Interview granted by Dr. Christian M. Stracke, on Open Education and AI and Education

by Vera Queiroz.
Dr. Christian M. Stracke holds a PhD in Economics and Informatics and (M.A.) in Educational Sciences. He developed in more than 20 years interdisciplinary competences and expertise in research and education. Currently, Christian is Coordinator for the university-wide Cloud Strategy as well as Coordinator for Virtual Collaboration at the German University of Excellence in Bonn. He is Founder and Director of eLC, the European Institute for Learning, Innovation and Cooperation.
In the interview, Dr. Stracke discusses the evolution of open education and the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on education. He traces the history of open education back to the Middle Ages, emphasizing its goal of making education accessible to all. He highlights significant changes in open education over the past centuries, particularly the development and promotion of open educational resources (OER), which have been supported by UNESCO and other global organizations. Dr. Stracke identifies three major changes in recent years: the arrival of digital opportunities (like the internet and social media), the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on digital learning, and the current rise of AI. He notes that AI will transform education more profoundly than previous technological advancements, especially in terms of assessment and learning processes. He also addresses the fear and uncertainty among educators regarding AI, explaining that while many are apprehensive, researchers tend to be more comfortable exploring AI’s potential. Dr. Stracke has been actively involved in training educators on AI and has established networks for sharing knowledge and best practices. He emphasizes the importance of international collaboration and the need for specific regulations for AI in education, particularly to protect the rights of students and ensure ethical use.
Click here to watch the interview in Portuguese on CEST’s channel on Youtube.