EDUCATION Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara yesterday said the Department of Education (DepEd) is working to strengthen the critical thinking skills of students to help fight the spread of fake news and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated false online content.
“Kailangan talagang maging mapanuri at iyan ay gusto rin naming ituro sa mga eskwelahan. Iyan ay bahagi ng tinatawag nating critical thinking (There is a need for students to be critical and this is also one of the things that we want to teach in our schools. That is part of what we call critical thinking),” Angara told reporters in a chance interview at the Esteban Abada Elementary School in Bago Bantay, Quezon City.
Last month, Angara directed the establishment of an Education Center for Artificial Intelligence (ECAIR) in the department to formulate and develop research innovations in the field of AI.
Angara said the DepEd has partnered with the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education (SEAMEO) for the establishment of the ECAIR.
“The ECAIR will formulate and develop research, innovation, development, and capacity building initiatives aimed at advancing AI-driven solutions and applications to support the education system,” Angara said in his order.
He said ECAIR will also ensure that learners and educators are equipped with the tools, skills, and knowledge needed to thrive in the future by harnessing AI and AI-driven tools.
“It will also develop policies and initiatives aimed at fostering the use of AI in schools and other educational institutions,” he added.
Angara said some schools are already utilizing the AI-powered learning assistant in teaching, which was developed by the Khan Academy in partnership with the DepEd.
He said the initiative is already helping learners enhance their skills in reading, mathematics, comprehension and other learning pathways.
