Listening to EdTech users – RAi FATES of Africa
by Tim O’Riordan
Dr Nora McIntyre leads a community workshop in Kajiado County, Kenya
For the FATES of Africa: A co-developed pipeline for responsible AI in online learning across Africa (RAi FATES) recently completed a series of in-country workshops in and around Nairobi, Kenya. Together, Dr Nora McIntyre (Principal Investigator), Dr Eliana Osorio-Saez (Research Collaborator), and Dr Catherine Wangeci (Co-Investigator) from Whizz Education Kenya, connected with learners, educators, community members, academics, and policymakers who are affected directly by educational technologies, including online learning.
Accessing the benefits of online learning is already a challenge for low- and middle-income countries in Africa, and the inequitable implementation of educational technologies has the potential to worsen this digital divide. To aid decision makers, RAi FATES is creating a ‘how-to’ pipeline for responsible AI in the region, and this visit to Kenya was the first step of an extensive consultation process.
The 10-day visit included consultations with academics at Africa International University, and interactive workshops with teachers and pupils at schools on the outskirts of Nairobi, and rural community groups. Around 80 participants took part in the sessions overall. The team also established new collaborations with the University of Nairobi, particularly with the Department of Computer Science and the Department for Educational Studies.
This work in Kenya has contributed powerfully this project’s efforts to understand the priorities of the most affected actors in online learning across Sub-Saharan Africa. In recent weeks the team have successfully brought together consultations with teachers and policy experts in Cameroon (in partnership with Teach Connect), Nigeria (in partnership with Stalwart Communities Africa), and with SchoolNet South Africa, and will continue discussions with project partners in the region into the new year.
