About the CECE Lab

The Children’s Education in Computing Exploration (CECE) Lab is a team of researchers, educators, and innovators dedicated to making artificial intelligence and emerging technology education accessible to every student.

By connecting traditional classroom subjects with emerging technologies, we help young learners move beyond simply using technology to understanding, questioning, and creating with it. Through hands-on workshops, educator professional development, classroom-ready resources, and community partnerships, CECE creates learning experiences that foster curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, and confidence. Our goal is to equip students and educators with the knowledge and skills they need to participate meaningfully in an increasingly AI-enabled world.

Our Program Components

CECE Lab brings together educator professional development, student learning, experiential education, innovation, and research to advance meaningful and responsible AI education. Our programs connect classroom learning with real-world experiences and create opportunities for educators and students to learn, create, and innovate with artificial intelligence.

AI in Education Teacher Professional Development

Our AI in Education Teacher Professional Development Program equips educators with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to meaningfully integrate artificial intelligence into their classrooms. Through hands-on professional learning, teachers build AI literacy, explore responsible and ethical AI practices, and learn to use Apple technologies and AI learning tools to design engaging classroom experiences. Educators develop and implement AI-enhanced lessons that encourage creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and real-world problem-solving. The program culminates in a Teacher Showcase and Certification Ceremony, where educators present the AI-integrated projects they implemented with their students to school leaders, community partners, families, and other stakeholders. More than 100 attendees participated in the showcase, celebrating teacher achievement and the growing impact of AI education in the classroom.

AI Education Student Program

The AI Education Student Program introduces young learners to the foundations of artificial intelligence through engaging, age-appropriate, hands-on experiences. Students explore concepts such as machine learning, neural networks, responsible AI, and the real-world applications of emerging technologies. Through interactive activities and project-based learning, students strengthen digital literacy while developing critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. Rather than simply learning how to use AI tools, students are encouraged to understand how AI works, think critically about its impact, and apply their knowledge to meaningful challenges.

Experiential STEM Learning

CECE Lab extends learning beyond the classroom by creating opportunities for students to connect AI, computing, and STEM concepts with the world around them. As part of these experiences, students participated in an educational visit to the National Aquarium, where they explored marine life and conservation while connecting STEM concepts to real-world environments through interactive exhibits. Experiential learning opportunities help students see how science, technology, data, and innovation intersect across disciplines and communities.

NextGen AI Innovation Challenge

In April 2025, CECE Lab hosted the NextGen AI Innovation Challenge, providing students with an opportunity to transform what they had learned about AI into solutions for real-world problems. Working through an innovation and project-based learning process, students developed ideas that demonstrated creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving. The challenge culminated in an opportunity for students to present their work to educators, families, and community stakeholders, giving young innovators a platform to communicate their ideas and demonstrate what they had learned.

AI in Education Research Initiative

The AI in Education Research Initiative advances CECE Lab's research into the responsible and effective use of artificial intelligence to improve teaching, learning, and educational outcomes. Through interdisciplinary research, educational innovation, and community partnerships, we investigate areas including AI literacy, educational technologies, personalized learning, responsible AI, teacher professional development, and student learning experiences. CECE Lab research has been presented at the Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education (SITE) Conference and has resulted in two peer-reviewed publications focused on AI in education. The Lab also supports applied interdisciplinary innovation and the development of intellectual property arising from AI-focused research and projects.

Student Research & Innovation

CECE Lab's commitment to research extends beyond scholarly publications. We create opportunities for students to use artificial intelligence and interdisciplinary problem-solving to address consequential real-world challenges. An interdisciplinary CECE student team earned First Place at MIT's Hack the Climate Hackathon, part of the MIT RAISE AI & Education Summit, for developing ThermaWise, an AI-powered platform designed to support sustainable energy solutions. The achievement demonstrates the connection between CECE's educational mission and its broader commitment to research, innovation, entrepreneurship, and preparing the next generation of AI leaders.

Meet CECE - Our AI Mascot

Our friendly guide to artificial intelligence for young learners. The CECE AI Mascot helps make artificial intelligence approachable, engaging, and easy to understand by introducing students to AI concepts through fun, age-appropriate content. Through short videos, examples, activities, and stories, our mascot helps young learners explore how AI works, where they encounter it in everyday life, and how it can be used responsibly and creatively. Students, families, and educators can follow the CECE AI Mascot on Instagram and YouTube for educational videos, AI learning activities, and highlights from CECE Lab programs and events.