A stage performance of 'Maddie is Online' empirical data from schools

On the 23rd of September, Dr Konstantina Martzoukou, the creator of 'Maddie is Online', conducted a performance/'enactment' of some of the empirical data collected as part of the 'Maddie is Online' project. The performance was at Café Controversial at the Lemon Tree in Aberdeen and its title was 'The eggs have now been cracked: Why AI education cannot wait'. The audience consisted of 85 participants, most of whom were from Aberdeen city. As part of the event there was also an audience Q&A and lively discussion at the end.

Performance Plot 

The scene is set with a washing line on stage that has different T-shirts and images hanging on pegs. There is also a black box that contains a newspaper, a diary and a tablet. Next to it there is a bowl with two eggs, several face masks, an orange, a spray sanitiser and a teacher ruler.

The story begins.....

"One day I heard a knock on my house door.

‘Knock, knock, knock’ (Sound effect of knocking on a door)

‘Who is there?’

‘It’s me, mum! Maddie! Open the door, quickly!’

‘Maddie was standing there with two of her best friends. They were super excited’

‘Mum, quickly, give us some eggs!’

(Picking up two eggs and holding them puzzled)

‘Why do you need them?’

‘We want to crack some eggs on our heads. Everyone is doing that just now. We are going to get loads of likes!!!’

(Holding back the eggs surprised)

‘There is no way I will let you do that. And how did you open an account in the first place? You are too young for this! They are just trying to hook you on it so that they can make more money’

‘Mum, you are so boring. It’s not a big deal.’

‘They were just eleven years old.’

‘Fast forward two years later...’ " (if you are interested to watch the rest it the video is offered below).

                       

Ms Palika Vithana and Dr Konstantina Martzoukou from the project 'Maddie is Online' 

GenAISiS at the Lemon Tree

The event was associated to the MSCA and Citizens initiative of the European Union funded under the Marie Skłodowska Curie actions. Call identifier: HORIZON-MSCA-2025-CITIZENS-01. 

For the empirical data reported as part of this performance which are linked to the project Generative Artificial Skills in Schools (GenAISiS), we would like to acknowledge the support the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (grant number EP/Y009800/1), through funding from Responsible AI UK (RAI-SK-BID-00024 & CC-00111).