MOBILE
LEARNING
WEEK 2019
by Dr. Sevinç Tunalı
@DrSevincTunali
M
obile Learning Week is an event that is annu-
ally held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.
Every year, the event convenes education and
technology experts from around the world. The
purpose of the UNESCO Mobile Learning Week
2019 is to raise awareness and promote reflection
on the opportunities and challenges on Artificial
Intelligence (AI) for Education. The theme of the
year 2019 entitled “AI with Human Values for Sus-
tainable Development” will also explore the poten-
tial of AI in relation to the SDG4 ¹.
In this event, there were many different sessions
for every aspect and experience. On March 4th, the
event started with a Global Conference for a gen-
eral overview to AI for education. This day of the
organization can be summarized with the words
of Nanjira Sambuli “if AI is the solution, what is the
question?”. This can lead to a very unfortunate
error in the use of new technology.
On the second day of the event, Policy Forums
were strongly emphasized. In these forums, par-
ticipants discussed with speakers the policies
needed for AI to accelerate progress towards
SDG4, digital transformation, digital skills devel-
opment, accessible ICTs, and prepare teachers for
AI powered learning environments. The key point
of the forums was to safeguard transparent and
auditable use of education data. Speakers ana-
lyzed how to mitigate the risks and perils of AI in
education, identify and promote sound evidence
for policy formulation guaranteeing accountabili-
ty, and adopt algorithms that are transparent and
explainable to education stakeholders.
1 SDG4: Sustainable Development Goal 4- Ensure inclusive
and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learn-
ing. https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdg4
16 HF |
April 2019
Top
Ronghuai HUANG- Beijing Normal University, An-
dreas SCHLEICHER- Director of Education and Skills
OECD, Ulla Maaria KOIVULA- Director of Thinglink,
Simon WALKER- Director of STEER, Priya LAKHANİ-
CEO of Century Tech.
Bottom
Nanjira SAMBULI, Senior Policy Manager- World
Wide Web Foundation and Philip DAWSON, Lead
Public Policy –Element AI
Dr. Holmes ² mentioned that intelligent,
adaptive and personalized learning systems
are being deployed in schools and univer-
sities around the world, creating a market
expected soon to be worth $6 billion ³.
Moreover, the application of AI in education-
al contexts raises questions (about what
should be taught and how, the evolving role
of teachers, and the social and ethical im-
plications), as well as numerous challenges
(including how to enhance access to educa-
tion and educational equity). There is also
HF | Human Futures 17