PAIDEIA (Preparing teachers for the AI Development in Education as an Innovative Asset) is a EU-funded Erasmus+ Forward Looking research-action project aiming to integrate AI in education by guiding its gradual introduction in schools. We focus on equipping teachers with tools and knowledge to navigate AI’s potential and risks.

OBJECTIVES

Empowering Teachers with AI: PAIDEIA focuses on enhancing teacher training with AI. We blend theoretical and field research to help teachers integrate AI effectively, addressing diverse learner needs and improving teaching practices.

Promoting Innovation in Education: Our project aims to create a strategic framework for managing AI-driven innovation in education. This approach will impact all teaching aspects, from planning to evaluation, enhancing both teaching and administrative tasks.

Linking Education with Real-World Innovation: AI connects education with broader societal developments. PAIDEIA ensures schools play a key role in guiding AI’s integration into society, reinforcing their position as leaders in adapting to technological advancements.

Ensuring Sustainability and Transferability: PAIDEIA will establish a reference framework and best practices for AI in education, applicable across Europe. We aim to create a Permanent European Online Forum for ongoing dialogue, sharing experiences, and showcasing successful implementations.

THE FOCUS ON TEACHERS

Teachers are pivotal in integrating AI into education, managing how these tools are used to meet student needs. As AI evolves, educators must develop new skills and competencies to adapt effectively. PAIDEIA supports this shift, emphasizing that teachers should not be sidelined but empowered as guides and decision-makers. We aim to enhance AI literacy, address concerns, and help teachers utilize AI to enrich their teaching, ultimately transforming and modernizing educational practices.

METHODOLOGY

The PAIDEIA project adopts a multi-disciplinary approach to integrate AI into education, focusing on research, innovation, training, and policy-making. It unfolds in four phases with overlapping tasks to ensure the most relevant and current findings are used.

Phase 1: Understanding the Landscape
We start by examining the current state of AI in education, including:

  • Existing educational policies and AI-related programs in participating countries.
  • Teachers’ knowledge and use of AI tools (e.g., grading, sentiment analysis, intelligent tutoring).
  • Teachers’ expectations and concerns about AI in classrooms.
  • Variations in AI use based on factors such as geography, social context, and school types.
  • We also explore the anticipated impact of AI on pedagogical methods, teacher roles, and future educational policies.

Phase 2: Developing the Framework
Results from the preliminary research will inform the creation of an AI & Education competence framework, which will:

  • Ensure teachers understand fundamental AI concepts.
  • Support practical application of AI in educational settings.
  • Address the ethical implications of AI.

This framework will be translated into a Spiral curriculum, covering:

  • AI Awareness and Ethics
  • Core AI Concepts and Applications
  • Practical Use of AI in Education
  • Developing a Forward-Looking AI Mindset

The curriculum aims to build teachers’ competencies in AI, promoting ethical, effective, and personalized teaching practices.

Phase 3: Piloting the Curriculum
We will pilot the Spiral curriculum widely in real classroom settings to evaluate its effectiveness and identify future challenges.

Phase 4: Policy and Practice Recommendations
Based on the pilot results, we will create guidelines and recommendations for policymakers, educational institutions, and educators. These will aim to support sustainable and impactful AI integration in education.

Overall, PAIDEIA combines research, practical training, and policy development to equip teachers with the skills to effectively integrate AI into their teaching practices.

ETHICAL PERSPECTIVE AND APPROACH

The PAIDEIA project adopts a Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) approach to ensure the ethical integration of AI into education. This approach emphasizes continuous research, reflection, and action, incorporating various perspectives and adapting to emerging findings.

Value-Oriented Approach
PAIDEIA is committed to a value-driven exploration of AI in education, integrating both humanistic and social dimensions. It views education as a dynamic, evolving field that must adapt to new technologies while addressing ethical concerns.

Ongoing Reflexivity
PAIDEIA employs both first and second-order reflexivity:

  • First-order reflexivity involves understanding and critiquing the immediate issues related to AI, such as teacher concerns about their roles and the risks of AI in classrooms.
  • Second-order reflexivity involves re-evaluating these issues within their broader context, acknowledging the evolving nature of AI and its impacts on education.

Ethical Framework
The project aligns with several key ethical guidelines and frameworks:

  • GDPR (2016/679) and Italian Data Protection Law (196/2003): Ensure the protection of personal data.
  • Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU and European Convention on Human Rights: Guide respect for fundamental rights.
  • Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025 and UNCRC: Address gender equality and children’s rights.

AI-Specific Ethics
PAIDEIA uses the Ethical Guidelines on AI in Education from the European Commission and other key documents to frame its ethical approach. This includes:

  • Ensuring AI systems are trustworthy and transparent.
  • Addressing risks and benefits with a focus on pedagogical appropriateness.

Dissemination and Engagement
The project will actively disseminate its findings through online platforms, social media, and events across Europe. These efforts aim to engage a broad audience, including educators, policymakers, and researchers, fostering informed discussions and ethical practices in AI integration.
Overall, PAIDEIA’s ethical approach ensures that AI in education is implemented responsibly, with a focus on enhancing educational practices while addressing potential risks and ethical dilemmas.

WP PLAN

The work plan consists of six work packages, reflecting a logical structure – further detailed in the following PERT chart – aimed at establishing, supporting and managing the progressive implementation of the research-action project proposal. The overall structure also goes hand in hand with a growing involvement of academic, research and institutional partners, according to their own specialist expertise in the field of education, digital literacy, AI&ED, digital studies and social-educational processes.