AI Literacy
AI & Citizenship — Technology for Democratic Schools
6 days
Democracy needs informed citizens — and in an age of AI-generated content, disinformation and algorithmic influence, digital and civic literacy are inseparable. This course trains teachers to become champions of both.
Participants explore how AI shapes public discourse, political information and civic participation — and build practical tools for teaching critical AI literacy, digital citizenship and democratic values across all subjects and age groups.
Learning Outcomes
Participants to the course will learn to:
Teach critical AI literacy: fact-checking, deepfake detection and algorithmic awareness
Design cross-curricular citizenship projects using AI as both subject and tool
Use AI to facilitate democratic classroom processes: debate, student voice, voting
Connect AI and citizenship to Erasmus+ democratic values and European identity
Build a school Digital Citizenship programme from primary to secondary level
Facilitate student investigations of AI bias, fairness and social impact
Programme
AI & Citizenship — Technology for Democratic Schools
Monday
Funchal Civic Life — Democracy in the City
• Funchal Marina: Madeira as a crossroads of cultures, trade and Atlantic identity.
• Fortaleza de São Tiago: power, protection and the history of democratic struggle.
• Mercado dos Lavradores: civic space, community voice and economic democracy.
• Evening reflection: what does democratic citizenship look like in a digital age?
Tuesday
AI & Democracy — The Stakes for Education
• How AI is reshaping politics, media and public life across Europe.
• Critical AI literacy: algorithms, filter bubbles, recommendation systems and bias.
• Hands-on: spotting AI-generated content, deepfakes and disinformation.
• Discussion: what does democratic citizenship mean in an age of artificial intelligence?
Wednesday
Digital Citizenship & Media Literacy with AI
• Fact-checking in practice: Perplexity, reverse image search and AI verification tools.
• Building a media literacy curriculum: AI as both subject and tool.
• AI and cultural heritage: protecting and sharing community stories ethically.
• Design task: a student-led AI disinformation investigation unit.
Thursday
AI Governance, Student Voice & School Democracy
• The EU AI Act and what it means for schools, teachers and students.
• AI tools for democratic classrooms: student surveys, debate facilitators and shared decision-making.
• Design: a School Student Parliament using AI-supported democratic processes.
• Erasmus+ citizenship: European identity, common values and AI's role in shaping both.
Friday
🌊 PLAN A — SPRING / SUMMER (March – September)
Atlantic Perspectives — AI, Planet & Citizenship
• Catamaran excursion from Parque de Santa Catarina: the open ocean and global thinking.
• Workshop at sea: the global citizen — connecting AI, democracy and our shared planet.
• Group challenge: design a cross-school AI citizenship project for Erasmus+ collaboration.
• Reflection: what kind of citizens do we want AI to help create?
🏫 PLAN B — AUTUMN / WINTER (October – February)
Digital Citizenship Integration Workshop
• Workshop: building your school Digital Citizenship programme — a practical framework.
• Case studies: European schools leading in AI and civic literacy education.
• Design: a Student AI Parliament — structure, facilitation tools and democratic process.
• Action planning: launching your Digital Citizenship initiative next term.
Saturday
Certificate Ceremony & Closing
• Presentation of each participant's final project or action plan.
• Peer feedback and recognition of the week's collaborative work.
• Formal certificate ceremony in the Jardim Municipal do Funchal.
• Networking, group photo, and exchange of contacts for future Erasmus+ collaboration.
Materials, digital tools & other learning resources
Course participants will receive training and engage in exercises designed to develop their skills as trainers. The provision of additional materials or resources will be determined based on the course structure and the instructor’s approach to meeting the learning objectives
Course package content:
Services and activities included in the course package are those described above. Please note that accommodation, transport, and meals are not provided.
Cancellation & changes:
Common sense prevails when it comes to cancellations, which are analyzed on a case-by-case basis.