The future of education is being revolutionised by technological advancements, and artificial intelligence (AI) is at the forefront of this transformation.
To explore the boundless possibilities of AI in education, the European Digital Education Hub (EDEH) organised a vibrant and dynamic community workshop in Bucharest on 29 and 30 June, 2023.
It brought together 30 experts, teachers, policymakers, and innovators from 18 different countries to foster creative ideas and collaborative discussions on integrating AI into education.
The workshop was packed with thought-provoking presentations and lively plenary discussions on this critical subject.
Day 1: Igniting inspiration and exploration
The workshop began with experts from the programme committee taking the stage, who brought their diverse perspectives and valuable expertise spanning from EdTech (educational technology) to higher education.
Georgi Dimitrov, head of the Digital Education Unit at the European Commission, shared insights into the Commission’s recent work in the AI domain, with a particular focus on the Digital Education Action Plan and AI. This gave participants the chance to discuss the challenges for educators, different abilities of learners and further development of risk categories within the AI Act.
Lidija Kralj, leader of the EDEH squad (online working group) on AI education, presented the squad’s contributions on the subject. The squad was formed after a call for participants in January 2023. More calls for squads are planned to support the Hub’s activities.
Denise Whitelock, EDEN (European Distance and E-learning Network) vice president for research, gave a detailed presentation on the transformative power of AI for knowledge building. She emphasised the positive impact of feedback provided by AI on students and explored its disruptive forces in education.
Agile discussions
These sessions that were led by the squad, put an emphasis on the need for educators and students to learn about AI, and addressed crucial topics such as
- AI literacy
- generative AI
- children’s rights
- civic awareness
The role of teachers empowered by AI – Design sprint
This session, led by Peter Fagerström, co-founder of Educraftor, set out to reimagine traditional educational approaches. Participants were encouraged to develop innovative concepts and prototypes for AI in education. Working in groups, participants mapped the challenges and opportunities presented by AI in education, refining their ideas into tangible prototypes.
Day 2: From concepts to prototypes
Two more design sprints aiming at transforming ideas into tangible prototypes. Participants focused on the intricacies of building interactive and user-centric AI approaches as well as on collaboratively refining their prototypes.
Prototype fair
This session, led by Cristina Obae, squad member and founder of NEdHo, presented the teams’ prototype creations to the rest of the participants. It was a lively high-point of the workshop and a space for positive exchange and inspiration.
The prototypes fair marked the end of one and a half productive and engaging days, but not for future opportunities for the participants to collaborate inside and outside the Hub on their ideas and prototypes.
Source: European Commission | European Education Area (https://rb.gy/efb7i)