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Overture Launches Paper-and-Pencil AI Literacy Program in Swampscott
When a Massachusetts town trades screen time for pen and paper, a new AI literacy program takes center stage. Overture, a firm that delivers AI instruction without the use of screens, is launching a fall program in Swampscott in collaboration with the town’s Recreation Department. From September 17 to October 24, participants will explore movie making, video‑game design, and an introductory AI course.
Aspen Buckingham, Overture’s co‑founder, explained to the Swampscott Tides that the initiative offers a safe, hands‑on introduction to AI. “We want students to be responsible AI users, critical thinkers, collaborative teammates, creative writers, and digital leaders,” he said. Buckingham noted that many children already interact with AI‑powered devices—Amazon Alexa, Google, YouTube—so the program seeks to deepen their understanding of those tools.
The program’s format is intentionally screen‑free. Students write down ideas and descriptions while teachers operate the AI systems—Google Gemini, Runway AI, and others—behind the scenes. No child sits in front of a screen during the lesson. Buckingham emphasized that this approach encourages critical thinking before technology is introduced, arguing that “people learn best with human connection.”
In a movie‑making class, for instance, a student sketches a character and writes its name, appearance, and role. The teacher then runs the AI to generate images or story elements, but the creative decisions remain in the student’s hands. After the AI output is revealed, the class reviews it together. Students also chant, “We’re in control. AI is not in control,” to reinforce agency.
Buckingham said the program fills a gap in AI education for younger children. A 2025 RAND Corporation report found that more than 60% of middle‑ and high‑school teachers use AI in core subjects, but elementary schools are less likely to introduce the technology. “We’re filling the gap of ‘How do we start introducing these concepts and these technologies while we’re still figuring out how we’re going to approach screen time?’” Buckingham said.
Swampscott’s school district is developing its first comprehensive AI policy. The policy aims to balance innovation with academic integrity, student privacy, and classroom equity. While the district does not ban AI, it is training teachers to understand how the technology works and how to design assignments that prevent learning from being outsourced to algorithms. High‑school digital‑learning specialist Brandy Wilbur led a district‑wide professional‑development series last fall, and some teachers have enrolled in graduate‑level coursework on AI in education.
Overture’s partnership with the Recreation Department follows similar collaborations in other Massachusetts towns. The company currently operates in Acton, Arlington, Belmont, Brookline, Everett, Cambridge, Lexington, Sudbury, Wayland, and Winchester, as well as in Illinois. In 2026, Overture announced it was expanding to 38 schools in the region.
The fall schedule in Swampscott includes: - Movie making: Thursdays, September 17–October 22 - Video‑game design: Fridays, September 18–October 23 - Intro to AI: Saturdays, September 19–October 24
An adult course will also run Thursdays from September 17 to October 22.
Buckingham and his team offered summer classes in Swampscott, where students produced short videos and games. One project featured a cartoon gorilla chasing a truck, while another involved a jellyfish trying to stop strawberries from reaching shore.
Christina O’Connor‑Rice, Swampscott’s recreation program coordinator, said the town is excited about the program. “It’s the first time we’re working with a company teaching AI literacy, and it’s really good to introduce AI to kids and adults in a safe manner,” she said.
The program’s emphasis on agency, critical thinking, and creativity aligns with broader discussions about AI literacy. According to the Wikipedia entry on AI literacy, the goal is to enable individuals to evaluate AI technologies, communicate effectively with them, and use them as tools responsibly. Overture’s approach—combining paper‑based planning with AI execution—provides a model for schools that wish to introduce generative AI while limiting screen time.
In summary, Overture’s Swampscott program begins in mid‑September and runs through late October, offering three distinct courses for youth and an adult class. The initiative is part of a growing trend of after‑school programs that teach AI concepts through hands‑on, screen‑free methods. The district’s new AI policy and teacher training efforts complement the program, aiming to ensure that students learn to use AI responsibly and creatively.
