I'm not a robot: working with artificial intelligence in early childhood education

Abstract

The technology of artificial intelligence (AI) poses new challenges to humans. AI and the language-based AI-assistants form a new reality that has a direct impact on the socialization processes of children as well as on intra-family communication behavior. Nevertheless, there are research gaps in the field of AI-assistants in kindergartens and daycare centers. Only few publications describe the relevance of the topic against the background of "AI-assistants' competence" for educators. However, the increasing impact of AI-assistants into everyday life is a new challenge for educational institutions. Implications arising from the interaction between people and AI-assistants in everyday life should also be fundamentally understood by educators in order to develop a pedagogical plan. The Strategic Partnership ROBOT makes this possible by developing and testing pedagogical agency and integrating it into the curricula of the project partners. In addition, ROBOT is creating a Europe-wide applicable education module for teaching this key competence to educators. The advanced training module promotes an active, creative and conscious handling of AI-assistants as well as innovative didactic methods based on "Maker Centered Learning". In addition, e-learning units are developed for educators, which contain measures for self-reflection and knowledge review on the topic of AI-assistants. The latter is embedded in a project website, which is also an exchange forum for educators during and beyond the project. Furthermore, parents often encounter these new AI technologies without any recognizable educational intention. ROBOT therefore focuses on the educational work with children aged 0-10 years and sets an accent in the professionalization of the cooperation with parents. ROBOT thus reacts to a Europe-wide lack of practice-proven concepts and modules for a competence in the pedagogical handling of AI-assistants.