Humanistic Approaches to Artificial Intelligence Literacy Through Informal Learning Conference
October 19-20, 2023
New York Hall of Science
47-01 111th Street, Queens, NY 11368
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NYSCI's Humanistic Approaches to Artificial Intelligence Literacy Through Informal Learning conference brought together AI designers, learning scientists, researchers, formal and informal educators, youth development experts, and science center and industry professionals with the aim to identify core areas of opportunity for advancing AI literacy and promoting youth agency through informal learning experiences.
While there have been numerous conferences focused on AI education in formal settings, our focus is specifically on a human-centered approach that prioritizes the needs of underserved communities, as well as the responsibility and agency humans possess in the "care and feeding" of AI systems. This entails not only promoting people's conceptual understanding of AI and its workings, but also developing critical AI literacy understandings and skills that empower individuals to recognize the role we all play in AI systems that impact nearly every aspect of daily life.
The insights and findings from this work have been documented and compiled here for informal learning institutions and community learning organizations to identify and hone in on assets and priorities for addressing diversity, equity, access, and inclusion issues related to AI literacy.
Learning Goals and Outcomes
Learning Goals and Outcomes
The main goal of this work is to identify promising roles that informal learning institutions can play in fostering AI literacy and human agency with AI, putting diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion at the center of those efforts.
To achieve this goal, we focused on the following components in our discussions and activities at the conference, including:
Compelling use cases
Strategies to increase engagement of diverse communities
Future directions for research and program development
Collaborations and partnerships
Strategies to form and grow a community of practice focused on AI literacy through Informal Learning
Building on Affordances of Informal Learning To Promote Human-centered AI Literacy Experiences
Building on Affordances of Informal Learning To Promote Human-centered AI Literacy Experiences
Profound research has indicated the strength of informal learning in educating the public on various STEM subjects. We believe that by leveraging the unique characteristics of informal learning settings, as listed below, educators and researchers can support AI literacy for a wide and diverse audience. The characteristics of informal learning settings include:
Degrees of freedom to experiment
Family engagement and multigenerational learning
Interest-driven and free-choice learning
Opportunities for social and collaborative learning
Access to new tools
Space and places for the development of identity, well-being, and belonging
Joy, delight, and creative experiences
Conference Agenda - Key Sessions
Conference Agenda - Key Sessions
Day 1
Panel Presentations: Defining Human-centered AI Literacy Across Contexts
Presenters:
Pati Ruiz, Digital Promise
Emily Reardon, Sesame Workshop
S. Craig Watkins, University of Texas, Austin
Errol King, Regenerative Labs
Panel Discussion: Culturally Responsive Approaches to AI Literacy
Discussants:
Phaedra Boinidiris, IBM Trustworthy AI
Stefania Druga, Hackedemia
Clifford Lee, Mills College/Northeastern University
Lissa Soepp, YR Media/VOX Media
Moderator:
Peggy Monahan, Oakland Museum of California
Presentation: Artificial Intelligence from a Systems Perspective
Randima Fernando, Center for Humane Technology
Presentation: Low Barrier of Entry AI Tools Exploration
Theo Watson, Design I/O
Day 2
Sharing Youth Voices: Youth Panel with NYSCI Explainers
Presenters:
NYSCI Explainers
Moderator:
Anthony Negron, New York Hall of Science
Group Design Sessions: A Look Toward the Future Development of AI Literacy and Informal Approaches -- Ideas For Future Programs
What We Accomplished
What We Accomplished
Forty-five experts, practitioners, students, and researchers participated in the two-day conference. The attendees represented a diverse community, representing different industries and professions, areas of expertise, career levels, and sectors (please see the “About Us” page for more details).
Eight forward-thinking ideas for future programs that centered around humanistic AI and informal learning opportunities were generated from the Design Sessions (see the “Ideas for Future Programs” page for more details).
A keen interest in forming a community of practice has emerged to support continued experimentation with programmatic ideas generated, a refinement of a human-centered AI literacy framework, sharing of resources, and collaborations for conducting design research within diverse communities.
The outcomes of this conference reflected the urgency of shaping AI literacy conversations, and highlighted the strength that informal learning can provide in addressing this multidisciplinary, cross-generation task.
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