Machine learning methods are increasingly being used in very different areas of life and are giving rise to numerous artificial intelligence (AI) applications. Fundamental to this is big data and an understanding of its potential applications and analysis. For some time now, this development has been accompanied by the demand to teach data science and machine learning already in school. The goal is the model of an informed and critical consumer of data-driven phenomena. A new project of the University of Paderborn therefore offers student teachers and teaching staff the opportunity to develop their own AI projects within the framework of a freely accessible online course. The content and concepts are closely linked to the already established ProDaBi project at the University of Paderborn.
Creating decision trees yourself
So-called decision trees - graphically illustratable rule systems - are created automatically from data by machine learning. Due to their clarity, they are particularly suitable for addressing artificial intelligence in schools. However, teachers often lack the opportunity to explore the method interactively. "We want to change that with our project and give student teachers as well as teachers the opportunity to analyze real data independent of time and place and not only understand the approach conceptually, but also apply it concretely and create their own decision trees with software support," says project leader Dr. Susanne Podworny from the University of Paderborn. Teaching concepts will also be presented. The free, browser-based data science environment "CODAP", which can also be used in schools, will be used. Over the next seven months, a free, open-access course will be developed and published on the national platform "KI-Campus". The exact date is yet to be announced.
Computer science as a compulsory subject in grades 5/6
The project builds on materials and research already successfully used in schools and teacher training courses as part of the Paderborn ProDaBi project. "With the introduction of the compulsory subject of computer science for grades 5 and 6 and the subject area of artificial intelligence anchored there in North Rhine-Westphalia, we can expect to see increased interest from computer science teachers," says project collaborator Yannik Fleischer. For this reason, the scientists* want to work with teachers to expand and develop suitable school-related competencies and materials in an online self-study course and explore their use. "This is an excellent opportunity to make concepts developed in the ProDaBi project accessible to a broad public via a free online self-learning course," adds Podworny. The project is being funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) with around 69,000 euros over a period of seven months.
Further information on the ProDaBi project and on teaching data science content in schools is available at: https://www.prodabi.de/
Teacher training courses starting in September 2021
Interested teachers can already register for free teacher training courses in the area of data science and artificial intelligence, which will be offered at various locations in Westphalia in the 2021/2022 school year, at www.prodabi.de/anmeldung-fortbildungen. The content is designed for grades 9 and 10. Each advanced training starts on a different date and includes two classroom days, two online dates and a trial period. Registration is possible
