DatatAItaja – AI Literacy and Data Skills for Schools

Well-known generative AI tools are evolving continuously. At the same time, AI has become more deeply integrated into traditional tools such as search engines. When searching for information, users can hardly avoid encountering content that is generated by AI in one shape or another. Young people need an understanding of how AI and algorithms work, the ability to recognize AI-generated content, and guidance on how to use AI safely in their everyday lives.

Training technologies based on AI may involve not only general data but also personal data and copyrighted images. To operate safely, young people must be able to distinguish between data governed by legislation and more openly available data, and understand the rights they have regarding their personal information. They can also protect their own and their friends’ personal data by adjusting privacy settings in services and considering what kind of information they want to publish about themselves online.

Last year, DatatAItaja project workshops were held in schools and youth work settings in Espoo, Vihti, Kirkkonummi, and Vantaa.

‘In the workshops, it became clear that students had a good understanding of how AI works and general concerns related to data protection, but less knowledge about their individual rights regarding personal data. The lessons taught students how to recognize AI in their work, how to use it for searching information, and how to evaluate the accuracy and reliability of that information,’ according to Microsoft’s summary of the project.

In the fall 2025, four-hour workshops will be held in schools where young people will learn how AI works through practical activities. A total of ten workshops will be organized in schools located in Microsoft’s data center regions: Espoo, Kirkkonummi, and Vihti. The teaching is based especially on the ‘Teachable Machine’ and ‘Social Media Emulator’ materials developed in the Generation AI project. Last year, in the workshops, students created e.g., AIs that could recognize plants, traffic signs, and shoe models from images.

In addition to students, teachers will also be trained so they can continue organizing workshops on the project’s themes in the future.

Last year, the project shared a wealth of tips for young people through TIEKE’s Instagram account. Through collaborations with social media influencers, topics like AI and data protection were brought closer to young people’s everyday experiences—for example, by linking AI to planning outfits, video games, and daily scheduling. Throughout the year, young people were also engaged via livestreams in collaboration with the online youth center Netari and the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare’s Nuortennetti channel.

The lessons learned from the previous project will be expanded in the fall 2025 with the launch of a nationwide online learning module. The module will include educational yet entertaining videos and quizzes to test one’s knowledge on the themes of DatatAItaja. The videos will approach broad technology-related themes through concrete questions and guide viewers toward the quizzes. After completing a quiz, users can share their results on social media, encouraging others to build their skills—both within and beyond the data center regions