{"id":1298,"date":"2025-10-31T15:34:52","date_gmt":"2025-10-31T15:34:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ubwp.buffalo.edu\/playfulai\/?page_id=1298"},"modified":"2025-12-31T17:18:16","modified_gmt":"2025-12-31T17:18:16","slug":"news-2025","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ubwp.buffalo.edu\/playfulai\/news-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2014News- 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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11.07.2025<\/strong> AERA Acceptance<\/strong>
\"\ud83c\udf89\" Exciting News! \"\ud83c\udf89\" <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our lab is thrilled to share that two papers and one symposium have been accepted for AERA 2026! The accepted works explore: Preservice teachers\u2019 perceptions of AI; Parents\u2019 embodied revoicing in children\u2019s computational thinking (CT) learning; Young children\u2019s interactions and perceptions of Intelligent Agents.
We\u2019re excited to present our work and connect with fellow researchers in Los Angeles, California\u2014see you there!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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11.20.2025<\/strong> GSE in News<\/strong>
Education Week<\/a><\/em> featured the Center for Early Literacy and Responsible AI (CELaRAI) in its article on AI tutors in early reading. The story spotlights CELaRAI\u2019s AI Reading Enhancer<\/strong>, which uses generative AI to create personalized, decodable reading passages. Director Dr. X. Christine Wang<\/strong> emphasized the importance of strong safeguards for young learners: \u201cFor this age group, the guard rails have to be very rigorous.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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11.28.2025<\/strong> Keynote at CATGPT <\/strong>
We are delighted to share that Dr. X. Christine Wang<\/strong> delivered a keynote speech at the 4th CATGPT Conference, \u201c<\/em>AI \u00d7 Early Childhood Education: Advancements in Research and Practice.<\/strong>\u201d<\/em> The conference was hosted by the Education University of Hong Kong and organized by CATGPT and the AI, Brain, and Child Research Centre. In her keynote, Dr. Wang discussed key innovations and challenges of integrating AI in early childhood education.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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10.11.2025<\/strong> New Publication<\/strong>
\"\ud83c\udf89\" Exciting News! \"\ud83c\udf89\" Our paper, “Embodied and Shared Self-Regulation Through Computational Thinking Among Preschoolers<\/a>” has been published in Educational Sciences<\/em>! Building on our previous conference work, this study examines how preschoolers develop executive functions through teacher-guided, small-group engagement with a tangible programming toy in a university-affiliated preschool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\ud83d\udcc4\" Read the full paper here: https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2227-7102\/15\/10\/1346<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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10.8.2025<\/strong> New Publication<\/strong>
\"\ud83c\udf89\" Exciting News! \"\ud83c\udf89\" The lab paper titled “From Piaget to posthumanism: critical review of conceptualization of AI in early childhood education<\/a>” has been published in AI, Brain and Child<\/em> journal! This review critically reviewed 34 studies on AI in ECE, investigating how these studies conceptualize \u201clearning with AI\u201d and \u201clearning about AI\u201d and address foundational questions of \u201cwho,\u201d \u201cwhat,\u201d and \u201chow\u201d in AI education for young children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\ud83d\udcc4\" Read the full paper here: https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s44436-025-00012-4<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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9.26.2025<\/strong>
We\u2019re excited to share that our PI, Dr. X. Christine Wang<\/a>, was one of the featured presenters at the Asia Research Institute\u2019s 4th Annual Korean Studies Conference, titled AI and Data Science in Education (AIDE): Insights from South Korea, held at the University at Buffalo<\/a> on September 26-27.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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7.2.2025<\/strong> New Publication<\/strong>
\"\ud83c\udf89\" Exciting News! \"\ud83c\udf89\" Our co-authored paper\u2014Playful Computational Thinking Learning in and Beyond Early Childhood Classrooms: Insights from Collaborative Action Research of Two Teacher-Researchers\u2014written by Grace, Alice, and Dr. Wang has just been published in the Education Sciences special issue, Child-Centered Technology Innovations: Transforming Teaching and Learning in the Early Years of Education Sciences!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\ud83d\udcc4\" Read the full paper here: https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2227-7102\/15\/7\/840<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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6.26.2025<\/strong>
Congratulations to Dr. Wang on receiving Sustained Achievement Award in regonition of her outstanding achievements in scholarly activity!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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6.23.2025<\/strong>
Dr. Wang, is featured in the spring issue of Learn magazine! The cover story, \u201cAnything but Artificial: X. Christine Wang is Personalizing Learning with AI,\u201d highlights her work underway at UB, using AI to support children\u2019s reading development. Congratulation to Dr. Wang on this well-deserved recognition! Read <\/a>more<\/a>…<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Welcome Grace Xu!<\/strong>
Grace (Yukun) Xu is a doctoral student in Curriculum, Instruction, and Science of Learning program. Her research interest is in early childhood\/elementary education in grades K-2 and AI integration in classrooms.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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6.10.2025<\/strong>
Joy presented her co-authored paper at ICLS 2025 online\u2014\u201cExploring Preschoolers\u2019 Engagement with Intelligent Agents (IA) Mediated by IA Features and Teacher Scaffolding\u201d<\/em> and received great feedback! Read more…<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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6.10.2025<\/strong>
Grace presented her two papers at ICLS 2025 online\u2014\u201cEmbodied Improvisation: Exploring How Teachers Support Young Children\u2019s Engagement with Intelligent Agents\u201d<\/em> and \u201cEngagement in Computational Thinking: The Role of Mothers and Fathers with Daughters in After-school Learning\u201d<\/em>\u2014and received enthusiastic feedback! Read more…<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Bio of Junye<\/strong>
Junye Guo is a doctoral student in Language Education and Bilingualism with a decade of leadership experience designing inclusive language curricula and multilingual programs. Her research focuses on language education and ethical AI integration in language education, particularly on enhancing human autonomy and equity. She’s currently working as a GA for CELaRAI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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5.29.2025<\/strong>
