2024/12/09 by Luis Morales‐Navarro, Yasmin B. Kafai, Morales-Navarro, Luis +7 · 2 citations
Computer Science · #Artificial Intelligence (cs.AI) #Computers and Society (cs.CY) #FOS: Computer and information sciences #H.5.0 #Human-Computer Interaction (cs.HC) #K.4.0 #K.7.4 #Online Learning and Analytics
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2412.06989
openalex publication_date 2024/12/09 · openalex created_date 2024/12/12 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
While there is widespread interest in supporting young people to critically evaluate machine learning-powered systems, there is little research on how we can support them in inquiring about how these systems work and what their limitations and implications may be. Outside of K-12 education, an effective strategy in evaluating black-boxed systems is algorithm auditing-a method for understanding algorithmic systems' opaque inner workings and external impacts from the outside in. In this paper, we review how expert researchers conduct algorithm audits and how end users engage in auditing practices to propose five steps that, when incorporated into learning activities, can support young people in auditing algorithms. We present a case study of a team of teenagers engaging with each step during an out-of-school workshop in which they audited peer-designed generative AI TikTok filters. We discuss the kind of scaffolds we provided to support youth in algorithm auditing and directions and challenges for integrating algorithm auditing into classroom activities. This paper contributes: (a) a conceptualization of five steps to scaffold algorithm auditing learning activities, and (b) examples of how youth engaged with each step during our pilot study.