a collaborative tool for both educators and students to better understand how educational chatbots are useful and relevant in the 21st Century classroom. Participants will apply strategies discussed in the morning session to actual lessons and be able to customize a generic chatbot for use as an instructional tool. Individualization of chatbots for all age levels and subjects will be further addressed. No coding is required—instead, the focus will be on designing lessons that utilize AI chatbots as a collaborative tool to facilitate metacognitive thinking. Practical lessons will be demonstrated and created during the sessions that encourage students to reflect, ask questions, and attain ownership of their thinking processes while practicing self-directed learning.
Speakers
avatar for Amy Fetzer

Amy Fetzer

Social Studies Instructor, Lugoff-Elgin High School, Kershaw County School District
Amy Fetzer, M.A., M.Ed., EdD. Candidate, UofSC.  Mrs. Fetzer has been an educator since 1999 with a masters degrees in Curriculum & Instruction as well as Divergent Learning. She has taught all subjects in grades 2-12 while continuously focusing on the use of manipulatives and technology... Read More →
Monday July 13, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550
  Expansion Pack Workshop, Small Group

2:45pm EDT

Expansion Pack Session #5X (Part 2): Building Personalized Chatbot Activities for Any Classroom
LIMITED
Limited Capacity seats available
The Let's Chat Expansion Pack Workshop will provide educators with practical strategies for customizing AI chatbots to facilitate AI Competency. Educators will be equipped to utilize AI chatbots, specifically MagicSchool AI, as a collaborative tool for both educators and students to better understand how educational chatbots are useful and relevant in the 21st Century classroom. Participants will apply strategies discussed in the morning session to actual lessons and be able to customize a generic chatbot for use as an instructional tool. Individualization of chatbots for all age levels and subjects will be further addressed. No coding is required—instead, the focus will be on designing lessons that utilize AI chatbots as a collaborative tool to facilitate metacognitive thinking. Practical lessons will be demonstrated and created during the sessions that encourage students to reflect, ask questions, and attain ownership of their thinking processes while practicing self-directed learning.
Speakers
avatar for Amy Fetzer

Amy Fetzer

Social Studies Instructor, Lugoff-Elgin High School, Kershaw County School District
Amy Fetzer, M.A., M.Ed., EdD. Candidate, UofSC.  Mrs. Fetzer has been an educator since 1999 with a masters degrees in Curriculum & Instruction as well as Divergent Learning. She has taught all subjects in grades 2-12 while continuously focusing on the use of manipulatives and technology... Read More →
Monday July 13, 2026 2:45pm - 4:00pm EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550
 
Tuesday, July 14
 

9:00am EDT

Source Code Session #8: Enough Data Science To Be Dangerous: Data Science Across Disciplines
LIMITED
Limited Capacity seats available
This session will engage participants in the development of a cross-disciplinary data science course aimed at students and teachers with no prior coding background. It introduces the fundamentals of Data Science across subject areas with an introduction of Python and  with Jupyter notebooks. This session will challenge participants to imagine an introductory CS course that cuts across all subjects and can be taught by someone from any department with a little motivation. All backgrounds, subject areas, and skill-levels welcome.
Speakers
avatar for Taylor Belcher

Taylor Belcher

Computer Science & Mathematics Instructor, A.I. Faculty Fellow, SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics
Taylor is a Mathematics and Computer Science Instructor at the South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics. He taught high school and college mathematics for over a decade before joining the CS department at GSSM. He has an MA in Pure Mathematics from Bowling Green... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550

10:30am EDT

Source Code Session #8 [Repeated]: Enough Data Science To Be Dangerous: Data Science Across Disciplines
LIMITED
Tuesday July 14, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
This session will engage participants in the development of a cross-disciplinary data science course aimed at students and teachers with no prior coding background. It introduces the fundamentals of Data Science across subject areas with an introduction of Python and  with Jupyter notebooks. This session will challenge participants to imagine an introductory CS course that cuts across all subjects and can be taught by someone from any department with a little motivation. All backgrounds, subject areas, and skill-levels welcome.
Speakers
avatar for Taylor Belcher

Taylor Belcher

Computer Science & Mathematics Instructor, A.I. Faculty Fellow, SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics
Taylor is a Mathematics and Computer Science Instructor at the South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics. He taught high school and college mathematics for over a decade before joining the CS department at GSSM. He has an MA in Pure Mathematics from Bowling Green... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550
  Source Code Session, Small Group

1:15pm EDT

Expansion Pack Session #8X (Part 1): Enough Data Science To Be Dangerous: Data Science Across Disciplines
LIMITED
Limited Capacity seats available
Now that participants understand the goal and exciting potential of this course, we will start exploring the design and content of the course. In the first part of the workshop we will do a group data science activity to get used to Jupyter Notebooks and Python. In the second part of the workshop attendees will be given time to explore resources and build their own lesson in a chosen disciplinary area with the aim of building a library of activities across disciplines that could be used by this introductory course for teachers across the state. 
Speakers
avatar for Taylor Belcher

