Expert Urges Deeper AI Learning to Prepare Students

Irish Educator Highlights Need for Broader AI Literacy in Education

An Irish expert argues that students need more than basic AI literacy to thrive in the future. This shift would equip learners to understand, utilize, and ethically navigate the growing presence of artificial intelligence in various aspects of life and work.

Beyond Basic AI Literacy

According to Dr. Gearóid Ó Súilleabháin, Head of the Department of Technology Enhanced Learning at Munster Technological University (MTU), AI education should go beyond the fundamentals. He believes students should gain a deeper understanding of AI, including how it operates, its ethical implications, and its increasing prevalence. Dr. Ó Súilleabháin champions technology to enhance teaching and learning.

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“I think the best we can do is become more AI literate which goes beyond just teaching people how to design the right prompts for these generative AI systems and to help people to kind of understand what these systems are doing, how they’re built and some of the ethical issues arising in their use, and in the way that they’re now moving towards the mainstream.”

—Dr. Ó Súilleabháin

A recent study shows that the global AI market is projected to reach nearly $1.8 trillion by 2030, highlighting the rapid expansion and importance of AI across industries (Statista, 2024).

Navigating the AI Landscape

Dr. Ó Súilleabháin notes a mixed reaction among university educators regarding AI. Some anticipate students embracing AI, while others share concerns about its implications. He points out the need for institutions to balance caution and curiosity, much like the early days of the World Wide Web. He acknowledges that rapid changes may be overestimated, while long-term impacts are underestimated.

The expert suggests that AI will play an increasingly significant role in how people live, work, and communicate. He advocates for a future where humans and AI collaborate. He emphasizes that AI should augment human capabilities, offering personalized learning and freeing educators to focus on mentoring and guiding students. While acknowledging the challenges, he sees significant opportunities in AI’s capacity to personalize learning experiences and improve accessibility.