The exploratorium will launch supporting AI literacy through exhibits and educators (SAIL)

Grant Award Summary

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) awarded The Exploratorium a National Leadership Grants for Museums award (CFDA 45.312) of $1.5M on October 1, 2025, for the Supporting AI Literacy Through Exhibits and Educators (SAIL) initiative. The three-year project, concluding September 30, 2028, directly responds to the White House Executive Order on Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth. SAIL delivers two primary products: a handbook documenting tested strategies for museums to develop artificial intelligence literacy through interactive exhibits, and a model workshop curriculum with syllabi and inquiry guides for educators and teacher leaders nationwide seeking to integrate inquiry-driven AI literacy investigations into K-12 classrooms.

The project's deliverables are designed for broad replication and scaling across the museum field and K-12 education sector. The handbook supports museums nationwide in creating enhanced AI literacy learning experiences for lifelong learners and families, while the educator-focused workshop materials enable classroom integration of AI literacy instruction. Through these complementary products and resources, SAIL leverages federal investment to advance AI education practice across both informal (museum) and formal (K-12 school) learning environments, benefiting museum professionals, educators, teachers, students, and the general museum-going public throughout the United States.

This project addresses the white house executive order (EO) issued on april 23, 2025, entitled "advancing artificial intelligence education for american youth." the museum will take a two-pronged approach: (1) supporting museums across the country to create better AI literacy learning experiences for lifelong learners, with a specific focus on young people visiting museums with their families, by producing a handbook on tested strategies for addressing AI literacy through interactive exhibits; and (2) supporting teachers and those who provide teacher professional development to build the skills and knowhow to bring effective AI literacy learning into classrooms nationwide by developing a model workshop with syllabus and inquiry guide for educators and teacher leaders that supports the integration of inquiry-driven investigations to help students develop AI literacy. The project will benefit the museum field, the museum-going public, and elementary and secondary school education leaders, teachers, and their students nationwide.