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 As more students turn to artificial intelligence for homework and studying, educators are grappling with how to teach the technology responsibly.

The Sonoma County Office of Education is launching a free summer program aimed at tackling that question.

The office is offering workshops for incoming fifth- through eighth-grade students, marking its first student-focused AI program since creating a Director of AI position last fall.

Derek Rouch, director of AI, said the county is trying to avoid treating artificial intelligence as either the answer to everything or something to fear.

"I think we try to thread that needle where it's not ... that tech bro hype of AI is all good," Rouch said. "But also, don't want to get too wrapped around the axle of all of the potential doom scenarios."

Instead, Rouch said the goal is to help students figure out for themselves when AI can be used to their advantage.

"If I could put it in a single word, the learning objective I would have for students is really just around discernment," he said.

Students will learn AI basics, discuss ethical questions and complete a beginner coding project. Rouch said the initiative will help prepare students for a future where artificial intelligence will be part of everyday life.

"The horses are out of the barn, so to speak, and we need to acknowledge that and don't really have a choice but to help prepare students because they're going to be entering an AI-everywhere world," Rouch said.

Rouch said Sonoma County appears to be ahead of many county offices of education in developing AI programming. But he said that doesn't mean everyone agrees on how much technology belongs in the classroom.

"There is a movement sort of away from technology in the classrooms that I've seen swelling up, and that's starting to show up a little bit in our county, and certainly the national conversation is growing," he said.

The one-day workshops will be offered July 27 through 31 at the Sonoma County Office of Education in Santa Rosa. Families can choose one of five identical free sessions by registering through the Sonoma County Office of Education. Rouch said space is still available, though workshops are beginning to fill.