Mück: “We are happy to pass on experience in the field of AI and schools”

2023-11-16 13:26:51

OCG on the package of measures “Artificial Intelligence – Opportunity for Schools”

The OCG is prepared to actively contribute its many years of expertise in the AI school education sector to the implementation and further development of the measures outlined

Thomas Mück, OCG President

Vienna (OTS) – Artificial intelligence (AI) has become increasingly important in various areas of our lives in recent years. Generative AI and large language models (keyword: ChatGPT & Co) finally brought the topic into the public eye last year. These developments presented and continue to pose major challenges to educational systems and society as such. The Austrian Computer Society (OCG) therefore welcomes the package of measures “Artificial Intelligence – Opportunity for Schools” presented on November 14, 2023 by Education Minister Martin Polaschek and State Secretary Florian Tursky. „The OCG is prepared to actively contribute its many years of expertise in the AI school education sector to the implementation and further development of the measures outlined“explains OCG President Thomas Mück.

Modular lessons from basics to ethics to AI manipulation and neural networks

The OCG recognized early on the need to promote a basic technical understanding of AI and to raise awareness of its effects and possible applications. Since 2015, AI education projects in the school sector have been continuously developed and implemented together with renowned international and national research institutions and universities. For example, the EU projects were developed together with TU Graz European Driving License for Robots and Intelligent Systems (EDLRIS) and Education and Awareness for Intelligent Systems (ENARIS) (https://enaris.org/) successfully implemented. The teaching materials on many AI topics are available free of charge.

The OCG is currently a partner in the Erasmus+ project Teacher Training for Data Literacy, Artificial Intelligence & Computer Science Competences – TrainDL (https://train-dl.eu/). TrainDL is investigating possibilities for the strategic integration of processes to promote AI and data literacy skills in the training and further education of teaching staff. In addition to international project partners (Gesellschaft für Informatik, University of Potsdam, Free University of Berlin, Vilnius University), public education authorities from Germany, Lithuania and Austria – including the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research – are also on board as strategic partners.