The "AI.4.educators" project's main objective was to improve educators' engagement with AI using a multidisciplinary approach based on educational material in the form of roadmaps and an e-learning platform to facilitate the training. The project was focused on the regulatory initiatives in Europe and the ethical values of AI systems. Participating educators were encouraged to adopt a Eurocentric approach that considers European values and fundamental human rights with regard to AI systems. Additionally, the project aimed to develop a comprehensive educational curriculum for educators using a range of educational methods. Personalization and interaction tools were employed to identify educators' AI training needs which helped us tailor the program accordingly. The project intended to enhance educators' digital skills and promote the use of digital training tools. Finally, an online AI academy was established (online learning portal), that offers e-courses based on the training material developed during the project.
The project "AI.4.educators" was motivated by the fast-evolving field of AI, which has developed many new techniques and applications over the past years, creating the need for constant and lifelong learning on AI. The project aimed to capture this need for educators. The multifaceted character of AI was also a motivation for the project, as it is seen as a new technology based on algorithms, mathematical models, and engineering, but also an area of new regulation that raises serious ethical concerns. The project aimed to shed light on the ongoing discussions for regulation and incorporation of ethical values in AI systems, treating AI in a holistic way. The increased need for digital education due to the Covid-19 outbreak was another motivation for the project. The project aimed to encourage the use of innovative methods, interaction techniques, and digital tools for teaching AI, and to encourage remote participation by educators located in different countries.