Module 1: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence

Overall, AI enhances productivity, helps to create engaging content and helps teachers and schools to be more efficient when it is used properly. The possibilities of using chatbots such as Chat GBT. Co-pilot and Gemini can enhance teaching and learning and improve productivity and it was great to get the opportunity to explore each of them and their potential in this module. Teachers are time poor and AI tools help to create engaging content, research topics and help you present them, generating questions and answers, quiz’s and stories, the list is endless!

This module has given me the opportunity to engage with AI that I haven’t previously used, like Vidnoz and Pictory, which will enhance lessons and make them more engaging for pupils in my classroom.
This module highlighted all the different possibilities of using AI in the classroom to improve teaching and learning. The opportunities to explore the chat bots was great and I have a better understanding of how they will support the teaching and learning in my own classroom.

This module also highlighted as teachers that we need to be aware of the harmful consequences and possible risks of using AI if not used properly. We need to engage positively, critically and ethically with AI systems and exploit their full potential.

For future teaching, AI is going to be a brilliant co-pilot for differentiation. I can see myself using it to instantly adapt a reading text into three different reading levels or generate tailored visual prompts for children with additional needs as I am in SET next year. That kind of instant resource creation frees up time for what actually matters: face-to-face connection.

When it comes to assessment, AI can help me spot learning patterns or design quick, creative quizzes. But the big reflection for me is that AI cannot measure a child’s emotional growth, creativity, or resilience. It can however help me resource the needs I am working with. Moving forward, my goal is to model critical thinking, showing my pupils how to question AI outputs rather than just accepting them blindly. It will be important to scaffold them as they engage with these tools and incorporate them into their learning.

As a more mature SET teacher I am intrigued about the potential support  AI offers especially with paperwork, which is a huge part of my workload. It will free me up to focus more on teaching students who need individual support and small group intervention. More efficient use of teaching time will be welcome. The use of Vidnoz will enhance student engagement especially in an SET setting where students need to hear the ‘same thing again’ but in a different way. I have used Chat GPT to generate ideas for lesson plans but the importance of ‘honing’ prompts cant be underestimated. I am looking forward to using AI to assist with identifying learning gaps and setting targets, in addition to my own assessments.  Sometimes I just need support with the ‘wording’. This will hopefully lead to more individual, personalised learning that is tailored to the needs of each student. Writing evaluations, comments on progress will be further enhanced by AI as I sometimes struggle formatting comments in a positive spin. The instant feedback is magical – I don’t feel so isolated!

• This reply was modified 4 months, 1 week ago by Caroline Nealon.

I believe AI has a huge beneficial impact for the education sector, not only will children benefit from its uses but teachers and school leaders will find that using AI will allow them to become more productive, in a sector that is very time poor.

In the classroom, AI will assist teachers in the planning, making lessons more interesting with suggested activities and resources. Children will be able to take ownership of their learning by using AI to make their learning more interactive, honing research and presentation skills. Also, AI also allows children to critique their own work and that of others, assessing the merits of work created.

This module provided great resources that I hadn’t used before that I think the children will enjoy using, like Pictory and I look forward to exploring them more.

As with all technology it is extremely important for us as teachers to monitor children’s use of AI and inform them of associated dangers and limits of AI.

I found this module very interesting. I have been shying away from AI and feeling it would take me too long to get to grips with it. However, even after the first module and I can see the huge benefits of using AI in the primary classroom setting. I am moving into 4th class this year after a number of years in 6th class and so have to start planning from scratch. I tried out the 3 AI’s listed here, Chat GPT, Gemini and Copilot with two tasks – 1) create me a suggested plan for the first day of 4th class and 2) create me a suitable lesson on Pandas for 4th class. It was so quick and they came up with ideas and linkage to other subjects that I would not have thought of by myself. I can definitely see myself using these tools this year and I love how it gives me fresh new ideas while also recognising the need to not believe everything I’m told!

I enjoyed the first module. I’ve just spent a lot of time playing around with different resources mentioned- ChatGPT linking in to Canva and Pica. I have used the basic chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini before to perform time-consuming tasks quickly and they are great for that. They’ve created documents, particularly document that require research, in seconds saving me hours and hours of work. There’s still the need to edit those documents but the work is minimal in comparison to doing the whole thing from scratch. These are documents for my own use- I’m aware of the ethics around the creating of documents using AI and there was good emphasis on that in the module. The element I enjoyed most as referenced above is the use of AI for the creation of images and video. I’m involved in creative projects and these new developments offer alot to me. I created a nice project on Canva with instructions provided by CoPilot. It still took considerable time- although CoPilot was able to storyboard the project and provide instructions, it couldn’t do the project for me. It can’t link in directly with Canva so you have to painstakingly assemble the project which is a pity. A half hour talk could be done by AI in seconds if this were possible. Pica didn’t really work out for me. ChatGPT helped me construct an appropriate prompt for quite a complex video idea. Pica started to create a project but it balked on 90% completed. Again, the fact that ChatGPT and Pica can’t work in unison and I’m the middleman is creating issues. But overall, it’s been fascinating and a really good opportunity to take time to experiment with these resources.

One of my main takeaways from the video was that AI should be seen as a support for teachers rather than a replacement for them. It has huge potential to save time and improve learning, but professional judgement and human oversight are still essential.

Up to now, I have mainly focused on ChatGPT as my primary AI tool, but doing the holiday itinerary activity I started experimenting a little with Copilot and Gemini as well. Gemini in particular is beginning to show some real appeal, and I can see myself using it more going forward. I was also really interested in the video tools like Pictory and Vidnoz that were shown in the slides, and they are definitely something I would like to explore further.

I have already started using AI tools in my own classroom preparation and have found both the benefits and the limitations. Earlier this year, I used AI to create a maths loop game for my third class. The game looked great initially, but when I checked it properly, I realised some of the answers had been repeated, which completely ruined the loop. It took several attempts and plenty of checking before I had a version that worked correctly. Interestingly, when I created another loop game later in the year, the AI tool seemed to learn from my previous prompts and produced an accurate version first time. It was a good reminder that AI can be a fantastic starting point, but resources still need to be checked and double-checked before being used with pupils.

