Yorba Linda Public Library AI Storytime
Informal, one-time public-library workshop (90 minutes) using a generative AI storytelling application to co-create Bluey-themed stories with elementary-age learners (approx. 5–11) in Yorba Linda, Southern California.
Implementation
Public Library (Local Government)
Learning context
Informal learning
AI role
Co-creator
Outcome signal
High participation; students volunteered ideas actively; peer discussion increased after AI output
Registry Facets
- Approx. ages 5–11
- Yorba Linda, Southern California, USA (suburban)
- Informal learning
- Generative AI storytelling application
- One-time workshop
Implementing Organization
Public Library (Local Government)
Yorba Linda, Southern California, USA (suburban)
Graduate students majoring in Computer Science; technical volunteers/facilitators
Learning Context
- Informal learning
One-time workshop
90 minutes
Not assigned
Shared devices
- No individual logins allowed
- No personal data collection
- Public space, mixed-age attendance
- Time-limited setup and teardown
Learner Profile
Approx. ages 5–11
No prior experience with generative AI tools assumed
None assumed
Educational Intent
- Narrative structure (beginning–middle–end)
- Creative expression
- Awareness of AI as a tool (not a human)
- Prompt clarity and iteration
- Reflection on human vs AI contributions
- Not a programming lesson
- Not an AI theory lesson
- Not an assessment-driven activity
AI Tool Description
Generative AI storytelling application
- Co-creator
- Students pick their favorite Bluey characters (up to 3)
- Volunteers take a picture of the characters
- Students provide or pick short prompts using text or voice
- AI generates story segments
- Students provide or pick more prompts using text or voice
- Pre-filtered prompts
- No free-form open chat
- Content moderation enabled
Activity Design
- Volunteers introduce storytelling concepts
- Group brainstorms story themes
- Students input prompts
- AI generates draft story text
- Final story is read aloud
- Human: theme selection, editing, discussion
- AI: draft generation, variation suggestions
- Prompt cards with examples
- Sentence starters
- Volunteer-led reflection questions
Observed Challenges
- Background noise made voice input unclear
- Some prompts were vague or contradictory
- Time pressure limited deeper iteration
- Younger students needed help typing prompts
- The inputs looked fine, but the app generated a twisted image
Design Adaptations
- Introduced “AI is a helper, not the author” framing
- Added pause points for human editing
- Used printed prompts instead of free typing
- Switched from voice input to text input to avoid background noise interference
Reported Outcomes
High participation; students volunteered ideas actively; peer discussion increased after AI output
Students revised AI text intentionally; debated story coherence; some questioned AI “choices”
“The AI helped lower the barrier to starting a story, but the best moments came when students disagreed with it.”
Ethical & Privacy Considerations
- No personal data collected
- No student names recorded
- No recordings or images stored
- Parents present in public space
- Tool complied with library usage policies
Evidence Type
- Practitioner observation
- Activity documentation
Relevance to Research
- Design-based research
- Informal learning studies
- AI-human collaboration framing
- Early AI literacy conceptualization
- Learning sciences
- Educational technology
- AI literacy
- Informal STEM education
Case Status
- Completed
AAB Classification Tags
Elementary
Public Library
Generative Text/Image/Voice
Non-collaborative Learning
Low
None