Rethinking Digital Literacy and AI as Pedagogy for Humanity, Power, and Agency

In a world of sound bytes, memes, and instant information, how do we help students ethically navigate it all to connect, rather than divide, our society? We must rethink our support for that work and examine how the transformative power of digital literacy and AI —often perceived as nothing more than a cold, mechanical form of cheating —can actually foster our students’ most human traits: empathy, critical thinking, agency, and community building. Explore how the ISTE Standards for Educators and Students support both academic learning and social-emotional growth, offering a framework for more equitable, student-centered classrooms. Through practical examples, we will examine how inclusive literature, various digital and AI resources, assistive technologies, and accessible platforms can be intentionally integrated into authentic learning opportunities that shift who participates, whose voices are amplified, and how students make meaning across print and digital worlds. Engage in strategies that empower students to produce, interpret, communicate, and collaborate critically, bridging literacy, technology, and humanity. The session highlights ways to design authentic learning experiences that honor diverse identities, abilities, and ways of knowing while preparing students to participate thoughtfully in a digitally mediated society. Whether you are a tech-savvy innovator or just beginning to embed digital tools into instruction, this session invites you to rethink digital literacy as an equity-driven practice—one that energizes teaching, centers students, and transforms classrooms into spaces of connection, agency, and possibility.