I also saw the benefits of AI as a parent this year when my son was studying for his Junior Cert. Particularly in his revision the night before an exam, instead of spending time searching through reams of content in his textbooks trying to find information, he could quickly identify the areas he was unsure about and focus his revision. From a time-saving point of view, it was incredibly useful.

Overall, I think AI will have a major role in teaching, learning and assessment in the future.

I think AI can reduce administrative workload. I like the idea of generating resources myself with prompts rather than relying on the usual sites to generate them for you. I think I will be able to generate resources specific to my class’s needs. From Module 1, I have been reminded to check and recheck all that the ChatBots generate.       I will use the idea of real vs fake news, I think this will help the children become more critical thinkers and realise how easy it is to be fooled by fake news!                                                                                              About using it for assessment, I think I will need to do a few test runs first before being able to get the best benefits from it, this is step 1 on my journey with AI.             I think it’s important to use it as a tool to assist your teaching and not overly rely on it . AI enhances teaching and learning but it must be used in conjunction with schools digital learning policy, in order to keep in line with schools ethical guidelines.

• This reply was modified 4 months, 1 week ago by Fionnuala Shannon.
• This reply was modified 4 months, 1 week ago by Fionnuala Shannon.

This year I really noticed how helpful AI tools can be in the classroom. When I’m planning station teaching for maths or literacy, I usually have two or three solid ideas — but AI has been brilliant for filling in the gaps. It gives me that extra station I wouldn’t have thought of, especially on days when I’m tired after school.

I’ve also loved how easy it is to differentiate with AI. I can get shorter or longer comprehensions in seconds, or adjust a task so it suits different groups without spending ages rewriting things. It makes planning feel lighter and a lot less stressful.

Thinking ahead, I can see AI becoming a normal part of teaching, learning and even assessment. Not to replace teachers, but to make the workload more manageable and help us give students tasks that actually match their needs.

I enjoyed this module and feel that I have a better general understanding of AI, although I will take more time in the coming days to play around with the various AI applications. I have used Chat GPT before and am quite familiar with this. I have been exploring Co-Pilot and Gemini a bit more and think that Gemini in particular may be more useful in school going forward.

The potential classroom uses for AI are limitless really, but in particular I think that AI will prove very useful in differentiating activities for a wide range of ability levels. I believe this type of differentiation will help to save teachers a lot of time. Creating quizzes using AI could be a fun way to assess a particular topic while keeping the class engaged, and making the activity fun! However, I do think a certain level of caution needs to be exercised by the teacher. We need to make sure we double check any activities/quizzes/games created by the class to ensure that they are specific and suitable.

Going forward in this course I would like to become more proficient in the use of Canva. I’ve seen a lot of teachers in my school using it and they highly recommend it for it’s ability to create and access colourful, engaging resources. I would also like to improve my ability to ask ChatGPT/Gemini specific prompt questions that will help to create the resources I need.

• This reply was modified 4 months ago by Paula Dooley.

I am finding this AI course very interesting but am also feeling somewhat overwhelmed!  I have been a user of Chat GPT but had not heard of Gemini or Co-pilot.  It is very interesting to see the potential of these type of bots in context with the classroom.  Especially as the Primary sector embrace new changes in curriculum I understand there is an opportunity to use our time better.  I’m also thinking of ISL teams updating the new Child Protection Safeguarding Statement in line with new requirements.  I am certain that AI can guide us along new territory and while we need to make is appropriate to our own school it gives us guidance in doing so.  I am blown away and I have just looked and listened to Modeule 1!  I think the potential for adding images and videos is incredible as well.  Instead of strolling for images under Google Images we can now generate these using specific details.  This will benefit all classrooms in a very positive way.

One of the major benefits of AI tools is the time saver aspect, allowing teachers to cut down on endless paper work time and help them generate ideas quicker. I myself, have used Canva ai to make some resources like pictures for topics or easy worksheets. I have also used chat GPT to help with my planning, specifically providing me with ideas for books for certain topics, or giving me links to websites that provide games/ activities. I hope to explore more tools going forward like Vidnoz or pictory and I would hope to create my own interactive games based on topics I am doing. I had seen someone mentioned in the forum about creating quizzes for assessment, I thought this was fantastic use of AI or just creating your own assessments in general would be great. I find sometimes with chat gpt it can be tricky to create images you want so maybe exploration of another tool here would be more beneficial.

AI tools clearly have huge potential to support teaching, learning and assessment, but the biggest thing I took from this module is that the teacher has to stay firmly in the driving seat. The Ethical Guidelines video was a useful reminder that using AI well isn’t just about the tools themselves, it’s about planning properly for their use, being transparent with parents and the wider school community, and having clear school policies in place before rolling anything out.

On the practical side, I can already see AI saving real time on differentiation, generating quiz questions and drafting resources, which would free up more time for the things that actually need a human touch, like building relationships with pupils and supporting them individually. That said, accuracy can’t be assumed. Everything generated needs to be checked before it reaches the classroom. I’m looking forward to exploring the tools in more depth over the next few modules.

I am very much looking forward to learning more about the potential of the various AI tools for my Junior Infant classroom. I was a little bit familiar with the tool Chatgpt prior to commencing the course. It’s great to become more aware of other chat bots such as CoPilot and Gemini. I have been teaching over 25 years and I have seen a huge increase in the planning and paperwork side of teaching. I feel this sometimes takes away from my time in being able to create engaging and attractive lessons. I’m hoping that I will be able to use these tools to help plan schemes of work for my classroom. Some of the tools mentioned in this module such as Vidnoz will also help create eye-catching and interesting content for the children to explore during lessons.
I am conscious of the errors etc that can occur when using AI and that we have to proof read and double check information given. There was an interesting chat on the radio today on the huge investment in AI by companies but there is a nervousness about taking away the human element. The discussion referenced the promotion posters that cafes have created using Chatgpt and that many are littered with grammatical and spelling errors.

AI tools have the potential to make a real difference in the classroom when they are used in the right way. I think they can help teachers save time by creating resources, giving instant feedback and identifying pupils who might need extra support. This means teachers can spend more time working directly with pupils instead of focusing on paperwork.

