Utilizing Cultural and Artistic Infrastructure for Teamwork and Social Skills Education
Strengthening Digital Literacy and AI Ethics Education
Seocho-gu, Seoul (Mayor Jeon Seong-su) announced on the 8th that starting this year, it will actively promote a differentiated character education program aimed at nurturing 'creative talents with warm character in the AI era.'
Scenes from the AI-Based Public Education Vision Proclamation Ceremony and Forum in Seocho-gu, April 2024. Provided by Seocho-gu.
Known as a ‘city of culture and arts’ embracing a music culture district and designated last year as the nation’s first AI special zone, Seocho-gu is focusing on talent development that leverages these regional characteristics. In particular, educational administration efforts have been concentrated on nurturing ‘creative talents with warm character’ so that children can develop not only outstanding intelligence in various fields but also character that allows them to harmoniously coexist within the community.
The 'Cheerleading' program, starting this year, targets local elementary and middle school students, combining music and dance to foster teamwork and a sense of community. The 'Saturday Docent Tour' program for elementary students offers opportunities to visit local art museums to build cultural literacy and understand diverse perspectives and values.
Works created by participating students will be compiled into a photo book and exhibited and sold at the ‘Seocho Book Street’ event. The proceeds from sales will be donated to purchase picture books for schools in Ghana, Africa, with which educational exchanges are ongoing. This is expected to create a virtuous cycle of art experience and educational sharing.
Alongside this, Seocho-gu has also rolled up its sleeves for AI ethics education, which is essential in the AI era. Since 2023, the district has led AI public education through Seocho-style smart education support, including the distribution of student devices and installation of electronic blackboards. Since last year, it has expanded digital literacy and AI ethics education to foster critical thinking about the side effects of technologies such as deepfakes, as well as AI utilization skills. Through this, over 6,600 students from 24 elementary, middle, and high schools in the district received education last year.
The 'Visiting Early Childhood Character Education' program for children before entering elementary school will also be expanded this year. Reflecting feedback from educational sites, the program focuses on play and experiential learning to help pre-school children adapt to future group life by teaching friendship formation and public etiquette. The program is conducted through direct visits to kindergartens and daycare centers, helping children naturally develop character and social skills. Additionally, the Seocho Education Support Center systematically operates age-specific character education from early childhood through high school students.
Moreover, the district is striving to strengthen social competencies aimed at the global stage. The 'Seocho Children Leadership Conference,' held during summer vacation for elementary students, emphasizes cultivating future core competencies suggested by the World Economic Forum, such as creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication skills. This year, the scale of the program will be increased.
Educational exchanges with Ghana, Africa, to foster global citizenship awareness are also being actively promoted. Initiated last year through a 'tripartite education exchange agreement' among Seocho-gu, the Korean National Commission for UNESCO, and the Ghana National Commission for UNESCO, Ghanaian students were invited to Korea in July of the same year for educational and cultural exchanges.
Mayor Jeon Seong-su stated, "With recent technological advancements centered on AI, ethics and character education have become even more important. We will strive to realize ‘Seocho, the educational city opening the future,’ where students leading our future grow not only in academic and technical achievements but also as global talents equipped with creativity and warm character."
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