Hello everyone! Today, I will reflect on what I have learned so far in my Digital Literacies, AI Literacy & Intercultural Learning course.

Before I begin, I want to share what I thought this course would be about and how this picture changed throughout the semester. The name of the course made me feel that we’d be learning about AI and technology from a technical standpoint, but what I discovered is that we’d be learning about AI through exploring some interesting topics like identity, bias, othering, equity, oppression, and empathy. I really like this approach of tackling some real-life topics that are very important and are often overlooked in today’s society and it made me understand these concepts on a deeper level and connect them to my life and how they affect my interactions.

What I’ve learned so far:

Identity:

Identity is one of the first concepts I learned about in this course, and the article “How ‘African’ is Northern Africa?” gave me a deeper understanding of the concept by discussing how identity isn’t necessarily about geography or race only, but also culture, history, perception, and power. The article talks about how North Africans are often excluded from the larger African identity based on cultural, linguistic, and even racial differences, despite the fact that they have contributed to the continent historically and politically. It discusses how colonial histories, politics, and social differences created the “North African” and “African” division, showing that identity can be fluid, contested, and greatly based on internal and external perceptions. This challenged my assumptions and made me think about the way that identity is formed and why certain groups are included or excluded from larger groups like “African.”

Language:

Throughout this course, I learned that language is much deeper than we often assume it to be; it is not just a tool for communication, it carries identity, memory, emotion, and power. The article “War in Translation: Giving Voice to the Women of Syria” communicated this idea very well. This article showed me that translation is more than the simple conversion of words from language to language; it’s an intimate, emotional act of bearing witness to trauma, memory, and identity. In the Syrian women’s testimonies of living through war, siege, and loss, the author shows us the way that language holds humanity in the face of dehumanization and the way that storytelling is an act of resistance. Translation is both an act of profound empathy and personal sacrifice in which the translator absorbs and carries the burden of another’s experience. It also reveals the limitations of language in fully conveying the horrors of war, yet insists on its power to connect and humanize.

Empathy:

Empathy is one of the most important qualities people should have when interacting with each other. The video “How is Your Heart? Trauma-Informed Pedagogy – Community Building Resources OneHE/Equity Unbound” made me realize how essential empathy is in many situations, especially in education, when both students and teachers are navigating trauma. Mays Imad’s approach of asking “How is your heart?” instead of the usual “How are you?” showed me how powerful small shifts in language can be in creating space for emotional honesty and connection. I also learned how trauma impacts the brain and learning, often in ways students don’t recognize, and how important it is for educators to not only acknowledge this but to care for their own well-being too. The conversation in this video highlighted how empathy, flexibility, and shared humanity can transform the classroom into a supportive and healing space.

Bias:

Bias is an unconscious activity that we all do, it shapes how we perceive and interact with others, often without realizing it. Binna Kandola highlights this in his talk “Diffusing Bias“, he explains how we notice certain differences more than others and how stereotypes influence our expectations and behavior. He emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, consciously challenging our own assumptions, and promoting fairness. Ultimately, addressing bias starts with recognizing it in ourselves and being willing to reflect, adapt, and challenge others when necessary.

Questions I still have:

• How can I continue to become more aware of my unconscious biases, especially in emotionally charged situations?

• What are some practical ways to practice empathy across cultural and language differences without making assumptions?

• How do I ensure that I’m not just learning about these concepts, but actually living them out in my daily interactions—especially in online spaces like Soliya?

• In what ways can AI systems themselves reflect human bias?

I think that all these concepts will be important for me to keep in mind going into Soliya as I will be interacting with people from different cultures and backgrounds. Soliya will be a space where identity, language, empathy, and bias all come into play, and what I’ve learned in this course will help me navigate those interactions more thoughtfully. I hope that the experience of Soliya will help me apply these concepts giving me a better and more real understanding of them.

What I learned about myself:

Throughout this course, I’ve learned that my identity and worldview are both shaped by many layers, such as culture, language, assumptions, and unconscious bias, and that becoming aware of these layers requires continuous reflection. I’ve realized that I often view the world through my own lens without fully considering how others might see and experience the world differently. I still wonder how much of myself I truly present to others, especially in intercultural environments, and whether I unintentionally hide parts of my identity in an effort to fit in. I expect my identity, shaped by where I’m from, what I believe, and how I communicate, to influence how I connect with others throughout Soliya. It could lead to a moment of confusion or deep connection depending on how open and reflective I choose to be. I hope to use the Soliya experience to better understand how others perceive me and to explore how I can more authentically share my story while learning to truly listen and accept different worldviews.

What have I learned in terms of interactions:

I’ve learned that meaningfully engaging with people different from me requires active listening, empathy, and a willingness to sit with discomfort and unfamiliar perspectives. Being open-minded is not enough, I need to make a conscious effort to learn from others while also challenging and letting go of some of my own preconceived assumptions. One question I still have on how to become a better global citizen is how to balance expressing my own identity while being fully respectful and curious about someone else’s. To become a better global citizen, I want to understand how to engage across differences in a way that builds connection rather than division. I hope that my Soliya experience will help me develop the confidence and awareness to navigate intercultural conversations online with empathy and clarity. I want to practice engaging with different perspectives in a respectful, thoughtful way, and use what I learn to become more inclusive and mindful in my interactions.

What I’d do if the issue of Palestine came up in Soliya:

If the subject of Palestine came up in Soliya, I expect that it would be a complex and emotionally charged conversation, especially because of the diversity in viewpoints and lived experience in the group. Some participants might be strongly connected to the topic, while others might be less informed or might hold different viewpoints based on their own cultural or media context. If I were directing the conversation, I would guide the conversation toward understanding the human cost of the conflict rather than the political impact, and invite participants to reflect on their point of view and how narratives are shaped, rather than focusing on political divisions while encouraging empathy and active listening. The kind of support I would require would be guidance from moderators when handling difficult or sensitive moments, information to pass on to others to offer more context, and reassurance that it’s okay to speak up with sensitivity even when the topic is serious or personal.