For learning, AI can make activities more personalised by adapting to each pupil’s level and pace. This could help build confidence, especially for children who need extra practice before moving on. At the same time, it’s important that pupils still develop their own thinking skills and don’t become too reliant on technology.

When it comes to assessment, I think AI can be a useful tool for tracking progress and highlighting gaps in learning, but it should never replace a teacher’s professional judgement. Overall, I believe AI will become a bigger part of education in the future, but it should always be used to support good teaching rather than replace the important role of the teacher.

Firstly, the Khanmigo tutor bot in the Ted Talks video was so impressive!! Secondly, I loved how one of the other videos in this module compared the use of AI for teachers to a “teaching assistant”!!! For teachers, AI can support our role in so many practical ways such as creating those lengthy lesson plans we all dread, creating classroom displays and learning resources, targeted differentiation, assessment rubrics and simply generating exciting and engaging ways to teach a topic when we are all out of ideas. That said, it’s important to think of AI for teachers as being that “assistant” or “support” rather than a replacement for our own experienced teacher judgement. Thus, the teacher makes the final call on the content created by AI. Keeping in mind the ethical use of AI which was also referred to in module one.

I think AI has the potential to be a very valuable tool in the classroom. When used properly, it has the ability to reduce workload for teachers – support planning, coming up with new ideas and help to create fun learning experiences for children. Using the right prompts, AI can make lesson planning much more manageable. It can help create yearly plans based on the curriculum, generate lesson plans, produce worksheets, and suggest ways to differentiate activities to meet the varying needs of students in the classroom. When it comes to creating resources, AI is particularly useful. It can quickly generate fun and interactive activities , giving teachers fresh ideas that they may not have thought of themselves. AI can also support both teaching and assessment. It can help teachers create assessment questions and revision materials, and also provide students with additional support when they are finding a concept difficult. One part of this module that really stood out to me was Sal Khan’s TED Talk. I found his idea of using AI as a one-to-one tutor for children interesting. It highlighted how AI could provide personalised support, allowing students to work through challenges at their own pace while still being guided by their teacher. At the same time, it’s important to remember that AI isn’t perfect. It should be seen as a tool to support teaching and learning. Teachers still need to review and fact-check anything AI produces, ensuring that the information is accurate and meets the needs of their students.

Over the past year or so, I’ve been exploring AI’s potential in supporting my work in school. Many posts here have emphasised how important it is to see AI tools as professional support tools rather than a replacement for teacher expertise. I’ve been primarily working with tools like Chat GPT to reduce my administrative workload by assisting with lesson planning, drafting reports, setting learning targets and preparing classroom resources. I’ve also used it to improve my planning by asking for engaging learning activities, ideas for station teaching, differentiated tasks and drafting clearer student instructions for tasks. This module has helped me explore other platforms like Gemini or Pictory. I can see that choosing the right AI platform for different tasks like image or video creation might be useful to me from now on.

This module has emphasised that the quality of the prompts is essential for producing the best content. I’ve noticed that as I’ve worked with Chat GPT this year and have gotten better at generating clearer prompts from the outset so that I’ve had to spend less time on refining and editing what comes back to me, all the time thinking about protecting confidentiality by redacting names or other identifying details.

It’s been good to have some time to explore new AI tools during this module. As Pat has said, the best way to learn how to use these tools is trial and error and this course gives good time to do that with previously unfamiliar tools.

This module introduced me to several AI tools that I had not previously used, particularly Pictory, which I believe pupils will enjoy engaging with. I also liked the Immersive Reader tool in Microsoft Word and will look forward to exploring both these tools further and incorporating them into my teaching practice where appropriate.
When used effectively, AI can save teachers valuable time by supporting planning, generating new ideas, and helping to create engaging learning experiences for pupils. By providing clear prompts, teachers can use AI to assist with long-term planning, develop lesson plans, create worksheets, and suggest differentiated activities that cater for the diverse abilities and needs of their class. I also think AI is particularly helpful when creating teaching resources. It can quickly generate interactive activities and creative ideas that teachers can adapt to suit their own classroom.
As a teacher in a multigrade classroom I will definitely be trying out AI to enhance my planning in September.

Module 1 has provided me with a detailed overview of the options currently available for Gen AI. Prior to this, my primary use was in Chat GPT, this was mostly for personal use, such as fine tuning written communications with external agencies, suppliers of IT / STEM equipment etc. Did the suggested comparison on Co-Pilot / Chat GPT Gemini to book a holiday in Sligo and I am now setup on the other two options. (Aside: Co-pilot provided image, so I would give it top rating.) The initial application will be more as a teacher assistant to be used in my planning, both in structuring long & short terms but also prompting class discussion. From the TED talk, the AI tool Khanmigo, was really impressive and shows the future of learning, where pupils can learn at their own pace, be prompted to work through a problem. What happens in class, is that other pupils intervene with the answer before all have worked through the process, so AI will have a really positive impact here. For assessment, I had a look at the “Quiz tools”. This allow creation of quick assessment sheet to check pupils’ understanding of content and particular areas teacher needs to explain in more detail.

AI has potential to be of great benefit to teachers. In terms of short term and long term planning AI can be very beneficial to cut the amount of time spent on planning.In terms of creating resources, and engaging lessons AI can really benefit teachers here and save them alot of time in researching material online themselves. I have learned alot in this module about the various AI tools out there as I would have only have used chatgbt. Gemini and co-pilot are tools i definitely will use in my planning going forward. Other tools such as canva.com would be very useful for children creating stories for creative writing etc.In terms of assessment these AI tools can be used to create and mark quizzes etc. For pupils with SEN AI can help pupils with features like speech to text, and text to speech technologies. It is definitely important to remember to be aware of the ethical guidelines involved when using ai and to check with your school management that they are happy with you using GEN AI tools.

