EduAI: An inspiring example of a WhatsApp Community
Explore the EduAI WhatsApp community, where almost 1000 members actively collaborate and share knowledge about AI in education in the Netherlands and Belgium.
In today's digital world, niche communities are becoming increasingly important for professionals who want to collaborate, share knowledge, and explore new developments.
A prime example of this is the EduAI community, a WhatsApp group focused on the responsible use of AI in public education in the Netherlands and Belgium. With over 1000 members and seven specialized subgroups, EduAI is a model of how a community around two crucial themes - AI and education - can effectively organize and thrive.
In this article I will dive deeper into this community, how it is set up, what its success factors are, and what others can learn from it.
Background of EduAI
EduAI was founded with the goal of supporting education professionals in understanding and responsibly applying AI in their daily practice. The community quickly became a hub for discussion, exchange of ideas, and collaboration, both in the Netherlands and Belgium.
The founders had the vision to create a platform where members could not only receive updates and information, but also actively contribute to discussions and knowledge sharing.
Organization of the Community
The power of EduAI lies in the organized structure of the community. With seven different subgroups, it provides a clear separation of functions and conversations, which increases engagement and relevance for members.
Here are some of the key groups within the community:
- EduAI 1️⃣ Updates: This is the central group for important announcements and updates. Only posts with links and summaries are posted here. Members can respond with an emoticon, but further discussions are encouraged in other groups to maintain clarity.
- EduAI 2️⃣ Discussion: As the name suggests, this is the group where members can have extensive discussions about AI and education. Not only are fun tools shared, but the emphasis is on in-depth substantive conversations and the connection to education.
- EduAI 3️⃣ Promotion: In this group, members can promote their own projects, tools, and initiatives related to AI and education. This provides a platform for members to make their work visible and inspire others.
- EduAI 4️⃣ Prompting: This is a pilot group specifically focused on the topic of prompting, an important aspect within AI. The group is investigating the possibility of setting up a database for prompts, which could serve as a valuable resource for education professionals.
In addition to these four groups, there are three other subgroups that focus on specific topics or needs within the community, further strengthening engagement and collaboration.
Engagement and reach
With over 1000 members, EduAI is a vibrant and active community. Group discussions are diverse and frequent, as evidenced by the hundreds of messages exchanged daily.
Members range from AI experts to education professionals, bringing together a wide range of perspectives and experiences. These interactions have led to new collaborations, innovative ideas, and practical applications of AI in education.
Impact and examples
EduAI has already had a significant impact on the field of AI and education, with several members organizing trainings and workshops that emerged from discussions within the community.
In addition, new AI tools and methodologies have been developed and implemented in schools, with direct input and feedback from the community.
A specific example is the 'Prompting' pilot group, which explores the possibility of a prompts database that could increase the efficiency and effectiveness of AI in educational settings.
Rob Hoeijmakers
Give it a try
The EduAI WhatsApp community is a textbook example of how digital platforms can be used effectively to bring professionals together around urgent and complex themes such as AI and education.
The organized structure, active involvement, and focus on both substantive discussions and practical applications make this community particularly successful.
Want to be part of this exclusive group? Here you can join through the website.
