Dream, Engage, Act and Re-act 4 the Future

In the face of the new social and digital context, we clearly need to create an innovative educational package that is able to provide, through new approaches to teaching and learning, appropriate platforms, resources and experiences that equip our teachers with the knowledge and skills needed to educate the younger generation in the emerging fields of artificial intelligence. AI gives children an advantage in life and allows them to learn more effectively. It is intricately woven into the way the world works, and the possibilities of AI are endless. Engaging children with AI is essential to preparing them for the future.

The main objective of the DEAR FUTURE consortium was to facilitate and enable the development of a framework that will enable preschool teachers and students to acquire the 21st century skills and knowledge necessary to promote basic AI literacy by establishing a holistic approach in preschool education. We want to promote AI in preschool education because the Early Childhood Education and Care Strategy 2021-2030 states that "basic digital skills and competences are limited from an early age because preschoolers are at a high stage of development both physically and cognitively". The DEAR FUTURE consortium is aware that teaching AI is not easy because AI is very complex, non-specific and new for preschoolers. In order to reduce the complexity and abstraction of AI in teaching, we want to improve innovative approaches. In this context, we want to promote AI through an approach based on interactive storytelling (GIS) based on games. We chose the GIS system because preschoolers learn better through games and stories.

Management activities were carried out; 5 transnational project meetings were held in: Turkey, Croatia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic and Poland; 2 LTTAs were held in Portugal and Czech Republic; courses for kindergarten teachers and seminars for parents were held; conferences were organised to disseminate the project and various other dissemination activities were carried out: visits to schools, presentations in the local area, etc.

Project Results : - Curriculum for teaching artificial intelligence in preschools through interactive game-based storytelling. - Online training course for preschool teachers on using interactive game-based storytelling approach in teaching artificial intelligence. - Internet platform and e-learning platform. - Set of audiovisual materials for preschool teachers - for use in teaching artificial intelligence through "interactive game-based storytelling". INTANGIBLE RESULTS: - Engagement of children in kindergarten in AI. - Promotion of teaching and more active use of technology in AI teaching through sharing and holistic approach. - Integration of online technology into teaching, training and knowledge about AI. - Increase of students’ understanding skills in education. - Strengthening of teachers’ attitudes towards EU organization and EU values. - Engagement of teachers in AI practices and AI regulations across the EU. - Students and teachers have the opportunity to communicate and cooperate with their foreign peers. - Basic education of teachers and students in teaching through active assistance in teaching the educational environment and education outside the classroom and school environment. - Increase of skills and profes