AI Literacy and what are the Essential AI skills for lifelong learning? Soundbite Edition 766
Welcome to FE Soundbite Edition 766: 5th October 2024. AI Literacy and what are the Essential AI skills for lifelong learning? Reflecting on the Global LifeLong Learning Summit in Singapore. See more below:
This is the weekly e-newsletter and e-journal by FE News: ISSN 2732-4095. We know life is busy, so here is a snapshot of the latest announcements and epic thought leadership articles, from sector influencers and cool thinkers across FE and Skills this week on FE News
Gavin’s Reflective Perspective
What are the Essential AI Skills for Lifelong Learning?
So this week I was away in Singapore at the Global Lifelong Learning Summit, which had the focus on AI and Lifelong Learning. I was a guest of the Institute for Adult Learning in Singapore and it was a joint event with ILO, OECD and Unesco. So basically, this was kind of a big conference.
So, as you do… I am writing my Gavin’s reflective for the week in the airport in Singapore whilst it is fresh in my mind… and I am wired as I have had a few hours sleep all week. Best to get it down now! ha ha
So Unesco, ILO, OECD, a bunch of big hive brains… and a lot of Professors… all specialists in AI and lifelong learning have concluded… the essential skills for Lifelong learning and AI are… Emotional Intelligence and Communication skills. Not hard coding, the conclusion is, don’t try competing with a pocket calculator to do maths as fast as the pocket calculator, use your communication skills and emotional intelligence to work out what you want the calculations for!
AI Literacy is very important long term
Interesting. AI literacy came up a lot. The importance of Bridging the digital divide… from Columbia to older learners… but also the importance of micro-credentials and AI literacy for learners, for educators and employers.
AI Augmentation – so what is that then?
So AI literacy, doesn’t mean a coder, doesn’t mean a prompt engineer. It is how to AI Augments with humans.. in work and in life. Sounds fancy… but it is how we engage with AI, it is how we work collaboratively with AI… Charles McIntyre mentioned Cobots pre pandemic in 2019.. it is very similar in theory, it is all about how we collaboratively work with bots, or GenAI, or chatbots or Artificial Intelligence in the future… and what we need to address and start thinking about this deeply now with Lifelong learning. Essential AI augmentation is key to raise productivity. The Productivity skills gap is bridge fastest with those with lower level skills compared to higher level skills (according to OECD.. so people who have looked deeply into this), by AI Augmentation.
Micro-Credentials and Lifelong Learning, is now even more important with the rise of AI Augmentation
The rise of Micro-credentials (interestingly Micro-credentials was the focus of the first GLLS conference two years ago) will be even more important for everyone to upskill, reskill and remain relevant as particularly Generative AI (Gen AI) is used more and more in daily work, education and life.
Transforming the Digital Divide into Digital Dividends
Really cool title, but what does it mean? Well globally, we need to think of Digital access… from infrastructure.. and we had a cool interview with Isabel, the Education Secretary for Bogota in Columbia sharing how they are creating infrastructure in a very hard to reach part of the world and in a place of high poverty… and why this is important. So infrastructure is key, but so is access to hardware. Basically so we don’t create massive digital divides for those that ‘have… compared to those that ‘have not’.
Grey Digital Skills Divide
Interestingly.. this also works with age. Across the World the length of time of working is increasing with the rise in retirement age. So thinking of lifelong learning, it is key to bridge the digital divide and access for all ages.
So what does all of this mean for us right now?
We need to get ready! We need to be thinking of our Digital infrastructure, or we will be left behind. We need to be thinking of rising Digital Skills first, then AI Literacy second to raise productivity and also equip our educators, leaders, employers and learners. If we don’t… erm big problems! So the 900,000 NEETs, with the economically inactive and Returners… we need to be thinking of short courses, or micro-credentials to help them with AI Literacy… but first with essential digital skills.
AI Literacy will be just as important at developing as Numeracy and Literacy skills
AI Literacy, is going to have to be assessed, encouraged to the same level as Literacy and Numeracy for people to be productive, for nations to be productive and competitive globally.
So.. this is very interesting stuff. Not for the geeks, but for us all. So it is also perfect timing, as next week is the FE +Skills Collective, looking at Bridging Policy and Pedagogy and equipping us all for our new Skills System.
Is our new Skills System thinking of AI and Lifelong Learning Strategies?
I can’t wait to discuss this… and sooo much more next week at the Collective. See you on the 10th October!
Exclusive Thought Leadership
Our Top 3 Thought Leadership Articles This Week
Evolving Apprenticeship Standards: The critical role of workforce and employer needs By Colin Huffen – Associate Director (Workforce Policy), The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA)
Upskilling Won’t Cut It: AI Requires a Revolution in Learning and Mindset By Richard Foster-Fletcher, Executive Chair of MKAI
Pop-up curriculum reaches out to disengaged youth in Salford By Kerry Boffey, Fellowship of Inspection Nominees
This Week, We Have Also Had Some Other Epic Exclusives!
AI and Education: Embracing Innovation and Nurturing Human Connection By Steven Hope, CEO of C-learning
In An AI World Does Finite Education Make Sense? By Dan Fitzpatrick, bestselling author on AI and education and international keynote speaker theaieducator.io
Progression pathways for young people need an aspirational destination, and that includes at level 7 By Gareth John, Director of accountancy apprenticeship provider, First Intuition
“What Did You Do at School Today?” – The Neuroscience of Motivation and Behaviour of Teens By Neil Wolstenholme, CEO for Koodle
Why we need a Careers Strategy to support economic growth By David Morgan, Chief Executive for Career Development Institute
Collaboration is the key By Robert West Head of Education & Skills, CBI
The role of the FE and Skills sector in delivering Labour’s five missions By Dr Vikki Smith, Executive Director, Education and Standards, at Education and Training Foundation
What’s New in the World of FE?
Check Out Top 3 Thought Leaders of September 2024
Global Lifelong Summit 2024
Professor Fredrik Heintz of Linkpoing University discusses Neuro Symbolic AI at GLLS2024
Columbia’s Isabel Segovia Ospina discusses turning Digital Divides into Digital dividends in Bogota
OECD’s Glenda Quintini discusses AI Literacy and Productivity at GLLS2024
Tan Kok Yam Chief Executive at SkillsFuture SG, discusses AI and LifeLong Learning at GLLS2024
Unesco’s Daniel Baril on the importance of Training AI and the Crucial Role of Lifelong Learning
Pascal Paschoud discusses Skills Intelligence, Collaboration and Lifelong Learning AI
Letter to DfE
College Leaders Unite to call for Urgent Investment By AoC
Reports
A New Report Highlights Challenges in YOIs Education
Voices
Transforming Healthcare Training with Digital OSCEs By Cirrus Assessment
The skills gap requires an innovative approach – bring the sports sector on board By David Ellis, CEO and founder of Maikai
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We hope you enjoy FE Soundbite this week. Stay curious, keep innovating, and let’s shake up the world of FE together – catch you next week!
By Danny O’Meara, Digital Project Manager, FE News
By Gavin O’Meara, CEO and Founder, FE News and FE Careers
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