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 

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.

Capacity building

• Workshop on AI curriculum development for schools in Oman (May 2022): UNESCO, the Ministry of Education of Oman, RCEP, UNESCO Doha and Ericsson conducted an online workshop to empower 25+ national curriculum developers in integrating AI competencies into K-12 education. More information: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/oman-embarks-development-k-12-ai-curricula-support-unesco-and-rcep
• Workshop on Coding and AI for teachers in Lebanon (May 2023): As part of the “Teaching Coding and AI for Teachers and K-12 Students” programme in Lebanon, UNESCO, UNESCO Beirut and Ministry of Education of Lebanon conducted a three-day training on Coding and AI, empowering teachers and staff with AI skills and computational thinking. More information: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/unesco-and-lebanon-join-forces-develop-coding-skills-teachers-and-disadvantaged-students

Publications

• International forum on AI and education: steering AI to empower teachers and transform teaching, 5-6 December 2022; analytical report, UNESCO, 2023
• K-12 AI curricula: a mapping of government-endorsed AI curricula, UNESCO, 2022
• AI and education: Guidance for policy-makers, UNESCO, 2021
• International Forum on AI and Education: Ensuring AI as a Common Good to Transform Education, synthesis report, UNESCO 2021
• International Forum on AI and the Futures of Education, developing competencies for the AI Era, 7-8 December 2020: synthesis report, UNESCO, 2020
• Artificial intelligence in education: Compendium of promising initiatives, UNESCO, 2020
• Beijing Consensus on Artificial Intelligence and Education, UNESCO, 2019
• Artificial intelligence in education: Compendium of promising initiatives, UNESCO, 2019
• International conference on Artificial intelligence and Education, Planning education in the AI Era: Lead the leap: final report, UNESCO 2019

Related events

• Digital Learning Week on “Steering technology for education”, 4 -7 September 2023
• Ministerial Roundtable on Generative AI in Education, 25 May 2023
• International forum on AI and education: steering AI to empower teachers and transform teaching, 5-6 December 2022
• International Forum on AI and Education: Ensuring AI as a Common Good to Transform Education, 7-8 December 2021
• Launch of the AI and the Futures of Learning Project, 30 September 2021 
• International Forum on Artificial Intelligence and the Futures of Education, 7-9 December 2020
• Online Edition of Mobile Learning Week 2020 - Beyond Disruption: Technology Enabled Learning Futures,12-14 October 2020
• International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Education, 16-18 May 2019
• Mobile Learning Week 2019 – Artificial intelligence for Sustainable Development,4-8 March 2019

The project is supported by the Tomorrow Advancing Life Education Group (TAL) of China, a long-term partner of UNESCO and one of the sponsors of the International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Education.