AI has potential to be of great benefit to teachers. In terms of short term and long term planning AI can be very beneficial to cut the amount of time spent on planning. In terms of creating resources, and engaging lessons AI can really benefit teachers here and save them alot time in researching material online themselves. I have learned alot in this module about the various AI tools out there as I would have only have used chatgbt. Gemini and co- pilot are tools I definitely will use in my planning going forward. Other tools such as canva.com would be very useful for children creating stories for creative writing etc. In terms of assessment these AI tools can be used to create and mark quizzes etc. For pupils with SEN AI can help pupils with features like speech to text and text to speech technologies. It is definitely important to remember to be aware of the ethical guidelines involved when using AI and to check with your school management that they are happy with you using GEN AI tools.

I come to this course pretty much a newbie when it comes to AI. I’d say I have used it only a handful of times and never for my teaching. I have only used Chat GPT so I felt it was important I took on this course to help me understand the benefits of AI and also the other AI tools available to me. From chatting to my colleagues that use AI regularly I can really see the benefits of it in the classroom. Even from something as simple as classroom organisation – I like to have things in my classroom organised and labelled where I can easily see where everything is stored. A colleague used AI last year to create uniform labels for her folders, work space, assessment folders etc and I really felt this was a great use of AI and saved so much time that I would spend doing the same thing. But obviously that kind of stuff is trivial in comparison to the benefits it will have in lesson planning and organisation, differentiation ideas and assessment tools. How easily it can give ideas where I might be really stuck trying to link ideas or differentiate to suit the needs in my class. Even if I don’t use the suggestions given I know it will give me the inspiration to build on the ideas.

I found this introductory module to AI quite interesting.  I had no idea that it spanned all the way back to the 1930’s! I use AI quite frequently for generating parent emails, report card comments, behaviour charts and also social stories.  I have mostly used ChatGPT, so the comparisons of Copilot, ChatGPT & Gemini was eye opening.  I definitely think Gemini provides more detailed responses overall.  My husband is in the tech industry and he tends to use Gemini the most.

I really enjoyed exploring the Generative AI in education website.  This provides a plethora of tools for use in the classroom. It will be beneficial for creating lesson plans, data mining of test scores, and to create more engaging powerpoints and videos for daily lessons.  With AI it is crucial to use it in an ethical way for classroom efficiency, productivity and creativity.  However, if AI is used without ethical guidelines it can cause more harm than good.  As Sal Khan stated in his TED Talk, ‘AI can make a positive transformation for both students and teachers.’

As has been said repeatedly , for me the greatest benefits of AI are how efficient it can make planning for teaching , learning and assessment.  By improving the prompts we give to AI bots we can achieve creative, innovative and engaging ideas for topics that might otherwise be mundane. We can utilise it’s skills to stay in touch with the current interests of our pupils and improve our assessment strategies and techniques.

Having only really used ChatGPT and Gemini before, I found it really helpful to learn about the different apps available through generative AI in education. It’s given me a greater insight into the different tools out there that can support my teaching. I’m looking forward to exploring them more as the course progresses

I think a primary area that AI tools will help my future teaching and assessment is in helping me to create resources quickly. In particular I have used it before to create powerpoint type presentations and also it is really helpful in creating assessment quizes and games during a lesson that can quickly recap on information. I really enjoyed the introduction to this course and I spent a good bit of time looking through different AI tools that are designed for educational instruction. Curipod and Eduaide I found very interesting and were even a little overwhelming with how many options there are within those tools. They were more detailed than Chalkie AI which I was familiar with and have found that useful, even if a little limited in some areas.

Overall, I wish to further my familiarity with AI tools and find ones that I can use to help me become more efficient at planning and creating resources, without compromising the lesson. There is a balance between using the tools to assist my planning rather than handing over the planning process to the AI tool. I am looking forward to becoming more familiar with options and ways to do this.

Overall AI supports the use of technology to improve teaching and learning and to support innovation throughout educational systems. Chatbots such as Chat GBT, Co-pilot and Gemini can assist with teaching and learning while improving productivity. AI can help teachers spend less time on tasks like grading, administration and lesson planning while teachers spend more one on one time with teaching students and using their professional judgement to best teach their students.
AI tools can assist teachers in gathering student data and providing personalized feedback, enabling more targeted instruction and support. While AI makes personalised learning more accessible, teachers must also ensure students use it ethically and responsibly. Another key challenge is to ensure that teachers and staff receive proper training and ongoing support to successfully implement AI tools in the classroom.
This module provided a great introduction to resources that I hadn’t used before and that my students will benefit from using. I look forward to exploring them more.

There is no doubt about it AI has the potential to really help teachers and educators.It should be viewed as a tool that enhances professional practice rather than replacing teacher expertise and judgement.

This module was very informative on the different chatbots available and the importance of correct and accurate prompting.

AI tools can assist teachers in so many ways from planning , devising, supporting, explaining and overall reducing the time teachers have to spend on paper work thus allowing more time to spend with the actual students.

I think this course will be of huge benefit for me going forward as I continue to learn about AI and of course the risks and dangers too.

I have really enjoyed exploring Pictory in detail and look forward to using it with my students.

• This reply was modified 3 months, 2 weeks ago by Sinead Duffy.

I thought Module 1 was very informative on the various ways AI can be used to enhance teaching and learning. I had used ChatGPT a bit before, but Gemini and Copilot were new to me.

I think AI can be very useful to teachers and be a time saver in preparing worksheets, activities, quizzes, etc. I think it will really help to make learning content more fun and interesting for the children, without the teacher having to spend a lot of time on it. Some of the image generation tools in ChatGPT and Copilot could be useful for me in my Senior Infant classroom to create images to accompany Ufli decodable passages as some of the children get tired of drawing their own pictures. It could also be used to create differentiated assessments for many different subjects.

I think it is important that staff familiarise themselves with the Ethical Guidelines on the use of AI and be aware of the risks involved. It is also important not to be over reliant on the use of AI and to recognise its limitations and to always proof read any AI generated content.

