Using AI in educational portals and OER repositories

European Schoolnet’s LRE-subcommittee has commissioned Dr. Angeliki Eirini Chounta, an expert in Learning Analytics and Learning Designs for technology-enhanced learning (TEL) and computer-supported learning activities, to help identify and review best practices in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) by educational portals and OER repositories in the context of K-12 education.

As part of this work, Dr. Chounta has prepared a white paper for distribution to EdReNe members and others interested in this topic. This white paper provides an overview of the most prominent Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) practices used in educational contexts focusing on Open Educational Resources (OER) and educational portals aiming to support K-12 education. It provides definitions and descriptions of relevant terms, a short historical overview of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in education and an overview of the goals and common practices of the use of computational methods (AI and ML) in educational contexts. The paper covers the state of the art with respect to the adaptation and use of computational methods in educational portals and OERs and discusses the potential benefits and open challenges that may arise from these practices. It concludes with a description of future directions that could support local structures and directives on how to move forward with the integration of computational approaches to existing OER and educational portals.

Dr. Chounta will also speak at the next EdReNe webinar taking place on 7 December at 12:00 CET. She will present her findings and lead a discussion with webinar participants on the ways state-of-the-art AI and ML are already being used or can be used by educational portals and learning resource repositories to better serve teachers and pupils (e.g., through personalization). The webinar has limited capacity but will be recorded for those who cannot join.

The white paper, details on how to join the webinar and eventually the recording of the webinar are available on the EdReNe website.