Taylor Belcher

Computer Science & Mathematics Instructor, A.I. Faculty Fellow, SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics
Taylor is a Mathematics and Computer Science Instructor at the South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics. He taught high school and college mathematics for over a decade before joining the CS department at GSSM. He has an MA in Pure Mathematics from Bowling Green... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550

2:45pm EDT

Expansion Pack Session #8X (Part 2): Enough Data Science To Be Dangerous: Data Science Across Disciplines
LIMITED
Limited Capacity seats available
Now that participants understand the goal and exciting potential of this course, we will start exploring the design and content of the course. In the first part of the workshop we will do a group data science activity to get used to Jupyter Notebooks and Python. In the second part of the workshop attendees will be given time to explore resources and build their own lesson in a chosen disciplinary area with the aim of building a library of activities across disciplines that could be used by this introductory course for teachers across the state. 
Speakers
avatar for Taylor Belcher

Taylor Belcher

Computer Science & Mathematics Instructor, A.I. Faculty Fellow, SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics
Taylor is a Mathematics and Computer Science Instructor at the South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics. He taught high school and college mathematics for over a decade before joining the CS department at GSSM. He has an MA in Pure Mathematics from Bowling Green... Read More →
Tuesday July 14, 2026 2:45pm - 4:00pm EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550
 
Wednesday, July 15
 

10:30am EDT

Source Code Session #20: Beyond AI Tools: Teaching About AI, Not Just With AI
LIMITED
Wednesday July 15, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
In this session, I will invite educators to think about AI as more than a classroom tool. Instead of focusing only on prompting or productivity, we will explore AI literacy as a way to help students ask questions about ethics, bias, decision-making, civic life, and real-world systems. Using examples from English and interdisciplinary teaching, I will share practical strategies such as case studies, discussion prompts, short inquiry tasks, and values-based reflection. The goal is to help teachers move from general concern about AI to concrete classroom practice. Participants will leave with a clearer framework for teaching about AI, not just teaching with AI, and they will be ready to extend that work in the afternoon workshop.

After engaging in this session, participants will (or will be able to)...
· define AI literacy as more than tool use or prompt-writing
· explore classroom-ready strategies for discussing AI, ethics, bias, and social impact
· identify a place in their own curriculum where AI literacy fits naturally
· create or adapt one resource they can bring back to their students

Speakers
avatar for Dr. Kathryn Vignone

Dr. Kathryn Vignone

English Instructor, A.I. Faculty Fellow, SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics
Dr. Kathryn Vignone is an English Instructor at SCGSSM where she teaches writing, art history, and interdisciplinary topics that explore the social, ethical, and human dimensions of science and technology. She holds a Ph.D. in Science and Technology Studies from Cornell University... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 10:30am - 11:45am EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550

1:15pm EDT

Expansion Pack Session #20X (Part 1): Beyond AI Tools: Teaching About AI, Not Just With AI
LIMITED
Wednesday July 15, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
The afternoon workshop will be hands-on and product-based. After a short recap and model, participants would choose an existing lesson, text, unit, or topic from their own classroom and use a simple planning template to adapt it into an AI literacy resource. I will provide a small menu of sample case studies, guiding questions, and activity structures so teachers can either build from scratch or revise something they already teach. Most of the workshop will be devoted to drafting, conferring, and peer feedback, with time at the end for revision and sharing. The goal is for every participant to leave with at least one usable product—a discussion protocol, mini-lesson, case-study activity, assessment, or short inquiry sequence. If the participants stay for the entire  three hours, participants will expand their product into a fuller mini-unit; if they stay for 90 minutes, the focus will stay on one strong classroom-ready resource.


Speakers
avatar for Dr. Kathryn Vignone

Dr. Kathryn Vignone

English Instructor, A.I. Faculty Fellow, SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics
Dr. Kathryn Vignone is an English Instructor at SCGSSM where she teaches writing, art history, and interdisciplinary topics that explore the social, ethical, and human dimensions of science and technology. She holds a Ph.D. in Science and Technology Studies from Cornell University... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550

2:45pm EDT

Expansion Pack Session #20X (Part 2): Beyond AI Tools: Teaching About AI, Not Just With AI
LIMITED
Wednesday July 15, 2026 2:45pm - 4:00pm EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
The afternoon workshop will be hands-on and product-based. After a short recap and model, participants would choose an existing lesson, text, unit, or topic from their own classroom and use a simple planning template to adapt it into an AI literacy resource. I will provide a small menu of sample case studies, guiding questions, and activity structures so teachers can either build from scratch or revise something they already teach. Most of the workshop will be devoted to drafting, conferring, and peer feedback, with time at the end for revision and sharing. The goal is for every participant to leave with at least one usable product—a discussion protocol, mini-lesson, case-study activity, assessment, or short inquiry sequence. If the participants stay for the entire  three hours, participants will expand their product into a fuller mini-unit; if they stay for 90 minutes, the focus will stay on one strong classroom-ready resource.


