Ms Teagan Dare, Director of Digital Agency and Data Analytics at The Lakes College, explains why early exposure to AI tools is a necessity.
A shimmer of dragon scales glows on the interactive whiteboard.
“What words can we use to make this more exciting?” the teacher asks, encouraging the Prep students to brainstorm.
One excitedly suggests “fire,” while another adds “shiny” and “scaly.”
As they contribute ideas, the AI generates an image that sparks their imaginations, and they start dreaming up stories of fire-breathing battles and hidden treasure.
With each new image, our littlest Lakes Learners engage in language play, expanding their vocabulary, and discovering the power of storytelling. In moments like this, artificial intelligence isn’t just a tool – it’s a catalyst for creativity and learning, opening a playful, visual pathway into language that boosts both literacy and imagination.
This is the future of education – not in some distant, tech-heavy high school, but in The Lakes College’s classrooms, where students as young as five are learning to collaborate with artificial intelligence.
At The Lakes College, we believe early exposure to AI tools isn’t just a novelty; it’s a necessity. In a world increasingly shaped by algorithms, automation, and digital interaction, our youngest learners need to do more than keep up. They need to lead with curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking.
So how do we make that happen?
Step into our classrooms and you’ll see students immersed in a world where AI fuels their curiosity. They’re solving dynamic math problems that match their growing skill – no fear of failure, just progress. Some are sculpting with clay and transforming their creations into animations using AI. Others are writing stories, where the AI offers suggestions – plot twists, literary devices, or vocabulary – that students evaluate and choose to incorporate… or not. Whether composing music with AI-generated beats to help them remember the elements of the solar system or playing Chinese language games that adapt to their pace, students feel empowered as creators. AI celebrates effort over perfection, allowing them to explore and grow with confidence.
Here’s the important part: AI isn’t used independently or in isolation. Our skilled educators lead this learning. They design intentional, age-appropriate experiences that build digital literacy and critical thinking. Since most AI tools are designed for users aged 13+, our teacher-led approach ensures use is supervised, safe, and supportive. It’s a guided journey – more like learning to ride a bike with training wheels than being left to frantically pedal alone down that very steep hill.
Of course, technology for technology’s sake isn’t the goal. Our focus is on creating meaningful learning opportunities punctuated with balance and agency – moments where AI sparks questions, scaffolds deeper thinking, and encourages ethical reflection. Students learn to value human judgement and become active co-creators, seeing AI as a potential partner rather than an authority and all-knowing ‘being’.
The outcome? The development of metacognition: students thinking about their thinking. When a student asks, “Why did the AI suggest this word instead of that one?”, they’re engaging in real analysis, evaluating choices, weighing perspectives, and even challenging the AI.
By embedding these experiences into Primary education, we prepare students not just for future jobs, but for the conversations, collaborations, and challenges that will shape our world. We don’t want our children to merely adapt to change; we want them to help lead it.
So, whether it’s co-writing persuasive letters to councillors, composing digital poetry, or debating with a chatbot over which planet would make the best colony, children at The Lakes College are learning that AI isn’t magic – it’s a tool. And when used wisely, it unlocks limitless possibilities.
Let’s give our children the skills, mindset, and opportunity to shape the future.
More reading: Teagan Dare is combining her passion for human connection with emerging technologies
