On July 1 and 2, 2024, the National Coordination Office for the European Agenda for Adult Learning, together with the Bavarian Adult Education Association, held a virtual conference on the topic of “Understanding and shaping AI: European perspectives and specific areas of application for adult education.”

The event examined AI from a national and European perspective through contributions from education policy, science, and practice. A particular focus was placed on the legal and ethical framework conditions and specific areas of application for the use of AI in adult education.

Important input on AI systems and their use in adult and basic education came from:

• Daniel Krupka, German Informatics Society “AI in education – from school to adult education”
• Prof. Dr. Marc Erich Latoschik, University of Würzburg “Interdisciplinary design options for AI in the context of human-computer interaction”
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• Prof. Dr. Anke Grotlüschen, University of Hamburg “AI in Basic Education”
• Veerle Ponnet, Europass Teacher Academy “Scaling AI Course Offerings: Navigating Supply and Demand for Erasmus Plus and Europass Eduactors in Europe”

On the second day, ten different workshops discussed how educational institutions can use AI to optimize learning processes, design personalized learning opportunities, and develop innovative teaching methods. Some workshops presented AI applications and offerings for educational practice from national and European Erasmus+ projects. In other workshops, experts presented opportunities and important framework conditions for the use of AI in adult education:

• Sascha Dowidat, Project Alpha-Kooperativ Transfer “Designing digital basic education programs”
• Barbara Saring, Peter Westebbe, Bavarian Adult Education Association “Competent with AI – Continuing education for teachers in basic education”
• Gabi Netz, German Adult Education Association, “Training reading fluency digitally – the new Lese-Trainer app”
• Dr. Mareike Kholin, German Institute for Adult Education “KANSAS: AI-based search engine for Alpha texts and other functions”
• Martina Engels, LAG KEFB in North Rhine-Westphalia “AI: Challenges and design options in practice”
• Veerle Ponnet, Europass Teacher Academy “AI in Education: Transformative Tools”
• Mark McGuigan “Ethical Implications of Artificial Intelligence”
• Martin Glewe, EMCRA “Erasmus+ Project AI Curriculum – AI in Adult Education”
• Yasmin Stegemann, ZWW at the University of Mainz “Use of AI technologies in self-directed and language learning – the Erasmus+ project AI in Language Teaching”
• Lisa Meyne, Ludger Deitmer, Christine Siemer, Frieda Klaus, University of Bremen “AI Pioneers – Examples of artificial intelligence applications in vocational and adult education”

Recordings of the presentations can be found here:

• Video message from the Bavarian State Ministry of Education and Culture - Anna Stolz
• AI in education - From school to adult education - Daniel Krupka, German Informatics Society
• Interdisciplinary design options for AI in the context of human-computer interaction - Prof. Dr. Marc Erich Latoschik, University of Würzburg
• AI in basic education – LEO Team – Prof. Dr. Anke Grotlüschen, University of Hamburg
• Scaling AI Course Offerings: Navigating Supply and Demand for Erasmus Plus and Europass Educators in Europe – Veerle Ponnet, Europass Teacher Academy
• EPALE: Networking – Sharing – Exchanging – Marlene Röder, NA at BIBB

The event encouraged a lively exchange of experiences and practical food for thought. The workshops offered the opportunity to share experiences and gain practical insights for working with artificial intelligence.