Misryoum explains why AI literacy and ethical tech use belong in classrooms and in parent conversations.
AI is moving into classrooms faster than many families can fully understand it, and that gap is where students can be left unprepared.
For educators. researchers and parents. the challenge is clear: schools can’t afford to ignore artificial intelligence. but they also shouldn’t treat it like magic.. In Misryoum’s view. getting AI literacy right starts with computer science education that includes ethics and responsible use. so students can think critically about risks as well as potential benefits.. Equally important, parents need the same grounding to ask better questions and advocate for better learning.
That’s where family engagement becomes more than a nice-to-have.. Initiatives like Misryoum’s Plugging Into Power are designed to help parents recognize what high-quality teaching about technology looks like. from classroom learning to the conversations that follow at home.. When families understand the difference between AI literacy and AI education. they can support students more effectively and push for instruction led by well-prepared teachers.
What makes this urgent is that computer science is the foundation for AI understanding.. Beyond basic digital skills. it helps students become critical thinkers and creative problem-solvers who can interpret the technologies they encounter daily.. Without access to strong computer science programs. many students may never get the chance to learn how AI works. how it connects to core computing concepts. or how it affects society.
In this context, Misryoum emphasizes that parents should treat AI claims with healthy skepticism.. AI can produce biased or inaccurate outputs when systems reflect flawed data. and those errors can carry real human and social consequences.. It also raises ethical concerns. from harms such as cyberbullying to the misuse of media that can affect creators and public trust.
Just as concerning is data privacy.. The prompts families enter into AI tools may be stored and used in ways users don’t fully understand. which makes discussion at home part of safe technology use.. Misryoum also highlights a less visible factor: the environmental footprint linked to the energy demands of large-scale AI systems. reminding families that digital tools have physical costs too.
In practice, the most actionable steps for families are conversation and access.. Talk with children about what AI is doing. what data might be involved. and how technology can be used responsibly in everyday life.. Encourage students to seek computer science learning at school. including for groups who may feel out of place in the subject. by pointing to examples that broaden who “belongs” in computing.
Misryoum notes that this approach matters because it builds ethical leaders before breakthroughs arrive. When parents are informed, students gain support that goes beyond rules and screen time, turning AI into a topic students can question, evaluate and use with understanding.