I believe AI will be a very significant and instrumental part of education in the future and will undoubtedly impact positively on future teaching, learning and assessment. While optimistic and fascinated by the potential of AI tools in the classroom I have always also been quite cautious about the opportunity for the exploitation of the tools and the possibility of these tools impacting on creativity and critical thinking . Having completed module 1 and explored some of these tools in more detail I am reassured and happy that many of these tools can be used for the good of pupils and teachers. I am looking forward to studying and teaching about responsible use of AI and digital citizenship to my Fourth class in September
I look forward to utilizing the chatbots to aid in lesson planning, picture prompts, mind mapping and creative writing ideas. Primary teachers are generally time poor with constant pressure to cover all areas of the curriculum in a short space of time. AI tools will be so helpful in speeding up research and planning of certain tasks, topics quizzes etc… I can now imagine myself using tools such as chatbots, vidnoz and pictory to support and optimize my time while aware that they should not and will not replace us as critical thinkers and educators whose opinions, ideas and personalities are key to the development and growth of our students.

AI can help in reducing admin workload and save time in areas such as lesson planning, creating differentiated resources, generating quizzes and providing ideas for engaging learning activities. This module showed me AI tools that I wasn’t previously familiar with such as Vidnoz and Pictory which will help me in utilising engaging methodologies in the classroom. Teachers can therefore spend more time focusing on high-quality instruction and supporting individual student needs. For learners, AI can offer personalised explanations, instant feedback and additional practice tailored to different abilities, making learning more accessible and inclusive.

However, the benefits of AI must be checked by the ethical considerations. Teachers ultimately remain responsible for professional judgement and ensure that AI complements rather than replace human decision-making. Protecting student data, recognising the potential for bias in AI-generated content, and being transparent about when and how AI is used are essential. Children also need to develop AI literacy so they can critically evaluate AI-generated information rather than accepting it as automatically accurate.

There is no doubt that the use of AI knows no bounds and that in my experience it’s biggest hinderance is the ability of teachers to use it meaningfully.
I am very excited to see how I an use it to enhance my own teaching and I see the potential to streamline resources specifically to what I am teaching as a real winner. Workbooks have really become redundant with the ever changing curriculums so learning how to generate my on worksheets specific to my lessons, specifically phonics is very exciting.
It does however make me a little nervous that people will forget that teacher’s knowledge of the curriculum, learning outcomes etc is central to what we are creating for our classrooms with AI. Potentially there will be all these amazing resources and images ad videos created but will we remember to actually teach the content! AI is amazing and exciting resource but a good teacher is still the most important resource we have.
I’m surely showing my age with this response!

The main way that I can see AI tools impacting on future teaching, learning and assessment is the time management benefits. Teachers have always spent countless hours exploring a variety of information sources and using this gathered information to spend further hours putting together resources to adequately teach the curriculum. These resources then had to be further adapted or differentiated to suits a variety of learning needs within each class. Finally, assessments were required to be created to provide the relevant feedback to teachers and pupils. Teachers always had the ability to create amazing lessons and assessments but sometimes the time preparing these activities took away from the actual delivery and pupil engagement.

AI tools can impact future teaching, learning and assessment by freeing up teachers’ precious time and helping them to create specific lesson plans and assessments in a detailed and specific way. These can be engaging, fun, relevant and provide both teachers and pupils with dynamic and creative ways to complete classroom activities. This module was a fantastic introduction to the various AI chatbots and while I had experience with ChatGPT, I gained an insight into Copilot and Gemini, both of which I am sure will impact on my future teaching.

<span style=”font-weight: 400;”>The main things I am taking away from module 1 is that AI can really be used to assist and complement my teaching rather than replacing the teacher or my own ideas. Also we play a role in helping students to also understand that AI generated information can be inaccurate and it is important to fact check and critically evaluate rather than completely rely on chat bots etc.</span>

<span style=”font-weight: 400;”>Some of the tools explored during the video were completely new to me and I look forward to using them to support my own teaching and learning and assessment. What struck me about the likes of pictory was how useful it could to send explanations of new concepts to parents as well when supporting with homework etc</span>

<span style=”font-weight: 400;”>Ai will reduce time spent on administrative workload and planning. I know some of my colleagues are using Claude and find it invaluable for planning so I ook forward to exploring this in the coming school year. Ai will help with differentiation as well and save me from searching endlessly for the right worksheet or activity for a particular child by assisting me in creating these resources myself. Helpful also in engaging children by using their own personal interests in a worksheet or reading comprehension for example.</span>

Artificial Intelligence has the potential to enhance teaching, learning and assessment in Irish primary schools when used responsibly. AI tools can support teachers by creating differentiated resources, generating lesson ideas and reducing administrative tasks, allowing more time for meaningful teaching and pupil interaction. They can also personalise learning by adapting activities to meet individual pupils’ needs thus promoting inclusion and engagement.

AI can enrich learning by supporting creativity, research and problem-solving. However, it should complement rather than replace active, play-based learning and teacher-led instruction. Pupils must also develop digital literacy and critical thinking skills so they can evaluate AI-generated information and use technology responsibly.

In assessment, AI can provide immediate feedback and help teachers monitor progress through formative assessment. However, it cannot replace teachers’ professional judgement or assess important qualities such as creativity, collaboration and social development.

Overall, AI should be viewed as a valuable classroom support rather than a replacement for teachers. Its successful use depends on ethical practice, appropriate teacher training and ensuring that children’s learning remains at the centre of education.

I understand that the European Commission has developed ethical guidelines for use and awareness of risk while using ai. The Ethical Guidelines on the use of ai act as a starting point and as a support tool based on the ethical use of ai and data.
AI can be used in teaching to save time for teachers with regard to administrative work- for example a teacher might use ai to reference relevant areas of the curriculum, to suggest creative teaching strategies and learning methodologies. AI can be used for phraseology, to elevate an idea for a lesson that a teacher may already have- to generate ideas for differentiation of a task, to generate images relevant to a child or childrens’ interests, location and/or area of study.
In terms of learning, the challenge will be for teachers and students alike to maintain a balance between thinking for oneself and relying too much on ai. Adults will need to keep an open mind, to explore and to ‘stay ahead’. Furthermore and while speaking challenges, teachers will have to educate themselves on how data breaches can be avoided.
Regarding assessment, I understand that AI can save time marking exams, that it can be used to get automatic feedback on quizzes and that it can be used to personalise learning. It may be appropriate going forward for teachers to consider assessment that ai will not be able to solve.

