GREAT BAY--At a festival centered on books, reading and literacy, one of this year’s most timely sessions will focus on a tool increasingly shaping how students learn, research and write: artificial intelligence. On Saturday, September 26, during the public day of the Third Reading Festival: St. Maarten Edition at the University of St. Martin from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., AI Smart Students will offer a series of hands-on workshops led by Marvio Cooks.
The sessions will introduce participants to the responsible and productive use of artificial intelligence through Microsoft Copilot. Rather than simply listening to a presentation about AI, participants will be encouraged to bring their own devices and work directly with the technology during the workshops.
Two levels will be offered to accommodate participants with different levels of experience. AI for Beginners is intended for those who have never used artificial intelligence tools before, while AI for Advanced Users will target participants who already understand the basics and want to strengthen their skills, including writing effective prompts and applying AI in educational and professional settings.
The addition of artificial intelligence to a reading festival reflects the changing meaning of literacy in a digital world. Students increasingly read, research and write with tools capable of answering questions, summarizing information and producing written material within seconds. Understanding how to direct these tools, evaluate the information they provide and use them honestly is becoming an important part of digital literacy.
The workshop will emphasize the use of AI as a tool to support learning and individual thinking, rather than as a substitute for either. Participants will be encouraged to understand the technology, question its output and develop habits that allow them to use AI responsibly.
The AI workshops form part of a wider public program at the University of St. Martin campus. The festival will be open to the public on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., with families invited to participate in author readings, creative workshops, literacy activities and other educational experiences.
Another new feature this year is the Open Mic, which will give festival visitors an opportunity to take the stage and share their talents. Participants can sing a song, read a poem, tell a story, perform their own writing or recite passages from a favorite book.
The Open Mic is open to all ages and experience levels. Those interested in performing can register at the Open Mic table during the festival, while visitors who prefer to watch and listen are encouraged to support the participants.
The Reading Festival began on Friday with a dedicated program for Form 1 and Form 2 students from participating secondary schools. Form 1 students were transported to the University of St. Martin for author visits, reading activities, workshops and educational games, while Form 2 students participated in activities hosted at their respective schools.
A major component of the festival is the distribution of more than 2,500 new books, educational materials and language games to schools and children across St. Maarten. Festival participants will also have opportunities to win prizes during the event.
Following the festival, books and educational materials used during the activities will remain accessible through the St. Maarten Library, extending the impact of the initiative beyond the two-day event.
The Reading Festival is organized by Stichting Biblionef Netherlands in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, the St. Maarten Library, the Help Our Children Foundation, the 721 Kids Foundation and the University of St. Martin.
The event is also supported by the Dutch Foundation for Literature and local sponsors, with local sponsorship coordinated through the Help Our Children Foundation.
Parents and guardians are asked to accompany children aged 12 and younger. Workshop registration and additional information are available through readingfestivals.com/workshops, by email at info@biblionef.org, or through the Reading Festival’s Facebook and Instagram pages at @readingfestivals.
