Harnessing the potential of Generative AI in education – the opportunities and challenges

Understanding AI and its evolution

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been around for decades, but the advent of generative AI has significantly changed the landscape. Generative AI refers to AI systems that can create new content, such as text, images, and videos, based on vast amounts of training data. This technology uses large language models to generate high-quality output quickly, making it a powerful tool for various applications.

During a recent webinar, we explored the transformative potential of generative AI in education, the challenges and the benefits. 

Benefits of AI in education

The webinar highlighted several key benefits of integrating AI into schools:

1. Efficiency and workload reduction: AI can analyse vast amounts of data quickly, structure content, and even write text. This can significantly reduce the workload for teachers, allowing them to focus more on delivering quality education 
2. Enhanced learning tools: AI-powered tools like Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini can assist in lesson planning, resource creation, and even assessing student work. These tools can provide personalised learning experiences and help teachers create more inclusive and differentiated lessons.
3. Administrative support: AI can streamline administrative tasks, such as generating school communication letters and social media posts, freeing up time for office staff.

Challenges and considerations

Despite the numerous benefits, there are several challenges and considerations that schools need to address when integrating AI:

1. Validation of information: AI can sometimes produce inaccurate or misleading information, known as "hallucinations." It is crucial for educators to validate the output and ensure its accuracy.
2. Bias and stereotypes: The training data used by AI systems can contain biases and stereotypes, which can be reflected in the AI's output. Schools need to be aware of these potential biases and take steps to mitigate them.
3. Privacy and data protection: Using AI involves inputting data, which can raise privacy concerns. Schools must ensure that sensitive information is protected and that AI tools comply with data protection regulations.
4. Staff training: Effective use of AI requires understanding how to write effective prompts and use AI tools efficiently. Schools need to invest in ongoing professional development for their staff to ensure they can leverage AI effectively.

Practical applications in schools

The webinar provided several practical examples of how AI is being used in schools:

• Lesson planning and resource creation: AI can assist teachers in creating lesson plans and resources tailored to their students' needs.
• Student assessment: AI can help assess student work against rubrics or assessment frameworks, providing valuable insights for teachers.
• School leadership: AI can support school leaders in tasks such as developing school improvement plans and generating success criteria.

Conclusion

Generative AI holds immense potential to transform education by reducing workloads, enhancing learning experiences, and supporting administrative tasks. However, schools must navigate the challenges of validating information, addressing biases, protecting data, and training staff. By doing so, they can unlock the full potential of AI and create a more efficient and effective educational environment.

Next steps

For more detailed guidance and support on integrating AI into your school we offer workshops and training sessions on AI policy development for senior leaders and staff training on the effective use of AI to reduce workload. 

Get in touch with our team by emailing information@entrust-ed.co.uk.

Watch the webinar here: Unlocking the Power of Gen AI - YouTube