Why, What and How to Help Each Citizen to Understand Artificial Intelligence?

A critical understanding of digital technologies is an empowering competence for citizens of all ages. In this paper we introduce an open educational approach of artificial intelligence (AI) for everyone. Through a hybrid and participative MOOC we aim to develop a critical and creative perspective about the way AI is integrated in the different domains of our lives. We have built and now operate a MOOC in AI for all the citizens from 15 years old. The MOOC aims to help understanding AI foundations and applications, intended for a large public beyond the school domain, with more than 20,000 participants engaged in the MOOC after nine months. This study addresses the pedagogical methods for designing and evaluating the MOOC in AI. Through this study we raise four questions regarding citizen education in AI: Why (i.e., to which aim) sharing such citizen formation? What is the disciplinary knowledge to be shared? What are the competencies to develop? How can it be shared and evaluated? We finally share learning analytics, quantitative and qualitative evaluations and explain to which extent educational science research helps enlighten such large scale initiatives. The analysis of the MOOC in AI helps to identify that the main feedback related to AI is “fear”, because AI is unknown and mysterious to the participants. After developing playful AI simulations, the AI mechanisms become familiar for the MOOC participants and they can overcome their misconception on AI to develop a more critical point of view. This contribution describes a K-12 AI educational project or initiatives of a considerable impact, via the formation of teachers and other educators. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13218-021-00725-7.