Speakers
avatar for Dr. Kathryn Vignone

Dr. Kathryn Vignone

English Instructor, A.I. Faculty Fellow, SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics
Dr. Kathryn Vignone is an English Instructor at SCGSSM where she teaches writing, art history, and interdisciplinary topics that explore the social, ethical, and human dimensions of science and technology. She holds a Ph.D. in Science and Technology Studies from Cornell University... Read More →
Wednesday July 15, 2026 2:45pm - 4:00pm EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550
 
Thursday, July 16
 

9:00am EDT

Source Code Session #26: Make It Yours: A Practical Introduction to MagicSchoolAI
LIMITED
Thursday July 16, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
This K-12 kickoff session puts your goals at the center. Starting with two guiding questions — What do you want to accomplish? and What do you want to prevent? — we'll explore how MagicSchool can support your real work in the classroom. You'll explore the platform hands-on and leave with a clear sense of where AI fits in your practice.


By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
  1. Articulate at least one personal goal and one boundary they want to set for AI use in their classroom
  2. Navigate the MagicSchool platform and identify tools relevant to their grade level and content area
  3. Apply a purpose-driven framework for evaluating when and how to use AI in their practice
  4. Leave with a concrete next step for integrating MagicSchool into an upcoming lesson or workflow
Speakers
avatar for Karisa Schwanekamp

Karisa Schwanekamp

Solution Architect, MagicSchoolAI
 Karisa Schwanekamp is a Solutions Architect at MagicSchool, where she partners with school districts to implement AI tools that are practical, purposeful, and grounded in real classroom needs. A former educator of 21 years spanning special education, elementary education, STEM... Read More →
avatar for Derek Lovell

Derek Lovell

District Partnerships - Carolinas, MagicSchoolAI
Derek Lovell partners with school districts across the Carolinas to help educators thoughtfully integrate AI into teaching and learning. With 17 years of experience in K–12 education and EdTech, he is passionate about building strong relationships and supporting districtwide innovation... Read More →
Thursday July 16, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550
  Source Code Session, Small Group

10:15am EDT

Source Code Session #25:Beyond ChatGPT: Launching South Carolina’s AI Pathway to Meet Graduation Requirements and Workforce Demand
LIMITED
Thursday July 16, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
This session spotlights South Carolina’s custom-designed Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (Course 1) and the full AI Career Pathway — created specifically for our state to meet workforce demand while providing a powerful option for satisfying the computer science graduation requirement. Students learn the foundational building blocks behind AI systems, including machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing, data preparation, and responsible AI design — all through project-based units grounded in South Carolina’s priority industries.

Participants will learn implementation strategies for meeting graduation requirements while exposing students to viable career pathways, including approaches for adopting the full pathway and building dual enrollment partnerships with regional postsecondary institutions. We will share lessons from pilot implementation, strategies for embedding AI into existing CTE programs, and insights from new initiatives that connect pathway skills to real-world AI applications, validation processes, and industry. Participants will articulate how to guide students from basic AI tool use to a deeper understanding of the concepts, systems, and design behind AI technologies.
Speakers
avatar for Andrew Cook

Andrew Cook

Career Pathways Specialist, Office of Career Readiness, South Carolina Department of Education
Andrew Cook has over 40 years of experience in computer architecture and software development with a career that expands across three major technology-driven corporations - NCR, AT&T, and Intel. He began as a software developer and systems analyst at NCR and AT&T before moving into... Read More →
Thursday July 16, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550
  Source Code Session, Small Group

10:15am EDT

Source Code Session #28: Keeping Humans in the Loop: AI Use with Integrity
LIMITED
Thursday July 16, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
AI isn’t replacing student work. It is replacing student struggle.

In an era when AI can write an essay, solve an equation, and generate a research summary in seconds, the most important question is no longer whether students can use AI — it’s whether they are thinking while they do it. This session reframes the AI-in-schools conversation away from detection and discipline toward something far more powerful: building the responsible use, critical thinking, and informed judgment that make students genuinely prepared for the world they are entering.

Drawing on the aiEDU AI Readiness Framework, participants will explore how AI bias shows up in classrooms, what it looks like to be a critical consumer of AI outputs, and how to design learning experiences that honor both human judgment and the tools that are here to stay.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
  1. Identify at least two ways AI systems reflect bias and explain why this matters for classroom learning and student agency.
  2. Recognize human cognitive biases — including confirmation bias and authority bias — that shape how students and teachers interact with AI outputs.
  3. Apply a framework for evaluating student AI use that centers critical thinking and responsible judgment, not detection or compliance.
  4. Redesign or adapt at least one existing task to support transparent, integrity-centered AI integration using a prompt rubric and transcript as the assessable artifact.
Speakers
avatar for LeNard Pitts

LeNard Pitts

Senior Program Lead, East Coast The AI Education Project, aiEDU- The AI Education Project
LeNard Pitts is a passionate advocate for educational equity and digital empowerment in underestimated communities. As Senior Program Lead at aiEDU, he builds the critical thinking and human judgment students need to lead in a world shaped by AI. With over a decade of experience... Read More →
Thursday July 16, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am EDT
SC Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Building (GSSM) 401 Railroad Ave., Hartsville, SC 29550
  Source Code Session, Small Group
 
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