UMass Amherst Doctoral Researcher Krishna Chaitanya Rao Kathala Presents AI Literacy Framework at ICETC 2024
Krishna Chaitanya Rao Kathala, a doctoral student in learning sciences in the College of Education, recently co-presented research on artificial intelligence literacy at the 16th International Conference on Education Technology and Computers (ICETC 2024) at the University of Porto, Portugal.
Kathala and Shashank Palakurthi, an engineer from FM Global, presented their paper, “AI Literacy Framework and Strategies for Implementation in Developing Nations,” which is focused on the urgent need to enhance AI literacy in an era of rapidly advancing technology, particularly in developing nations.
The hybrid conference, which was held Sept. 18-21, brought together scholars and experts from across the world to discuss the future of educational technology. Krishna and Shashank’s research addresses the growing influence of AI in sectors such as education, healthcare and the economy. Kathala highlighted the fact that while AI has transformative potential, many developing nations face significant barriers to adopting and benefiting from this technology due to limited infrastructure, insufficient educational resources, and gaps in policy frameworks.
Their research introduced a comprehensive AI literacy framework designed to bridge these disparities by providing individuals in developing nations with the necessary skills to engage with AI technologies. The framework focuses on integrating AI literacy into educational curricula, training educators, and encouraging public-private partnerships to help bridge the AI literacy gap between developed and developing nations.
During his presentation, Kathala stated, “AI literacy is becoming as fundamental as reading and writing, especially in preparing students for the AI-driven workforce of the future.”
The research not only highlights the need for technical understanding, Kathala says, but also emphasizes the ethical considerations of AI, especially in regions where technological advancements could influence social equity in both positive and negative ways.
The complete paper, “AI Literacy Framework and Strategies for Implementation in Developing Nations,” will be published in the coming weeks in the International Conference Proceedings Series by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), which will be available in ACM Digital Library.