Pedagogical framework for cultivating children's data agency and creative abilities in the age of AI
Juho Kahila, Henriikka Vartiainen, Matti Tedre, Eetu Arkko, Anssi Lin, Nicolas Pope, Ilkka Jormanainen, Teemu Valtonen
Abstract
The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) topics into K–12 school curricula is a relatively new but crucial challenge faced by education systems worldwide. Attempts to address this challenge are hindered by a serious lack of curriculum materials and tools to aid teachers in teaching AI. This article introduces the theoretical foundations and design principles for implementing co-design projects in AI education, empirically tested in 12 Finnish classrooms. The article describes a project where 4th- and 7th-graders (N = 213) explored the basics of AI by creating their own AI-driven applications. Additionally, a framework for distributed scaffolding is presented, aiming to foster children's agency, understanding, creativity, and ethical awareness in the age of AI.