Emirati youngster, aged 10, establishes AI educational institution for children, focusing on closing the gender divide.
In an extraordinary move, AlDhabi AlMheiri, a 10-year-old Emirati, has launched an AI Learning Academy designed specifically for children aged 7 to 13. This groundbreaking platform, available at ailearning.ae, aims to boost global digital literacy and address the lack of structured AI education in primary schools.
AlDhabi's impressive credentials include 163 hours of IBM-certified AI training, executive education at NYU Abu Dhabi, and a fellowship at Georgetown University's entrepreneurship program. This young prodigy's academic achievements are matched by her innovative approach to teaching AI, which has already reached thousands of young readers through her platform, Rainbow Chimney.
The AI Learning Academy offers content in both Arabic and English, making it accessible to a wide audience. It includes video-based lessons covering AI fundamentals, ethics, and entrepreneurship, with each module featuring printable worksheets and practical projects. The platform enforces strict child data protection and requires parental consent, ensuring a safe learning environment.
One of the unique features of the academy is its child-led model. Research shows that children are three times more likely to ask questions when learning from materials created "by kids for kids". AlDhabi's approach to using simple language, friendly cartoon characters, and relatable examples is noted for its effectiveness in improving understanding and retention.
The academy's content is also peer-designed, which improves understanding and retention by up to 40% for abstract subjects. It offers 'Girls in AI' workshops and modules on machine versus human intelligence and AI in daily life, directly addressing the 30% gender gap in AI participation among middle school students in the MENA region.
AlDhabi's AI Learning Academy aligns with several UN Sustainable Development Goals, including quality education, gender equality, and reduced inequalities. It encourages students to think like builders and creators, with entrepreneurship content included in the curriculum.
This pioneering platform has the potential to reach a global audience due to its online nature. It offers multilingual, child-safe access for families and schools worldwide, making advanced digital tools accessible, fun, and inclusive. AlDhabi AlMheiri’s AI Learning Academy represents a transformative step in making cutting-edge AI education inclusive and engaging for children, shaping the future of learning and digital empowerment for the next generation.
[1] Increasing Digital Literacy in Primary Schools [2] Closing Digital Gaps Among Young Learners [3] Encouraging Creativity and Critical Thinking in Children [4] Preparing Children for a Tech-Driven Future [5] The Impact of Child-Designed AI Learning Platforms on Global Education
- The AI Learning Academy initiated by 10-year-old AlDhabi AlMheiri aims to address the lack of structured AI education in primary schools, thereby boosting digital literacy globally.
- The unique child-led model of AlDhabi's academy, with its peer-designed content, can help close digital gaps among young learners and improve understanding and retention by up to 40% for abstract subjects.
- By offering content in both Arabic and English and enforcing child data protection, the AI Learning Academy provides a safe and accessible learning environment for children worldwide, fostering creativity and critical thinking.
- AlDhabi's AI Learning Academy, with its focus on entrepreneurship and inclusion, is designed to prepare children for a tech-driven future, aligning with several UN Sustainable Development Goals and encouraging students to think like builders and creators.