What I found most interesting about the potential use of AI was how it can enhance teaching and learning while still keeping the teacher at the centre of the classroom. The Khanmigo tutor bot shown in the TED Talk was particularly impressive because it demonstrated how AI can support students by guiding their thinking rather than simply providing answers. I also think tools like Vidnoz could significantly increase student engagement by creating more interactive and accessible learning experiences. What stood out to me was the idea of AI acting as an assistant rather than replacing teachers. It can save time with tasks such as lesson planning and report writing, allowing teachers to focus more on students. I also learned how important it is to write clear, detailed prompts when using tools like ChatGPT or Gemini. With three different classes next year, AI will help me quickly differentiate resources and activities to meet each group’s needs.

Throughout this module, I have really begun to see the huge potential that AI tools can have in teaching, learning and assessment. I believe that AI is something we need to embrace rather than fear. These tools are not there to replace teachers, but rather to enhance our teaching and support our students’ learning in meaningful and engaging ways.

Before completing this course, ChatGPT was the main AI tool that I had used. I did not realise just how many other AI tools were available or the different ways they could be used in education. I particularly enjoyed exploring Copilot and discovering some of its possibilities for the classroom.

I believe AI has a major role to play across all class levels and schools. It can support teachers with planning, differentiation, creating resources, assessment and generating new ideas. For me, one of the biggest benefits will hopefully be reducing the amount of time I spend preparing notes and resources, allowing me to focus more of my time and energy on actual teaching and supporting the children in my classroom.

The potential of AI in education really does seem endless. I am looking forward to using what I have learned this year and also seeing how our school develops its approach to AI, particularly as many of our teachers are completing similar courses. I think it will be exciting to learn from each other and explore how AI can enhance teaching and learning across our school.

This module provided an excellent introduction to AI outlining its potential in our classrooms. My immediate reaction is that AI will reduce the ‘overwhelm’ associated with lesson planning, differentiation and assessment while increasing productivity and creativity within classrooms. However, teacher judgement and connection with students will always be the gatekeepers of positive learning.

I enjoyed exploring and using different chatbots and improving the quality of my prompts. Heretofore I had only ever dipped into Chat GPT so it was interesting to see how Copilot and Gemini compared. Developing an awareness of the quality of prompts is so important for teachers and indeed for students as they engage with AI.

I really enjoyed exploring the potential of Vidnoz and Pictory, neither of which I had engaged with previously. I was impressed that Pictory could produce a video from prompts only given ‘as Gaeilge’ while the initial try with Vidnoz did not yield the same results in the text to speech option. I am sure that there are ways around this and possibly the option of uploading audio. This will be something to explore further in the new term.

AI tools coming into the classroom is a fantastic development, and I think it has great potential to make our lives so much easier as teachers. On the practical side, it could be a brilliant help for managing the heavy workload. It can assist with lesson planning, generating worksheets, and sorting out administrative tasks, which takes a massive amount of pressure off us when we are already run off our feet. For the pupils, if a child is finding maths or reading tough, the software can adapt to their pace and give them extra support right when they need it.However, it is certainly going to change how we handle continuous assessment. We won’t be able to rely on traditional take-home essays or written homework in the same way, because we simply won’t know if a student did the work themselves or used a computer program. We will have to adapt our grading methods, perhaps focusing more on project work done right in front of us in the classroom, or asking students to explain their thinking out loud.At the end of the day, a computer can never replace the heart and soul of teaching—the genuine connection a proper teacher has with their pupils. But if we use it sensibly, AI can handle the repetitive, time-consuming parts of the job, freeing us up to do the things we enjoy.

AI can have a significant impact on teaching, learning and assessment in the primary classroom. I think AI tools can support teachers by helping to create lesson ideas, differentiate activities, create resources and provide suggestions for pupils who may need additional support, with the ultimate benefit being better use of time for overstretched teachers.

I also believe that teachers need to double check any lessons, images or information produced by AI.  I know of a case where a teacher asked AI to create comprehension questions based on a novel being read and that one or two of the questions asked were about a person who was only briefly mentioned in the story but the questions were being asked as if this person was a main character. This issue is highlighted in the video on the ethical use of AI, which reminds us of the important issues around accuracy, privacy, bias and appropriate use that teachers must be mindful of.

AI can provide pupils with opportunities for creativity, problem-solving and personalised learning, helping them explore ideas and ask questions. However, I believe it is important that AI is used as a tool to support learning rather than replace thinking. The development of essential skills such as communication, critical thinking, creativity and collaboration is essential in the holistic education of the child.

While, I see AI as a valuable addition to the classroom, provided it is introduced thoughtfully, safely and responsibly, I personally feel the need to complete this course and other similar training before I feel comfortable using AI more fully in my classroom. As teachers, we will need to help children understand both the possibilities and limitations of AI and prepare them to use these technologies critically and ethically. Module one introduced me to AI platforms I had never hear of which is a step in the right direction for me.

Often we can fear change/ a new addition that could have the potential to change our way of teaching and for me this is AI and the reason I decided to undertake this course. I think it is important that we embrace AI and the benefits it can have in our future teaching, learning and assessment. I think AI can be a huge time saver for teachers in a world where time is already constrained. It can help hugely with planning, researching and generating activities for the children all of which would have been very time consuming in the past. The children themselves are much more tech savy nowadays and are very familiar with the benefits of AI and how it can be used in their learning. The children would enjoy using AI as part of their learning and I think its important that teachers don’t fear AI and the thoughts of it taking away from the children’s learning or children becoming over reliant on it. It is important that clear boundaries are set with the children before its use. Tis course has already introduced me to new resources including copilot and genial.ly that I think will prove very beneficial in the classroom.

The potential classroom use of AI tools can impact on future teaching, learning and assessment in the classroom. In special classes, AI tools can transform teaching, learning and assessment by automating the creation of personalised visual schedules, social stories, and SMART targets for Student Support Plans, saving critical planning time. Adaptive AI-powered communication and real-time speech-to-text apps can offer individualised support to students and could increase multi-sensory engagement.

