Page 162 - Izobraževanje v dobi generativne umetne inteligence

Saša Mladenović

These findings underscore the urgent need for improved AI education and
literacy to address societal concerns and foster a balanced understanding of
AI’s opportunities and challenges. While education efforts in introducing GEN-
AI are promising, the long-term impact of such activities on the educational
system requires further evaluation. Given the rapidly evolving landscape of AI
technologies, it is crucial to regularly assess and refine regulations and best
practices to ensure their alignment with pedagogical and ethical principles.

GEN-AI in Education: The Croatian Approach
As Generative AI becomes more prevalent in education, it is essential that
teachers remain informed, empowered, and actively involved in shaping its
use. While some applications of Generative AI may continue to operate as
black-box systems, the importance of transparency and interpretability can-
not be overstated (Farrow, 2023). Just as educators strive to understand how
their students think, it is equally important to understand how Generative
AI arrives at its outputs to ensure ethical and effective use. In Croatia, the in-
tegration of Generative AI into education is supported by several aforemen-
tioned projects, reflecting a multifaceted approach to utilising this technolo-
gy in the classroom. These initiatives highlight the importance of policies and
best practices that emphasise transparency, accountability, and trust, while
fostering collaboration among stakeholders in the educational community.
Some of the projects focus on using Generative AI as a tool for both stu-
dents and teachers to enhance teaching and learning. These initiatives en-
courage educators to integrate AI into their practices to support creativity,
problem-solving, and personalised learning experiences. Other projects are
designed to develop AI literacy, using GEN-AI as a motivational tool to en-
gage students by connecting their learning with the AI technologies that are
increasingly omnipresent in everyday life. For example, existing program-
ming curricula in Croatian elementary and high schools are being adapted
to include modules where students learn to program applications with AI
functionalities, providing a hands-on introduction to Generative AI concepts.
Beyond the classroom, Croatia emphasises educating all stakeholders—ad-
ministrators, policymakers, and teachers—about the potential applications
of Generative AI in their respective roles. These initiatives aim to ensure that
AI is not only a tool for teaching and learning but also a resource for improv-
ing efficiency and innovation in education management and policy develop-
ment. To promote the exchange of best practices, the annual CARNET User
Conference has served as a cornerstone for professional development for 26
years, bringing together over 1,000 participants from the Croatian education

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