Artificial intelligence in elementary school? The "Centre for Tactile Internet with Human-in-the-Loop Interaction" at TU Dresden presents school modules on artificial intelligence

On 16.05.2023, the "Centre for Tactile Internet with Human-in-the-Loop" (CeTI) presented key areas of its work and special module offerings for schools as part of a course on subject teaching for the extra-occupational qualification for elementary school teachers in Saxony (BQL).
The CeTI Cluster of Excellence is part of TU Dresden and conducts research into digitalization, artificial intelligence (AI) and tactile internet with over 100 scientists from disciplines such as electrical engineering, computer science, medicine and psychology.

In the seminar, the participants were able to find out in a playful way what capabilities AI can have. For example, the AI demonstrated how quickly it can find out terms drawn on a tablet or how deceptively realistically it can reproduce human faces. The participants also gained experience of human-machine interaction in an experimental way: They operated a virtual light switch using ultrasonic sensors or made a globe rotate on the PC screen using hand movements.

Following the presentation, the training participants worked together with BQL Grundschule lecturer Katharina Weinhold to develop approaches for embedding the CeTI's offerings in elementary school and special school subject lessons. This resulted in many creative ideas, e.g. in the learning area "Living and learning together" and the learning area "My body and my health" (senses). The critical classification of the topic of AI in the school context and the ideas about a very uncertain future were given great importance in the discussion. The conclusion of the seminar was that despite the many opportunities offered by AI, media pedagogical questions about the truthfulness of information should always be addressed in the school context. The training participants did not consider excluding the topic of AI - neither for special schools nor for elementary school. The world we live in is constantly changing due to new developments. It is therefore important to create an open environment at primary school age that enables contact with the AI-influenced world of work. The CeTI's contribution to the seminar on subject teaching shows that the requirements for the professionalization of teachers are also constantly changing.