Stefania Druga, a research scientist at Google DeepMind and creator of AI education platform Cognimates, advocates for early AI literacy in children to promote healthy tech relationships through 'co-creation.' Druga emphasizes that coding and AI skills will remain relevant, but the approach to teaching them needs a revamp.
Druga aims to steer kids towards using AI to 'co-create' rather than resorting to shortcuts like cheating. She highlights the importance of reevaluating how coding is taught in educational settings to enhance critical thinking and discourage over-reliance on technology for completing tasks.
Through her platform Cognimates, Druga facilitates AI literacy by engaging children in hands-on projects like game development and robot programming. The goal is to provide a safe environment for kids to explore and experiment with technology that will play a significant role in their future.
Druga believes in fostering children's creativity and agency by encouraging 'co-creation' with AI models instead of spoon-feeding answers. She stresses the necessity of adjusting educational approaches and tool designs to accommodate young people's evolving learning needs and innovative thinking.
According to Druga, preparing kids with AI and coding skills at an early age is crucial for adapting to the rapidly changing technological landscape. She challenges the notion that 'coding is dead,' emphasizing the enduring value of foundational skills, including understanding AI concepts.
In the evolving tech job market, Druga emphasizes the significance of equipping individuals with adaptable skills rather than just technical proficiencies. She advocates for teaching resilience and adaptability to navigate uncertainties and rapid changes in technology-driven industries.
Druga stresses the need for a shift in education paradigms to focus on developing transferrable skills that enable individuals to thrive in a dynamic work environment. She encourages children to embrace creativity, problem-solving, and adaptiveness as key attributes for future success.
While tech industry dynamics and job requirements are evolving rapidly, Druga believes in empowering individuals to identify problems, build solutions, and innovate independently. She underscores the importance of fostering a mindset that embraces change and encourages proactive entrepreneurship.
The overarching goal of Druga's educational initiatives is to democratize AI literacy and make tech skills accessible to all, irrespective of prior background knowledge. By instilling confidence and curiosity in learners, she aims to reshape traditional notions of labor market education.
Druga envisions a future where individuals, regardless of age, background, or formal qualifications, can leverage AI and coding skills to innovate, create viable products, and navigate the evolving job landscape. Embracing change and continuous learning are key principles in her educational philosophy.