I love the different AI tools referenced here and am excited to explore them further before using them in the classroom. One way in which I think teaching, learning and assessment can benefit from AI is by using it to provide the children with an opportunity for critical thinking. While I love the idea of using it to give teachers back time and energy so that the same may be channelled in a more beneficial way for the students ie marking, charts, assessment tables, quizzes/lesson feedback, resource creation etc. I think it would be fun to make AI the subject of comparison/critical thinking in the lesson. For example, the students could pick their favourite chapter/topic in one of their books for this year eg the solar system. I would get them to write a list of what they like about the presentation in the book, what they dislike, how it helped/discouraged their learning and then suggest how they would improve it. I’d then model how to use Pictory so they could see AI’s take on the same information. Following this, the children would answer the same prompts as with the original presentation. They would then compare the two, which was better and why? If it was my job to present this information, how would I do it? What would I keep/omit/add? This way, children are using AI but not as a means to create the answer for them but rather, to examine and explore different possibilities whilst ultimately coming to their own conclusion. This way, children are encouraged to critique AI instead of blindly accept it.

I was skeptical of AI before beginning this module, in relation to primary school teaching. However, I now believe that it could enhance my teaching, and benefit the learning of children in my classroom. I particularly enjoyed the example of an AI generated Albert Einstein speaking. I know that the young children that I will be teaching will find this both funny and engaging. This will in tern allow me to use this type of AI to elicit factual information to the students in a new and unique way. I would not solely use this but I believe that in can be used as another bow in my string. Furthermore, I think that the Khan Academy AI teaching assistant is a truly revolutionary idea. This could be used both in the class and at home, when assigning learning tasks for children. It also allows children to be independent and take more ownership of their learning, rather than waiting for the teacher who is tied up with other students. I will be encouraging my school to explore this type of resource.

AI holds enormous potential to transform my teaching in 3rd Class at St. Laurence O’Toole’s CBS. As a DEIS Band 1 school with extensive Special Education Teaching (SET) support, our staff works collaboratively, frequently withdrawing small groups for targeted intervention. Inputting specific curriculum goals, group dynamics, and individual learning needs into AI instantly generates differentiated learning experiences. This ensures seamless alignment between mainstream classroom instruction and SET withdrawal groups without adding to preparation time—allowing me to spend less time on planning and more on direct teaching. Tools like Immersive Reader model fluent reading and offer struggling readers repeated practice in varied contexts, building confidence independently. AI can also populate data directly into specific school templates, streamlining administrative work like support plans. However, the primary challenge will be the slow rollout of teacher training. As with any new educational framework, comprehensive professional development is essential to guarantee ethical, effective, and meaningful implementation across both classroom and SET environments. Additionally, introducing platforms like Minecraft Education leverages a medium many of the boys already know and love from home. Harnessing their existing enthusiasm bridges the gap between home and school, elevating digital learning and driving active classroom engagement.

• This reply was modified 2 months, 3 weeks ago by John Declan Mullins.

I enjoyed the introduction. AI, boosts productivity, supports engaging content creation, and helps  teachers and schools work more efficiently. Exploring ChatGPT, Copilot and Gemini in this module showed me how these chatbots can enrich teaching and learning while saving precious time. Teachers are often time poor, and AI tools assist with researching topics, designing presentations, creating quizzes and stories the possibilities are endless. The module also introduced me to some tools I had not used before, such as Vidnoz and Pictory.
It highlighted the way AI can strengthen classroom practice and gave me a clearer understanding of how chatbots can support my own teaching. At the same time, it stressed the need for teachers to remain aware of the potential risks if AI is not used carefully. We all need to engage positively, critically and ethically with these systems to realise their full potential.

• This reply was modified 2 months, 3 weeks ago by Ruth Hackett.

I agree particularly with AI being such a valuable time-saver for teachers. It can reduce the time spent on planning, creating worksheets and resources, generating ideas and even preparing assessments, leaving teachers with more time to focus on teaching and supporting their pupils. I also think the potential for creating interactive games and quizzes is particularly exciting, as these could make learning more engaging while also supporting assessment in the classroom.

AI has the potential to greatly enhance teaching and learning by reducing teachers’ administrative workload and saving valuable time. It can support tasks such as lesson planning, resource creation, differentiation, assessment, quizzes, and generating ideas for engaging activities. Tools like Vidnoz and Pictory have opened new doors for creating more interactive and captivating learning experiences. By handling routine tasks, AI frees teachers to focus more on effective instruction and addressing the individual needs of their students.

For students, AI can enable personalized learning through tailored explanations, extra practice, feedback, and opportunities for creativity and problem-solving. However, its use requires careful management. Teachers must verify AI-generated content for accuracy, relevance, and bias, as AI might sometimes produce misleading information or misunderstand parts of a text. Protecting student privacy and maintaining transparency about AI use are also essential.

AI should serve to enhance learning rather than replace teachers’ professional judgment or students’ independent thinking. Developing key skills like critical thinking, communication, creativity, and collaboration remains fundamental in primary education. Additionally, pupils should build AI literacy to understand its strengths and limitations and learn to evaluate information critically.

Overall, I see AI as a valuable and exciting classroom resource, particularly because it can save teachers time and foster engaging learning opportunities. Yet, I recognise the importance of responsible use and believe that further training will help me gain the confidence and knowledge needed to integrate AI effectively and safely into my teaching practice.

• This reply was modified 2 months, 3 weeks ago by Sabrina Kavanagh.

From reflectring on the video as well as my own teaching practice i feel i have gained so much insight into AI, compared to what i thought i know. AI has completely changed peoples lives daily. I  view ai as nearly an ‘assistant’ in my work and personal life that can helps me quickly  solve problems, structure plans and also adapt lessons for students who need an extra assistance.</p>
With that, I am still remaining of the opinoin that creativity is still generated in the brain and that cannot be done online.  Ultimately, AI might help us as teachers write a lesson plans and ideas in seconds, but it cannot connect on an emotional level with a studentt. Teaching is so much more than lesson plans, its emphathy/ respect/ cooperation/ supporting, as well as allowing them how to think critically in a world full of answers.</p>

• This reply was modified 2 months, 3 weeks ago by Imogen Ryan.