The Center for Early Literacy and Responsible AI led by Dr. Wang held a two-day kickoff meeting! During the celebration, the CELaRAI team shared the progress in their research and development areas, including a prototype of AIRE, a policy review of responsible AI in education and preliminary results of the Exploratory Study. Read more…<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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5.16.2025<\/strong>
Dr. Wang received President\u2019s Medal at GSE commencement and gave an inspring speech for new graduates. Read more…<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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5.14.2025<\/strong>
Congratulations to Junye for being awarded to Shang-Lin Chung Student Award <\/strong>and Mary Lou and S. David Farr Scholarship<\/strong> in the LAI Award Ceremony and the End of Year party in 2025. We are glad Junye joined our team in Spring 2025!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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5.14.2025<\/strong>
Congratulations to Grace for being awarded to LAI Research Excellence Award<\/strong><\/strong> in the LAI Award Ceremony and the End of Year party in 2025.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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5.15.2025<\/strong>
Congratulations to Joy for being awarded to LAI Leadership Excellence Award<\/strong> in the LAI Award Ceremony and the End of Year party in 2025.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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4.29.2025<\/strong>
Dr. Wang will be receiving the UB President’s Medal at GSE commencement on May 16.  The President\u2019s Medal, first presented in 1990, recognizes \u201coutstanding scholarly or artistic achievements, humanitarian acts, contributions of time or treasure, exemplary leadership or any other major contribution to the development of the University at Buffalo and the quality of life in the UB community.\u201d Read more… <\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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4.29.2025<\/strong>
Welcome to the Hong Kong team visiting Buffalo! We hosted the CATGPT 2025 Buffalo Mini Conference: The Future of AI, Brain, and Child,<\/strong> and presented our recent work together!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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4.27.2025<\/strong>
Joy presented our lab co-authored paper about From Piaget to Posthumanism: Conceptualization of AI in Early Childhood Education<\/strong> at the AERA Symposium chaired by Dr. Wang, named Fostering AI Literacy in Early Childhood: Emerging Theoretical and Empirical Insights<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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4.27.2025<\/strong>
Dr. X. Christine Wang chaired and presented in the symposium Fostering AI Literacy in Early Childhood: Emerging Theoretical and Empirical Insights<\/em><\/strong>, submitted to AERA 2025 under the SIG \u201cEarly Education and Child Development.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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4.26.2025<\/strong>
Grace presented her co-authored paper with Alice about Integrating Computational Thinking in Early Childhood Classrooms: Insights from Teacher-Researchers\u2019 Action Research<\/strong> at the AERA Symposium, named Exploring Teacher- and Family- Perpective on Computational Thinking <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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4.25.2025<\/strong>
Dr. X. Christine Wang presented our paper about Caring Thinking with Robots: Teacher-Guided Exploration with Robots in Preschool Classrooms<\/strong> at the AERA Symposium named Empowering Young Learners: Enhancing Child Agency through Educator-Facilitated Digital Exploration<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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4.24.2025<\/strong>
Grace presented her paper about Engagement in Computational Thinking<\/strong> at the AERA Symposium named Exploring Computational Thinking and STEM Education in Early Childhood: Collaborative Partnerships with Diverse Stakeholders<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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4.09.2025<\/strong>
CELaRAI made a notable impression at the SUNY AI Symposium exhibit, highlighting its growing influence in the field of artificial intelligence and learning sciences.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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4.09.2025<\/strong>
Dr. X. Christine Wang, was also featured in the panel “Research Bytes: Meet AI Experts from Across SUNY,” representing AI>Education. Read more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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4.08.2025<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>Joy presented her work \u201cPreservice Teachers\u2019 Perspectives on the Integration of AI in Early Childhood Education: Understanding, Attitudes, and Imagined Futures\u201d in the GSE Symposium<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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3.11.2025<\/strong>
Dr. Wang and ECRC Associate Director, Keely Benson, presented \u201cAI and Early Childhood Education at University at Buffalo\u201d<\/em> at Fisher-Price on the 11th. Their presentation showcased the ECRC, CELaRAI, and PlayfulAI Learning & Design Lab, highlighting innovative approaches and the potential of AI in early childhood education!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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3.11.2025<\/strong>
Congratulations! The long paper \u201cEmbodied Improvisation: Exploring How Teachers Support Young Children\u2019s Engagement with Intelligent Agents\u201d<\/em> by Xing, G., Wang, X. C., Yamamoto, Y., Cai, Z., Sadeghi, S., & Dantu, K. has been accepted for the the International Conference of the Learning Sciences (ICLS) 2025!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See you in Finland! \ud83c\udf89<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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3.11.2025 <\/strong>
Congratulations! The long paper \u201cEngagement in Computational Thinking: The Role of Mother, Father with Daughters in After-school Learning\u201d<\/em> by Xing, G has been accepted for the International Conference of the Learning Sciences (ICLS) 2025!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See you in Finland! \ud83c\udf89<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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3.11.2025<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congratulations! The long paper \u201cExploring Preschoolers\u2019 Engagement with Intelligent Agents (IA) Mediated by IA Features and Teacher Scaffolding\u201d<\/em> by Cai, Z., Tu, X., Wang, X. C., Sadeghi, S., & Dantu, K. has been accepted for the International Conference of the Learning Sciences (ICLS) 2025!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See you in Finland! \ud83c\udf89<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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1.29.2025<\/strong>
Wishing everyone a Happy Chinese New Year! \ud83c\udf89\ud83d\udc0d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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