September 1, 2020 at the Institute for Research and Development in Teaching Profession for ASEAN – Khon Kaen University by the Education and Academic Service Section held a workshop on AI for Education. H.E. Dr. Narongchai Akrasanee, Chairman of Khon Kaen University Council gave an opening address and Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University made a reporting speech. Over 300 people attended, both onsite and online via Zoom and Youtube Live.
Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University related that one strategy of Khon Kaen University is Education Transformation. This is an important strategy for the university development. The strategy consists of 4 tactics that will lead to achievements of the missions. In the second tactic, the university will build new curricula that meet social needs, there will be programs available for people of all ages, with emphases placed on life-long learning. In the 4th tactic, academic services are to be improved.
“Khon Kaen University’s strategies and tactics in education transformation correspond to the world development in terms of thinking skill development of the world population in the 21st Century and the necessary thinking skills in the era of the 4th industrial revolution, which include: Computational Thinking and Statistical Thinking. The global trends, KKU strategies and tactics, and the importance of AI at present as the vital foundation knowledge for healthcare – AI for Healthcare – and education are the rationale behind this workshop on AI for Education.”
H.E. Dr. Narongchai Akrasanee, Chairman of Khon Kaen University Council said that human possesses Natural intelligence by nature. Presently we have Artificial Intelligence or the intelligence that is artificial. This is not a being, but is able to feel and to think, nearly similar to human in nearly all aspects. The function of human now is how to integrate the two together harmoniously and beneficially to the world society. For example, how can we integrate AI development and industry, or Ai and education. Each pair has to be well integrated so that it will be the force behind social growth, which does not mean only the university or the country, but the world.
Assoc. Prof. Maitree Inprasitha, Ph.D., Vice President for Education and Academic Service said that the education section place importance on the issue of AI for Education in the 4th Industrial Revolution era. Man and AI must live together. Various types of production and services rely on technology. AI has many dimensions of definitions, depending on users. For Khon Kaen University, this is the suitable time to stimulate the public and the students to see the importance of AI for Education.
“Khon Kaen University has already been implementing AI for Education. We join Japan in the project called, APAC Human Development Helping group. From now on, we have to come to think: What is important besides the basis of moral and ethics. These are: A B C D. A is AI, B is Blockchain, C is Cloud, and D is Big Data. The foundations of all of these are Computational Thinking and Statistical Thinking. We have been on these since 2019 until now. We have invited experts at the frontier of the world to help us answer the question: how can we design primary, secondary, high-school and university levels curricula? What is the significant competence of the 21st Century?” Professor Masami Ichoda, from Japan said that the competence of this era is the competitive competence, which enables us to understand others. The existing courses in educational programs at present must connect with DATA Science, Machine Learning and Programming Coding. This must be incorporated into the curricula from the primary and secondary levels. An important thing is schools must connect the traditional contents with these 3 things using Computational Thinking and Statistical Thinking.
The morning session was honored to have the Chairman of Khon Kaen University Council to give a special talk. The next feature was a forum on Education in the Era of AI and Big Data by 3 experts in AI for Education including Professor Lew Hi Chan from Korean University of Education, Republic of Korea; Professor Masami Ichoda, from Tsukuba University, Japan; and Professor Roberto Araya from University of Chili. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Maitree Inprasitha acted as the moderator and made conclusions in Thai.
The afternoon session featured talks related to AI for Education from 3 different perspectives of the 3 experts in AI for Education from 3 countries: Professor Lew Hi Chan from Korean University of Education, Republic of Korea; Professor Masami Ichoda, from Tsukuba University, Japan; and Professor Roberto Araya from University of Chili.
There were also exhibitions on AI for Education at the event, which cover instruction for development of learning skills in the age of artificial intelligence.
The meeting is available for watching on Youtube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfQVIIlFtD0
[ Thai ]