To me, the main benefit of using AI tools in the classroom is taking some of the burden of planning, organising and creation of resources away from the teacher, allowing them to focus more on the children’s actual learning experiences and general enjoyment of school. With teacher burnout becoming more and more of a problem, the correct and appropriate use of AI to help teachers could be a real positive going forward in an increasingly challenging profession. In terms of actual use in the classroom, I have found AI to be effective in creating simple resources, such as quizzes, work packs and summaries of work. Already this course has shown me more effective ways of creating prompts. I have also used it to create simple charts and tasks for assessment. It is vital not to trust the AI fully as I have often found small mistakes, especially in the first draft of resources created.

Although I am familiar with basic AI, I have not been using it to its potential. Given the increasing workload on teachers, it would seem absurd that many of us are not squeezing every ounce of help we can get form AI. I have been using Copilot, Canva, ChatGPT and whats available of Twinkl.

On the face of it, it would seem like I am moving forward at a reasonable pace in accessing the advantages of AI, however, I have never used Vidnoz, Pictory or MS Designer. Unfortunately, I have been reluctant to delve deeper for multiple reasons, but mainly because I feel the pressure of time constraints, yet ultimately, I know effort now will save me a lot of time and effort in the future.

With regard to the future of AI in the classroom, two issues will override all others, I believe. Early learning and participation will be enhanced by active and more exploratory tasks. Student expectation that this type of learning is the norm will emerge. As children develop a more mature awareness of their world, their ability to prompt and the ability of their teachers in developing that skill will be their primary route to learning.

Thank you for sharing this! You’re actually well ahead of the curve mastering tools like ChatGPT, Canva, Copilot, and Twinkl will save you huge amounts of time without the need to learn every new app. Your point on prompt literacy is spot on, too. Guiding students in asking smart, critical questions will be one of the most essential skills we can teach them as AI becomes the norm in the classroom.

Module 1 has broadened my understanding of how AI can support both teachers and pupils in the classroom. AI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Copilot have massive potential to make the life of the teacher that little bit easier. I think their simplicity of use and the speed of which they can tasked with the design and development of planning & differentiation in particular, make them an obvious tool to reduce teacher workload. I think ChatGPT has been the go to for a lot of teachers (with it being the most famous), but there are so many more that offer other benefits.
Up until today, I had never heard of Vidnoz or Pictory and I think these could be worth looking at (“playing around with”) a bit further.
I do find with my 6th class students that they are always eager to get quick information when researching topics, and Google has given them that option once they use the search function. I’m not a huge fan of this, as I’d like them to read more and make their own conclusions when constructing their project. But I suppose that with all AI, there is going to be the debate of whether it’s helping or not, and inevitably it does both.

I agree with everything  said by others

I am a 50-year-old NQT. I am new to teaching, but I have seen a lot of life. AI will help me in the classroom. I work in a busy school. Time is precious.

Your point about SET support is spot on. We work in teams. We pull small groups. AI can plan for both. This links the classroom and withdrawal groups. It saves hours.

I also agree about Immersive Reader. Struggling readers need to hear good reading. They need to practise alone. AI gives them that space. They grow in confidence.

Admin work is a burden. Support plans take forever. AI can fill templates. This gives me more time with the children.

But you are right. Training is the big problem. I did not grow up with technology. I need clear guidance. A slow rollout without proper training will fail.

Minecraft Education is a great idea. The boys know it. They love it. Using it in school brings their world into our world. It makes learning exciting.

AI has huge potential. We must embrace it. But we must train teachers first. That is the key.

Module 1 has given me a very good overview of AI models and their potential uses in education. In the past year or so, I have dabbled with Chat GPT but I’ve had no experience of Co Pilot or Gemini so it was great to see the similarities and differences between them. I was very keen to do a summer course on AI as I feel it is the way forward in helping teachers meet the ever-increasing demands on them as the profession evolves at a pace teachers currently feel is unsustainable. I believe that AI can greatly reduce certain mundane but necessary tasks for teachers and allow them the breathing space to use their creativity in the classroom whether its lesson ideas or creation of resources. Teacher planning, while necessary and important, can take up a substantial amount of teacher time. I feel AI can assist with this area in a huge way ensuring planning is current, efficient and most importantly, meet the specific needs of the children in that class. Following on from this, assessment is another significant pillar in a teacher’s duties that may be aided with the use of AI. Often times, I will use the same form of assessment of I cannot think of anything more creative/different so I feel AI would help alot with this. I also think that image generation using AI would be a great resource for teaches as well as a unique and fun way for students to engage with information.

For myself I am firstly excited about the quality of engaging resources it can help me create but also how it can help me with other sides of preparation. I found the TedTalk by Sal Khan to be very interesting but also inspiring, the thoughts of how you can have the personalised teaching with those students you desperately want to get to every day. Students where you feel you can never give enough time to. Now to have a Personal Tutor who can round off the work I have done with them, help build on their learning while also assessing their development (all while working with the class as a whole) is the general look I have on it can impact my future learning.
I look forward to using the different BOTS to help with my preparation, I don’t always have the best time management skills! Pictory and Vidnoz AI look like fun and engaging tools to introduce into the classroom, how to get the best out of them for the class will be next challenge I look forward to.

• This reply was modified 2 months, 2 weeks ago by Liam Melia.

Hey sarah

I could not agree more. That Khanmigo tutor bot was incriedible.I loved your teaching assistant point. That is exactly how I see AI.

I was actually fascinated by this course and how much in can impact teachers and children in the future of education. I feel we are really moving in the right direction and AI will enhance the learning experiences of children, their needs and the ability to assess them.

It will become a more personalised learning enviornment in my opinion. For years we have differentiated for children in our classroom, but this can go a step further with additional aid from AI.

We will genuinely be able to work smarter, not harder. We will be able to have individualised maths and reading plans for example with the use of AI tools like mathia and magic school for example.

Within a mater on minutes Chat GPT can come up with exceptional creative ideas to aid us in teaching. At times we can struggle creatively in the classroom and this will bring a new lease of life to learning.