From smartwatches while jogging to fake news in our feeds: algorithms influence our everyday lives everywhere. With constant internet access, we explore the world, search for explanations for everyday problems, and form opinions on world affairs. What role do artificial and human intelligence play in this? In December, trainee educators spent a week exploring this question.
"The greater the role of the internet and digital technologies in society, the more important it is that citizens develop knowledge and a well-founded understanding of these technologies in order to continue living self-determined lives in a digitized society," states the thesis of the Weizenbaum Report 2023, "Political Participation in Germany."
Knowledge of algorithms and related technologies is a prerequisite for responsible use of them. What role, then, should the discussion of AI play in educational processes? What constitutes humanity and human intelligence? And what does AI have to do with political participation?
In the seminar “Lifehack Digitalization - Shaping Learning and Life with Human and Artificial Intelligence”, from December 4th to 8th, 2023, approximately 60 trainee educators dealt with this topic.
The following results emerged from research, discussion and idea development in five workshop groups:
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Comic workshop
How is the relationship between humans and machines developing in general, and practically for us – both privately and professionally as educators? Are we "humanizing" AI when we engage in "dialogue" with Chat GPT and similar tools? What ideas and expectations do we project onto AI, and what lies behind them? The group experimented with Chat GPT, researched, discussed, and collaboratively created the comic book "AI – When Bits Meet Emotions." It was presented in a live comic reading and exhibition. Everyone present received a printed copy.
A web version is linked here as a PDF.
Rap workshop
AI is associated with hopes, but also with many concerns and fears. Especially in educational professions, the question arises of how to teach children and young people how to act responsibly and reflectively in order to participate in the digital world. The workshop group researched and discussed this topic and together produced a rap song about it. "The power of algorithms is in questionable hands. Where control dwindles, skepticism is recognized. We are being spied on, analyzed. Machine or human, tell us who benefits," goes the refrain. The entire song can be viewed as a video here on Vimeo
Analog Game Development
Artificial intelligence is intended to make individual lives and society more efficient, technologically advanced, greener, and more socially inclusive. What role do algorithms play that use artificial intelligence to change devices and the environment, and thus our actions? How can this topic be communicated? In the workshop, participants worked in small groups to create analog games designed to playfully encourage their own exploration of the human-AI relationship – while also being fun. The group experimented with image-generating AI to create game materials such as cards with images and text. In doing so, they gained new experiences with their own and AI-supported possibilities for engaging with and developing content and materials.
The self-produced games “AI-8”, “AI-Match”, “Lie to Me”, “Swap Frenzy”, “City.Country.Future”
Analog black and white photography
Our understanding of the world and the formation of opinions are strongly influenced by the perception of images. However, many images are automatically processed by algorithms (e.g., on smartphones) – from subtle color filters to deepfakes. Do these algorithms thus alter our perception and interpretation of image content and our relationship to images as a form of documentation? Do images reflect human perspectives and constructions of reality, or do we appropriate the world using AI-generated images?
Through their own analog image production, the participants explored these and other questions. This resulted in diverse photo series, addressing topics such as stereotypes, values, stigma, tradition, norms, role distribution, and the potential for AI-generated fakery in portraiture. Some of these photo series can be viewed here on Flickr:
Creative Writing/Staging
With ChatGPT, AI has reached a new level. Does this change the way we write? How does artificial intelligence emerge from human data input and processing instructions in algorithms?
Texts addressing these and other questions were created and collaboratively staged for a performance. The creative writing process also involved playfully exploring ChatGPT, but ultimately also included tactile experiences through writing with a quill, ink, and handmade paper.
The seminar was funded by the Senate Department for Education, Youth and Family.
It took within the framework of the "Political Youth Education in the AdB" within the "Social Issues and Political Participation" , funded by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth.
The wannseeFORUM Foundation is an accredited provider of programs by the Federal Agency for Civic Education.