Expanding Horizons of AI Didactics: IT Didactics Group Presents at TalTech and Boston University
The past week has been a remarkable one for the IT Didactics Research Group at TalTech IT College, showcasing the impact and potential of our ongoing work in AI and Robotics Didactics. Through national and international presentations, the group demonstrated how creativity and interdisciplinary collaboration are shaping the future of digital education.
On 10–11 October, Prof. Janika Leoste and Prof. Slavko Rakić represented the IT Didactics Group at the TalTech AI Autumn Seminar, where they presented ongoing projects — DITEC and KOHTO25 — and shared insights on AI didactics and robotics in education. The seminar gathered researchers and educators from across Estonia and beyond, including participants from Tallinn University, University of Tartu, and University of Helsinki, fostering vibrant discussions on the future of AI and education. During the event, Prof. Leoste co-provided the Research Ethics Workshop together with Aive Pevkur, highlighting the importance of ethical approaches to AI-driven learning and research.
Just a few days later, on 15 October, the group’s international visibility reached new heights. Prof. Leoste and Prof. Rakić were invited by Prof. James Katz from Boston University to showcase their ongoing research in robotics and AI didactics to a group of students and faculty members. This presentation marked an important milestone — a dialogue between TalTech’s IT Didactics Group and one of the top 100 universities in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings).
The group’s upcoming activities will continue within the framework of the AI Champions Program, featuring two hands-on workshops titled “Practical Examples of Using ChatGPT as a Didactic Teaching Tool for Lecturers” — one in Estonian, led by Prof. Leoste on 22 October, and one in English, led by Prof. Rakić on 23 October.
Looking ahead, November opens new opportunities for knowledge exchange. The team will contribute to the AI Retreat of the Estonian Doctoral School, led by Tiina Hagen, taking place at Laulasmaa Spa on 26–27 November.
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With growing international collaboration and strong institutional support, the IT Didactics Group continues to explore innovative pathways for integrating AI into teaching and learning — reaffirming TalTech’s role as a leading hub for digital education and research.