Foto: Pixaby Briefly analysed
The co-creative approach with a participatory component has been at the heart of the KI Makerspace (AI Makerspace) from the very beginning. All children and young people are welcome at this place in Tübingen. Patrick Klügel, Cyber Valley Manager and Caroline Schmidt, BWKI Coordinator want to address young people with different experiences. That’s why they have AI-specific offerings and some unspecifics like movie nights or cooking classes. They already included their target group in the conception. In addition, those who are particularly interested should inspire others in peer-to-peer learning. Workshops for schools of all kinds complement the program. The aim is to ensure that as many children as possible benefit from this public engagement project.
Participation The co-creative approach makes the AI Makerspace in Tübingen something special. In the next lines you read how that exactly looks like and why – according to a young participant – this public engagement project should have been there much earlier.
Maker or Hacker Spaces exist in many cities. There, people – actually, adults – come together and realize their projects. Patrick Klügel, Public Engagement Manager of Cyber Valley, and Dr. Caroline Schmidt, Coordinator of the BWKI (German Federal Competition for Artificial Intelligence), developed a completely new approach with the KI Makerspace (AI Makerspace) in Tübingen. In the middle of the city next to the Neckar River, all children and young people are welcome to experiment with AI. Or simply have a good time since January 28, 2022. It is important for them to create an offer for different levels of previous experiences. In addition to specific AI offerings, the program also includes those that have nothing to do with AI – such as movie nights, a podcast corner, or cooking classes.
Participation as part of the strategy
The remarkable approach of the Public Engagement project is the co-creative approach. “It is very good for the project when you approach the conception together with the target group. The students were involved from the very beginning and could hardly wait until the AI Makerspace finally opened,” says Patrick Klügel. What happens in the Makerspace is also decided by the youth committee. The young people participate actively and take on responsibility. In addition to the full-time supervisor Gregor Schulte, there are also young adults on site as contact persons. Currently, these are the BFD students Mathilda Babetzki and Theo Döllmann.
It was also important to Patrick Klügel and Caroline Schmidt to directly involve the BFD students. They helped to shape the meetings after a preliminary meeting with about 50 teenagers and children. “We continued to meet with the most active people and built on that. We also attended the meeting with (mayor) Palmer. When the idea of the AI Makerspace was pitched,” explains Theo Döllmann. By involving young people, the coordinators were able to generate enthusiasm right away. In the best case, they will tell their friends about it.
| Co-creative approach of the KI Makerspace – an overview – specific AI offers & non-specific like movie nights, cooking classes or podcast corner – peer-to-peer learning & young facilitators, alongside full-time staff – informal engagement of researchers – offering of courses in schools – participative through youth panel |
Local networking
Caroline Schmidt uses her contacts to local schools to ensure that students learn about the project. Together with BFD student Mathilda Babetzki, she promotes the KI Makerspace locally. They not only go to high schools, but also to remedial and elementary schools. Every type of school should benefit. They also offer workshops there. The students know them because they have applied before. This makes them relatively easy to approach, says Mathilda Babetzki. Her young age is advantageous for establishing contact with the children.
Peers learn from each other
The coordinators rely on peer-to-peer learning to ensure that the target group perceives the place as an extracurricular venue. Children with a lot of knowledge motivate others and get them excited about technology. “In the KI Makerspace, everyone looks after each other,” explains Caroline Schmidt. One thought is that perhaps in the future, peers with more knowledge will also offer AI courses.
Exchange with scientists
The KI Makerspace is also intended to be a platform for exchange between scientists and the urban community. Therefore, Patrick Klügel wants to inspire researchers to drop by informally and get in touch with young people. He also organizes events and discussions.
Photo: University of Tübingen
| Learning without pressure Mathilda Babetzki would have liked an AI Makerspace when she was a kid: “I’m not really at home in that world. But it would have been cool if something like this had existed earlier.” These places are ideal for learning without pressure, she says, and can generate enthusiasm – especially for technology topics – on a different level than school. Theo Döllmann is interested in this. He supports the children and young people in the KI Makerspace with his technical knowledge and sets up equipment. In order for them to benefit from the professional equipment, the location has to be central. Preferably in the middle of the town and in the immediate vicinity of schools. According to the BFD students, both of these factors apply to the KI Makerspace. |
No engagement without research
Patrick Klügel and Caroline Schmidt have already thought of a way to measure the impact. In addition to the normal measurement of the degree of participation in activities or the reach, they are working on an additional measurement concept: Over time, the initiators want to evaluate the AI competence. The children and young people are to assess themselves. In addition, scientific research by the University of Tübingen in particular by the AI Center is planned. And don’t forget: “A good measure to see whether the goals are being achieved are imitators,” adds Caroline Schmidt. She and co-coordinator Patrick Klügel will be networking in the Makerspace scene. By the way, the two are open to inquiries and happy to advise.
Conclusion – Role Model & Inspiration for PE Projects
The co-creative approach of the KI Makerspace, which involves and welcomes everyone, is a role model for Public Engagement projects. Only if the target group is involved and has a say, they feel valued. They are more open to accept offers. This approach creates an atmosphere in which children and young people feel comfortable and can develop. Events, workshops and other offerings also increase interest in AI. Whether this will actually reach young people who are superficially less interested remains to be proven.
We are curious to see how the Makerspace develops. …and what is still to come. Patrick Klügel for example could imagine a cargo bike with AI services directly in the city: “We’ve already put out our feelers. But that’s priority 2 for now.” Because the KI Makerspace has only just started.