Challenge-Device-Synthesis: A multi-disciplinary approach for the development of social innovation competences for students of Artificial Intelligence

TL;DR

This paper introduces the Challenge-Device-Synthesis methodology to help AI students develop social innovation competences by designing AI-based devices addressing social challenges, fostering interdisciplinary understanding and analysis.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel interdisciplinary educational approach integrating device design and social analysis for AI students, with detailed implementation and evaluation.

Findings

Positive student engagement and interdisciplinary understanding

Effective integration of social analysis into AI device development

Qualitative improvements in students' social transformation insights

Abstract

The advent of Artificial Intelligence is expected to imply profound changes in the short-term. It is therefore imperative for Academia, and particularly for the Computer Science scope, to develop cross-disciplinary tools that bond AI developments to their social dimension. To this aim, we introduce the Challenge-Device-Synthesis methodology (CDS), in which a specific challenge is presented to the students of AI, who are required to develop a device as a solution for the challenge. The device becomes the object of study for the different dimensions of social transformation, and the conclusions addressed by the students during the discussion around the device are presented in a synthesis piece in the shape of a 10-page scientific paper. The latter is evaluated taking into account both the depth of analysis and the level to which it genuinely reflects the social transformations associated with the proposed AI-based device. We provide data obtained during the pilot for the implementation phase of CDS within the subject of Social Innovation, a 6-ECTS subject from the 6th semester of the Degree of Artificial Intelligence, UAB-Barcelona. We provide details on temporalisation, task distribution, methodological tools used and assessment delivery procedure, as well as qualitative analysis of the results obtained.