From robotics to the ethics of technology: the new concept of human rights Erasmus Project

Project Title

From robotics to the ethics of technology: the new concept of human rights

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : School Exchange Partnerships

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Ethics, religion and philosophy (incl. Inter-religious dialogue); ICT – new technologies – digital competences; Civic engagement / responsible citizenship

Project Summary

From robotics to the ethics of technology: a new concept of human rights

Needs analysis:
Robotics and artificial intelligence cover a multitude of key challenges within the 21st century, ranging from new military tactics to the design of medical robots. Schools in Europe should contribute for a democratic and open discussion of ethical issues regarding technology, as well as improve basic skills of teachers and students in the field of robotics.

General objective and European Strategy:
The general objective of this project is, primarily, to systematise and share the best practices for teachers and students in the field of technological ethics related to artificial intelligence and robotics contextualised in a human rights framework. Secondly, to develop introductory activities of robotics in a practical scenario, such as basic robotic building and codding, in order to empirically introduce teachers and students to this new field.

The objectives of this project follow the European strategy and policy regarding Erasmus+, since this project will develop key information and communication technology skills (ICT) in a transnational level by sharing best practices and practical knowledge that will then be disseminated into each school and its local community.

Specific objectives:
1. Improve the skills and readiness of 20 Secondary School teachers on ICT by developing 2 short-term joint staff training events about robotics and technological ethics. This objective is linked to the priority to strengthen the profile of the teaching profession: ICT teachers, STEM teachers, and even Humanities teachers will work together to improve basic skills on robotics, as well as develop a moral and social reflection with intellectual rigor about technology and robotics.
2. Develop awareness and basic competencies in the field of robotics and technological ethics for 96 Secondary School students aged 15-18 by participating in 3 short-term exchange programmes for pupils. This objective is linked to the priority of acquiring and developing basic skills, in this case, these skills are digital and technological skills but also skills of self-reflection on technological ethics through logical argumentation and debate.
3. Create a European Digital Manifesto based in videos and images developed by the students about the practical implications of robotics, artificial intelligence and technology for the 21st century as regards 3 main areas: (i) robotics and human rights, (ii) robotics and economics, (iii) robotics and health. This objective is linked to the horizontal objective of developing innovative and open practices in the digital era since the Digital Manifesto will be freely available in the digital world for other European students.

Activities:
2 short-term joint staff training in Portugal and Croatia regarding an introduction to robotics and the ethics of technology
3 short-term exchange programmes for pupils in Belgium (Robotics and Human Rights), Turkey (Robotics and Economics) and Bulgaria (Robotics and Health).

Type and number of persons benefiting from the project
96 students participating in short-term mobility activities
20 teachers participating in short-term mobility activities

Methodology
The methodology of this project will use a hybrid model between theory and practice by using theoretical basic concepts that will be problematised through practical approaches. In the first place, all the beneficiaries will know more about the moral foundations of technology through non-formal education methodologies such as brainstorming, moral dilemmas, debates etc.

On the other hand, the sessions on robotics will be far more practical, involving the building of LEVO EV3 robots and codding. The leader of the consortium (Real Academy of Portugal) has 11 prototypes of robots that will be used in these practical sessions.

Final Product: a European Digital Manifesto about technology, robotics and ethics for the 21st century based on videos and images

Quantitative measures to assess efficiency will be the number of participants in the training activities and the number of people supporting the project in social media groups and forums; visits to project website. Qualitative measures will be surveys to analyse the quality of the events and online surveys to evaluate the quality of the Digital Manifesto

Expected results:
1. Teachers that are more capable of discussing with their pupil’s facts on technological challenges as regards morality, politics and society.
2. Teachers and students more empowered in the field of robotics that have improved basic skills in this field.
3. Students more aware of social issues as regards technological moral dilemmas for the future.
4. More motivated students that want to continue to study robotics, technology or ethics.
5. Teachers that will be more able and skilled in developing initiatives about technology and ethics in their schools and, therefore, being multipliers.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 120110 Eur

Project Coordinator

Real Academia de Portugal, S.A. & Country: PT

Project Partners

• GO! atheneum Redingenhof
• Istituto di Istruzione Superiore “G.A. Pischedda”
• 33 EG Sveta Sofia
• Nezihe Derya Baltali Bilim ve Sanat Merkezi
• Srednja skola Valpovo