Artificial intelligence in education

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to address some of the biggest challenges in education today, innovate teaching and learning practices, and accelerate progress towards SDG 4. However, rapid technological developments inevitably bring multiple risks and challenges, which have so far outpaced policy debates and regulatory frameworks. UNESCO is committed to supporting Member States to harness the potential of AI technologies for achieving the Education 2030 Agenda, while ensuring that its application in educational contexts is guided by the core principles of inclusion and equity.

UNESCO’s mandate calls inherently for a human-centred approach to AI. It aims to shift the conversation to include AI’s role in addressing current inequalities regarding access to knowledge, research and the diversity of cultural expressions and to ensure AI does not widen the technological divides within and between countries. The promise of “AI for all” must be that everyone can take advantage of the technological revolution under way and access its fruits, notably in terms of innovation and knowledge.

Furthermore, UNESCO has developed within thehttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1V4Pne0mIc0eZ4vybvEXvdg0K3NMpJ6dG/view?usp=drive_link framework of the Beijing Consensus a publication aimed at fostering the readiness of education policy-makers in artificial intelligence. This publication, Artificial Intelligence and Education: Guidance for Policy-makers, will be of interest to practitioners and professionals in the policy-making and education communities. It aims to generate a shared understanding of the opportunities and challenges that AI offers for education, as well as its implications for the core competencies needed in the AI era

Artificial intelligence and the Futures of Learning

The Artificial Intelligence and the Futures of Learning project builds on the Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence adopted at the 41st session of the UNESCO General Conference in 2019 and follows up on the recommendations of the UNESCO global report Reimagining our futures together: a new social contract for education, launched in November 2021. It is implemented within the framework of the Beijing Consensus on Artificial Intelligence and Education and against the backdrop of the UNESCO Strategy on technological innovation in education (2021-2025).

The project will address both the human and technological dimensions related to AI and the futures of learning.

Strands of work

The project consists of three independent but complementary strands:

AI and the Future of Learning
Guidance for Generative AI in education and research
AI Competency Frameworks for Students and Teachers

Progress

Policy dialogue and consultations

International Forums on AI and Education: International Forum on AI and Education: Steering AI to Empower Teachers and Transform Teaching (December 2022); International Forum on AI and Education: Ensuring AI as a Common Good to Transform Education (December 2021); International Forum on AI and the Futures of Education: Developing competencies for the AI Era (December 2020); and International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Education: Planning Education in the AI Era: Lead the leap (May 2019).
Ministerial Roundtable on Generative AI in Education: A virtual ministerial meeting on Generative AI in education took place on 25 May 2023, which gathered 25 ministers to debate on the urgent need for regulations on generative AI and competencies needed to reap its benefits. More information: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/ministerial-roundtable-generative-ai-education
Consultations on AI competency framework for teachers (October 2022): the consultation was attended by 15 international experts in AI and education and more than 70 participants. More information: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/unesco-supports-definition-and-development-ai-competencies-teachers

Knowledge production

Guidance for Generative AI in Education and Research: The Guidance has been drafted and will be launched during Digital Learning Week (4-7 September, 2023).
Drafting the AI Competency Framework for school students: The first draft of the Framework for consultation that will be presented during Digital Learning Week (4-7 September 2023).
Drafting the AI Competency Framework for teachers: The first draft of the Framework for consultation that will be presented during Digital Learning Week (4-7 September 2023).
K-12 AI curricula: a mapping of government-endorsed AI curricula: The report builds on the results of a survey on “AI curricula for school students” which was circulated to all UNESCO Member States in 2022. The report will inform the development of the AI Competency Framework for Students.
A survey on the governmental use of AI in education: Completed in early 2023, the survey covers assessments of Member States’ setting up of regulations on ethics of AI and its use in education, strategies for AI in education, and national programmes on developing AI competencies for teachers. The results of the survey informed the AI Competency Framework for teachers.
Definition of Algorithm Literacy and Data Literacy: A call for contribution to the definition of Algorithm Literacy and Data Literacy was launched in June 2023. The selected think-pieces will feed inputs for the development of AI Competency Frameworks for students and teachers.
An in-depth case study on K-12 AI curricula of the United Arab Emirates: In collaboration with the Regional Center for Educational Planning (RCEP) and the Ministry of Education of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), UNESCOcompleted a case study on the UAE’s K-12 AI curriculum and its implementation. The case study is planned for release in 2023.

Unesco.pdf

Unseco.pdf