The purpose of this project is to implement a programme in the creative use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education for students in the age group 8 to 10 years. The following programme description sets out the scope of the project and the detailed implementation schedule of the programme.
In line with the National Strategy and Vision for AI in Malta 2030, the main purpose of this project is to develop and promote AI in Education projects with children (8 to 10-year-olds), educators and parents. Parents are important stakeholders in the educational process. The parents/caregivers will be invited to participate so that the students can demonstrate the Artificial Intelligence (AI) skills that they have acquired through the program.
This project will demonstrate what is within the realm of possibilities using AI in Education through the direct involvement of educators, children and their parents. This will bring about a better understanding of the possible role of AI in Education.
Deliverables
I. A programme of two learning projects which promote AI in Education, like:
II. A training programme/s for tutors (animators) and teachers, which may include the following:
4) Machine learning
III. Delivery of a school programme in AI in Education (4 weeks).
IV. A promotional video and a training video on AI in Education.
The project team is composed of:
As part of the AI in Education projects we will be able to consider how teachers can support children and parents to learn via reflective teaching. In this research and development project we will address the following questions by allowing children and parents to explore the affordances of AI to support their work in the classroom:
Groups of up to fifteen (15) children (8 to 10 year olds) per class who will engage in AI mini projects involving Micro:bit devices and laptops. Both children and tutors (animators and teachers) will be engaged in reflective discussions throughout on the outcomes of the projects. Parents will be involved accordingly.
The AI in Education programme will be part of 'The Pleasure of Reading' (Gost il-Qari) program of the NLA through a dedicated weekly session for a total of 4 weeks. It is envisaged that there will be 6 classes involved in the AI in Education project, preferably from different Colleges. About 90 students, 10 NLA animators, 6 classroom teachers, and 180 parents will be involved in the project. In view of the prevailing circumstances, aspects of the planning, preparation, consultation, implementation and evaluation processes may be conducted in an online mode.
Planning phase to determine the AI in Education projects which will be implemented throughout the project. A number of learning scenarios will be created for each project. There will be a field-trial phase if conditions allow for this.
During this period:
Training for all the animators who will be involved in the AI in Education projects. They will be briefed and guided accordingly.
Two AI in Education learning projects will be implemented with up to one class per school with the following sequence. The number of classes may be increased as required. The programme may be repeated.
There will be two projects within each class participating in the The Pleasure of Reading (Gost il-Qari) Project. This will be beneficial from an educational point of view as the children will have a variety of tasks and activities. As the children will be mixed-ability they will have the opportunity to try a range of tasks. There will be increased opportunities for the sharing of devices as not all the children may be able to bring their own tablet, albeit the one provided by the government.
Therefore, these are the envisaged project numbers:
A programme of tried and tested AI in Education learning scenarios for specific projects which can be replicated in a number of learning contexts.
Through the recording of observed sessions and interviews with the participants with regard to the research questions, there will be a triangulation of research data and findings.
Through the video-recording of some of the activities, interviews with the consultant, tutors, children and parents, a visual record will be compiled for the creation of promotional and training videos, etc.
For further information please write to: charles.l.mifsud@um.edu.mt
Prof Charles L. Mifsud
October 2020
The training sessions of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education programme EduAI were held on the:
9th December 2020: Continuing Professional Development session for teachers
5th January 2021: Continuing Professional Development session for teachers
16th February 2021: Continuing Professional Development session for teachers
8th April 2021: Continuing Professional Development session for teachers
23rd April 2021: EduAI Test session with children and parents
7th May 2021: EduAI Test session with children and parents.
4th June 2021 and 22nd June 2021:
3rd August 2021: EduAI Summer School at the Qawra Primary School [PDF]
3rd November 2021: Continuing Professional Development session
7th January 2022: Continuing Professional Development session [PDF]:
20th April 2022: Continuing Professional Development session:
The innovative AI in Education programme for educators is sponsored by the Malta Digital Innovation Authority (MDIA) and is coordinated by the Centre for Literacy of the University of Malta in conjunction with the National Literacy Agency. Educators are designing AI puppets and AI language and literacy games with children and parents.
An AI in Education demo session involving a group of 10-year-old children and their parents was held on the 26th August 2022. Following a group reading activity of the book: The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt, the children worked on a number of related tasks on the computer involving the giving and receiving of directions using voice and flash cards recognition. One task had the theme: Giving directions around town, and the other had the theme: Giving directions at the Safari. Following this, the children and the parents practised the relevant language and vocabulary by controlling the motorised robots around the town and safari plans.
Our EduAI Programme: Transforming Stories and Books through AI was featured at the Malta Book Festival 2022. Many children who were visiting the Book Festival with their parents or teachers had the opportunity to try out our AI-powered literacy tasks and games based on a number of storybooks.