The program’s success will be monitored by both Overture and the Swampscott Recreation Department, and the town plans to evaluate its impact on student attitudes toward AI and on classroom practices before expanding the offering in future years.
Aspen Buckingham, Overture’s co‑founder, explained to the Swampscott Tides that the initiative offers a safe, hands‑on introduction to AI. “We want students to be responsible AI users, critical thinkers, collaborative teammates, creative writers, and digital leaders,” he said. Buckingham noted that many children already interact with AI‑powered devices—Amazon Alexa, Google, YouTube—so the program seeks to deepen their understanding of those tools.
The program’s format is intentionally screen‑free. Students write down ideas and descriptions while teachers operate the AI systems—Google Gemini, Runway AI, and others—behind the scenes. No child sits in front of a screen during the lesson. Buckingham emphasized that this approach encourages critical thinking before technology is introduced, arguing that “people learn best with human connection.”
In a movie‑making class, for instance, a student sketches a character and writes its name, appearance, and role. The teacher then runs the AI to generate images or story elements, but the creative decisions remain in the student’s hands. After the AI output is revealed, the class reviews it together. Students also chant, “We’re in control. AI is not in control,” to reinforce agency.
Buckingham said the program fills a gap in AI education for younger children. A 2025 RAND Corporation report found that more than 60% of middle‑ and high‑school teachers use AI in core subjects, but elementary schools are less likely to introduce the technology. “We’re filling the gap of ‘How do we start introducing these concepts and these technologies while we’re still figuring out how we’re going to approach screen time?’” Buckingham said.
Swampscott’s school district is developing its first comprehensive AI policy. The policy aims to balance innovation with academic integrity, student privacy, and classroom equity. While the district does not ban AI, it is training teachers to understand how the technology works and how to design assignments that prevent learning from being outsourced to algorithms. High‑school digital‑learning specialist Brandy Wilbur led a district‑wide professional‑development series last fall, and some teachers have enrolled in graduate‑level coursework on AI in education.
Overture’s partnership with the Recreation Department follows similar collaborations in other Massachusetts towns. The company currently operates in Acton, Arlington, Belmont, Brookline, Everett, Cambridge, Lexington, Sudbury, Wayland, and Winchester, as well as in Illinois. In 2026, Overture announced it was expanding to 38 schools in the region.
The fall schedule in Swampscott includes: - Movie making: Thursdays, September 17–October 22 - Video‑game design: Fridays, September 18–October 23 - Intro to AI: Saturdays, September 19–October 24
An adult course will also run Thursdays from September 17 to October 22.
Buckingham and his team offered summer classes in Swampscott, where students produced short videos and games. One project featured a cartoon gorilla chasing a truck, while another involved a jellyfish trying to stop strawberries from reaching shore.
Christina O’Connor‑Rice, Swampscott’s recreation program coordinator, said the town is excited about the program. “It’s the first time we’re working with a company teaching AI literacy, and it’s really good to introduce AI to kids and adults in a safe manner,” she said.
The program’s emphasis on agency, critical thinking, and creativity aligns with broader discussions about AI literacy. According to the Wikipedia entry on AI literacy, the goal is to enable individuals to evaluate AI technologies, communicate effectively with them, and use them as tools responsibly. Overture’s approach—combining paper‑based planning with AI execution—provides a model for schools that wish to introduce generative AI while limiting screen time.
In summary, Overture’s Swampscott program begins in mid‑September and runs through late October, offering three distinct courses for youth and an adult class. The initiative is part of a growing trend of after‑school programs that teach AI concepts through hands‑on, screen‑free methods. The district’s new AI policy and teacher training efforts complement the program, aiming to ensure that students learn to use AI responsibly and creatively.
The program’s success will be monitored by both Overture and the Swampscott Recreation Department, and the town plans to evaluate its impact on student attitudes toward AI and on classroom practices before expanding the offering in future years.
