Education
Education and artificial intelligence -
The Hamburg way
The AI Arena - Intergenerational game show
The “KI-Arena” is an innovative game show in which artificial intelligence can be experienced at first hand. Pupils from secondary and vocational schools competed in creative challenges against teams from Hamburg companies. Together, they programmed robots, created AI prompts and solved tasks related to artificial intelligence. Knowledge, team spirit and enthusiasm were important for success. The aim of this innovative educational format is to teach AI skills in a fun and cross-generational way. The event is organized by the Artificial Intelligence Center Hamburg (ARIC) e.V. and the University of Hamburg – supported by committed sponsors and supporters from Hamburg’s business community and urban society as well as the Ministry of Schools, Family and Vocational Training.
AI Literacy in schools: The Hamburg Way as a Successful Model for Teacher Training
How can AI literacy be brought into everyday school life in a sustainable way? Since May 2023, we at ARIC Hamburg have been working closely with the Hamburg Education Authority (BSB) and the State Institute for School Development and Teacher Training (LI) to develop concrete answers to this question.
Our common goal: to provide teachers with targeted training in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and support them in integrating AI skills into their lessons in a meaningful way.
To this end, we have developed several innovative training and networking formats that focus on continuous support and practical exchange. After a good year of intensive collaboration, this “Hamburg way” of promoting AI literacy in schools has proven to be an effective model.
- ARIC School Days: An established training format with basic AI training and an official training overview for teachers at all Hamburg schools.
- ARIC Train the Trainer: A targeted training course for LI trainers to deepen their AI expertise and promote multiplier effects.
- Community of Practice AI & School: A regular exchange space for committed teachers for networking, inspiration and collegial advice.
- ARIC X LIF-Koop KI: In this format, employees of the LI (State Institute for Qualification and Quality Development in Schools) come together digitally with ARIC experts to discuss the use of artificial intelligence in schools and teacher training. The format enables the transfer between practice and expert knowledge and is dedicated to both application-related and socio-cultural questions on the use of artificial intelligence in the educational context.
Best practice for AI integration in schools
The cooperative approach and the close integration of science, administration and practice are key success factors in the Hamburg model. Our approach serves as best practice in the current discourse on AI in education – especially in view of the many challenges facing general and vocational schools when it comes to digitalization and AI.
Interest beyond Hamburg
In close cooperation with the administration (BSB and LI), we consistently implement a strategy that focuses on impact among multipliers, consolidating the development of expertise, building the AI ecosystem among teachers and targeted campaigns, some of which are relevant to the public. So far, we have reached around half of Hamburg’s 468 general and vocational schools directly through our engagement activities or indirectly via our formats.
We are particularly pleased that inquiries at national and international level show that there is great interest in practical solutions in the field of AI literacy – and that our Hamburg approach is providing impetus.
Bringing AI skills into schools together
AI Literacy needs reliable cooperation and tailor-made formats for teacher training. Especially in the area of individual support and educational equity, AI offers opportunities that we should not miss out on – for the benefit of our pupils.
ARIC's commitment to AI and schools
In cooperation with the Hamburg School Board (BSB) and the State Institute for Teacher Training and School Development (LI):
- #dms explorations: AI in school and society, BSB symposia in May 2023 and in November 2023 at ARIC in Dockland
- Regular organization of ARIC School Days with joint training by BSB and LI for the further training of Hamburg teachers
- Regular implementation of the ARIC Train the Trainer format for LI trainers
- Regular implementation of the ARIC CoP AI and School, an online Community of Practice (CoP) format for low-threshold and practice-oriented exchange for Hamburg's teaching staff
- Joint development of Hamburg guidelines for the use of AI systems in schools and lessons with LI and BSB
Pure ARIC activities or in cooperation with various partners.
- Regular training courses for various girls' groups as part of the mint:pink program of the NaT gGmbH science and technology initiative
- Regular implementation of the Girls “& Boys” Day
- Participation in Code Week with workshops for 6-10-year-olds and 10-15-year-olds
- Guided tours for school classes through the ARIC KI showroom in Dockland
- Implementation of AI workshops for pupils on various topics as part of different event formats
- And many more...
Our approach to education:
Early access to AI education
A central component of our work is the early introduction of AI topics into school education. We are committed to ensuring that pupils are familiarized with the basics of artificial intelligence at a young age so that no fears or hurdles arise. We offer tailor-made workshops and materials to convey the topic of AI in an understandable and exciting way.
Training for teachers
We offer targeted training and courses so that teachers can discuss and debate artificial intelligence with their students competently and on an equal footing. We not only impart technical knowledge, but also ethical issues and the responsible use of AI in the classroom. This enables teachers to create a well-founded climate for discussion and actively discuss the opportunities and challenges of AI in their classroom.
Guided tours of our showroom in Dockland
We offer guided tours of our showroom in Hamburg especially for schoolchildren and teachers. Here they can experience in a vivid way how artificial intelligence works in practice and gain an insight into the latest developments in this field. These interactive tours are an exciting introduction to the topic of AI and promote an understanding of the technology on a tangible level.
Advice at political level
The ARIC is the point of contact for Hamburg Be authorities when it comes to AI and digitalization projects. Hamburg ranks 1st among all German federal states in Bitkom’s digitalization ranking.
AI & Schools - The Hamburg Way
As part of a close collaboration with the Hamburg School Board (BSB) and the State Institute for School Development and Teacher Training (LI), ARIC (head of the CBDO ARIC e.V. project Marina Tcharnetsky) has been setting up several formats since May 2023 to support schools with the topic of AI. We are now also being approached from other federal states about the formats and our experience.
AI in elementary school: opportunities and challenges
One particularly exciting field is the use of AI in elementary school – an area in which there are still few tried-and-tested application scenarios in Germany.
Particularly in primary schools, the topic needs to be approached with special pedagogical care. There are good reasons for this:
- High standards of pedagogical quality in the development of AI skills at a young age require particular sensitivity and a well-considered didactic approach.
- There is a justified desire not to extend screen time for children too early.
- Core skills such as reading, writing and arithmetic must be supported and promoted by AI, not undermined. Learning and teaching formats must not offer shortcuts that jeopardize the development of these essential skills.
Individual support thanks to AI
For the first time in the history of education, artificial intelligence offers the opportunity to make individual learning support possible on a large scale:
- We must not miss this opportunity – an international comparison in particular shows that Germany has so far performed poorly in decoupling educational success from social background.
- For a prosperous country like Germany, this is an educational and social tragedy. Now that AI is giving us the tools to bring about lasting change, it would be negligent not to make active use of these opportunities.
- This applies in particular to elementary school, as this phase is crucial for children’s later educational success.
Why is responsible AI education important?
Understanding AI at an early stage
Ethical
Education
Training
for teachers
Our goal in education
Our aim is to establish artificial intelligence as an integral part of school and extracurricular education - not just as a technical subject area, but as a competence that focuses on ethical, social and practical issues. We want to foster a generation of students and teachers who not only understand the opportunities and challenges of AI, but can also actively shape them.
Get in touch with us
Would you like to find out more about how we can support your school or educational institution in dealing with artificial intelligence? Or would you like to book a guided tour of our showroom in Hamburg? We will be happy to provide you with individual advice to help you find the right path for your educational programs. Alternatively, you can also visit the profile of Marina Tcharnetsky, Head of Division & CBDO ARIC e.V., to find out all about AI & education.