AI Is Growing Up With Us: Kids Must Learn It, Tech Experts Say
Understanding AI in Education
There is a growing belief that as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into everyday life, students should be equipped with knowledge about it.
Why this matters
- Early Exposure: Familiarity with AI concepts encourages critical thinking about technology and its applications.
- Career Readiness: Students gain a competitive edge in future job markets that expect AI literacy.
- Ethical Insight: Learning about AI promotes responsible use and awareness of privacy and bias concerns.
Emerging AI Integration in UK Education
As artificial intelligence continues to reshape everyday life, educators and tech experts are pushing for its systematic incorporation into school curricula. A recent annual education technology forum in London showcased a range of new tools aimed at demystifying coding and machine learning for younger learners.
Industry Voices: From Raspberry Pi to BETT
- Ben Garside, learning manager at Raspberry Pi, highlighted that AI will permeate every sector, even those not directly tied to software development.
“We want students to explore their passions and then ask: how could AI help me in that area?” he noted, urging schools to foster enthusiasm rather than fear. - The British Educational Training and Technology Show (BETT) remains the premier venue for teachers to discover the latest digital resources and to weigh their potential classroom impact.
Curriculum Gap: AI Missing from National Framework
While the UK’s National Curriculum, last updated in 2014, covers foundational STEM subjects, it does not explicitly reference artificial intelligence. This omission has led to a debate about the necessity of updating standards to better reflect modern technological realities.
Supplementary Highlights
Replika and Student Well‑Being
In a related case, the AI chatbot Replika has been deployed as an online companion, providing support that has helped prevent student suicides by offering a virtual ‘friend’ and therapeutic advice.
EU AI Legislation Concerns
Another point of interest: discussions around a potential European AI Act raise questions about whether stricter regulations could inadvertently amplify mass surveillance capabilities.
‘Important to teach about it’
AI教育正从小学生开始：行业领袖们的见解与实践
来自 Jam Coding 的创始人 Roger Grogan 强调，人工智能（AI）将成为儿童生活的核心要素。他指出，教育者必须持续更新教学内容与方法，才能跟上 数字革命 的脚步。
智能机器人狗助力小学AI学习
- GO2 是由香港公司 5G Nu Multimedia 开发的机器人狗，面向小学生教授AI概念。
- GO2 通过亲身体验，让儿童了解智能行为与学习算法。
编程与空间飞行：无人机项目
同样在5G Nu Multi的实验室内，学生将学习 无人机编程，实现同步飞行与灯光表演。经验表明，这类项目能显著增加学生的 STEM 兴趣。
持续深化AI教育——从小学到高中
Alan Chan（5G Nu Multimedia CEO）指出，课程设计应从 小学 便开始，将 AI 及其应用分层教育，最终覆盖中学生，以建立扎实的技术基础。
Minecraft推出“Generation AI”教育游戏
微软收购了瑞典开发者的《Minecraft》，并在过去一年推出了名为 Generation AI 的教育游戏。
- 该游戏旨在让孩子们从早期就了解AI的 道德原则 与 负责任的使用方式。
- 游戏内容涵盖 公平性、避免偏见 等核心议题，激发学生思辨。
微软教育团队的观点
Justin Edwards（微软 Minecraft 学习体验总监）表示，教育不仅教会孩子们如何使用AI，更侧重 批判性思维 与日常生活中的AI应用方式。
其他行业观点：在校学习重要的AI熟悉度
Dominika Gyanyi（Bookr 技术教育公司教育主管）强调，学生在离开学校之前，必须熟悉AI的优势与局限，才能在未来的技术环境中游刃有余。
BETT：教育技术盛会的持续影响
自 1980 年代中期，BETT 已成为教育技术的重要聚会。每年吸引约 30,000 名来自全球的教育工作者，探讨最新技术在课堂中的应用。
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