UNC Charlotte

August 10-11, 2023

The goal of this NSF-funded workshop on AI education is to bring thought leaders together to respond to the increasing concerns and opportunities raised by recent AI developments to discuss directions for lifelong AI education. There is an imperative to develop strategies for increasing the scope, capacity, and diversity of AI education across the lifespan, including K-12, post-secondary, adult workforce, and public education. 

AI is rapidly emerging as a tool that can be used by everyone, increasing its impact on our lives, society, and the economy. There is a need to develop educational programs and curricula that can increase capacity and diversity in AI as well as awareness of the implications of using AI-driven technologies.  The goals for this workshop include developing guidelines for curricula with a scope of content that will reflect the competencies and needs of the workforce. The scope for AI education should be considered from K - Gray and include both AI knowledge and competencies as well as AI literacy (usability, usefulness, and ethical issues). Questions include: Where are we today and where should we be directing our efforts to increase capacity and diversity? How can we classify the competencies and descriptions of the workforce in AI to estimate capacity?

Workshop Objectives:

1. Researchers, educators, and practitioners can share their knowledge of existing educational resources, including model curricula, concept inventories, and AI education initiatives with a focus on increasing capacity and diversity.

2. Participants can share their insights about how to measure an institution's capacity to produce graduates with AI-related degrees, certifications, and skills.

3. Participants can discuss potential criteria for measuring an institution's excellence in AI education and their ability to attract and retain a diverse, nontraditional student population in STEM fields, including women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities.