AI In Education – Love It, Loath It, But Know We Have To Embrace It!

Are today’s classroom technologies really making teachers’ lives easier? In this episode of Teachwire Talks, Helen Mulley is joined by Ashleigh Kennedy from Dell Technologies and product marketing consultant Richi Fontaine to explore whether edtech is living up to its promise. Together, they discuss how technology has transformed schools, from interactive whiteboards to AI, and examine why workload remains such a challenge, even as new tools continue to emerge. Finally, they share practical insights into using digital tools more strategically, helping you save time while improving teaching and learning. About ED360 Teachers are under growing pressure to manage heavier workloads, respond to diverse student needs, close learning gaps, and confidently adopt new digital and AI-enabled approaches in the classroom. To support them effectively, schools need practical tools and accessible professional learning that can make an immediate difference. A clear next step is to register to join ED360 – Dell’s hub for smarter teaching – where educators can explore practical ideas, tackle common challenges, and see how modern technology and AI can support teaching and learning. The platform includes webinars, podcasts, classroom-ready resources, and expert-led content designed to help schools embrace future-ready IT and bring AI-driven learning into the classroom. Alongside ED360, educators can also benefit from other valuable resources such as Microsoft Learning Zone and Intel Skills for Innovation. Intel Skills for Innovation helps educators integrate technology into everyday learning through ready-to-use lesson plans, professional development, and real-world projects that build digital, problem-solving, and innovation skills. Microsoft Learning Zone is an AI-powered education app from Microsoft designed to help teachers create interactive lessons and learning activities more quickly. Register to join ED360 here . By encouraging teachers and school leaders to engage with ED360 and these wider resources, we can help reduce pressure, build confidence, and give educators practical support to create more engaging, inclusive, and future-ready learning experiences.

How can we help students become thoughtful, critical users of AI? In this episode of Teachwire Talks, host Helen Mulley explores what pupils really understand about the AI tools they’re already encountering. Alongside Helen are guests Ben Garside and Emma Staves, both former educators now working at the Raspberry Pi Foundation . Together, they discuss what AI literacy means and how to teach it when you’re still getting to grips with AI yourself. About Experience AI Experience AI is an educational programme that offers cutting-edge resources on artificial intelligence and machine learning for teachers and students. Developed in collaboration by the Raspberry Pi Foundation and Google DeepMind, the programme supports teachers in the exciting and fast-moving area of AI, and gets young people passionate about the subject. Experience AI lessons The set of free lessons has everything teachers need to deliver AI and machine learning sessions in secondary school, including lesson plans, slide decks, worksheets, and videos. The lessons focus on AI applications that are relatable for young people and are designed so that teachers in a wide range of subjects can use them.

In the sixth session of the free CODE learning and teaching webinar series , we will explore how we can design assessments that have purpose: to both measure whether students have met their learning outcomes, and also act as a learning opportunity in themselves. We will consider how the purpose of assessment can be to encourage not only learning, but also creativity and criticality, and what this might look like across different disciplines or institutions. How can we do this in the context of GenAI where students might be less motivated to focus on their own thoughts or responses in fear of getting it wrong, or in a situation when they feel too time-poor to successfully complete assessment? This session will explore some answers and approaches to this wicked problem. Purposeful assessment also needs to enable compassion and inclusivity, to ensure that all students feel able to get the most out of assessment opportunity - so these considerations will also be foregrounded during the session. 

What is the webinar about? Children and young people are growing up alongside AI tools that respond instantly, adapt to them, and feel surprisingly conversational. These moments can spark curiosity and connection, but they also introduce pressures that may shape how young people feel, relate and regulate - and the pace of change is faster than our understanding of its emotional impact. Join us for a fireside conversation where Thrive’s Viv Trask-Hall is joined by digital education specialist, Anthony Magee, and Safeguarding and Mental Health GLF Trust Lead, Fiona Jarman, to explore the emerging ways AI is shaping children’s emotional and social worlds, and how schools can respond. You’ll gain a high-level understanding of the emerging impact of AI, drawing on data and behavioural insights, alongside relational perspectives on supporting young people’s wellbeing as technology evolves.

In this webinar, David Byrne and Mark Heffernan will explore the importance of discussing voice and persona with learners. With the development of AI, it’s become even more important for learners to know their voice, to know how they want to come across, and to stand out from AI generated content. This content is available to Modern English Teacher subscribers.

Explore the transformative impact of AI tools on higher education, with discussions on practical applications, ethical concerns, and the evolving role of educators in an AI-enabled world. In the fifth session of the free CODE learning and teaching webinar series , we will explore the positive and challenging impact on learning and teaching in Higher Education by Gen AI tools. In particular, we will discuss practical applications of using AI-powered systems in the curriculum and how these can enhance learning and teaching while also considering the concerns, issues around equity and privacy, and how the role of the educator needs to evolve to prepare students for an AI-enabled world. The session will draw from recent UK case studies and international best practices. 

Webinar series: AI in Primary History Session 4: AI Black Box: responsible use for primary teachers Presenter: Dr Vanessa Cui, Dr Louise Wheatcroft, Dr Jordan Bird Generative AI offers incredible potential for resource creation for teachers, but the current dominant generative AI tools' core function is to be an agreeable, helpful assistant. This often leads to oversimplified narratives and a lack of necessary nuance and criticality, not to mention the common ethical challenges generative AI tools present such as bias, inaccuracy and environmental impact. These challenges potentially can compromise the quality of teaching materials and the ethics of teachers' practice. This focused 60-minute session is designed to inform teachers about principles of how dominant Generative AI models function, including the crucial role of Alignment (training on human preference) in the way generative AI responds to human inputs with the aim to empower teachers to confidently understand, evaluate, and responsibly use generative AI tools across their professional practice. This session includes: Understanding agreement: explain the principle of alignment (human preference training) to teachers and why it causes AI to avoid complexity, challenge, and conflicting evidence. The criticality challenge: evaluate the key pitfalls of using AI for history — including historical bias, presentism, and factual hallucinations — and learn to spot them. The CLEAR Prompting Framework: you will gain an actionable framework designed for more critical engagement with dominant generative AI tool and consider its use in your practice. Action plan for responsible use: leave with a concrete plan, identifying up to three actions you can responsibly integrate AI into your professional practice, including the necessary steps for safe and ethical implementation in your school. Non-member instant-access price: £45.00 HA Members can get instant access for £30.00

Dates: 03 November, 05 November, 10 November, 12 November, 17 November, 19 November, 24 November, 26 November 2026 The online programme is made up of eight sessions, usually on Tuesdays (10:00-12:00) and Thursdays (14:00-16:00). Our programme for aspiring and current digital leaders returns next year, and we're offering a new format to support different learning preferences and provide more flexibility. What to expect This course offers a variety of sessions and exercises to help you develop as a digital leader. It is designed for current and aspiring leaders in further and higher education organisation regardless of discipline, function or department who wish to develop their digital leadership skills or have an interest in digital transformation. You'll collaborate with like-minded peers to explore the tools needed for effective leadership in the digital era. The programme equips you with the skills to lead and manage digitally-driven transformations across all levels of an organisation. You'll gain insights into how digital technology is changing organisational dynamics, explore a variety of challenges and opportunities that digital leaders encounter and learn useful techniques and strategies to influence change and lead effective digital transformation in your organisation. Training outcomes By the end of the programme you will be able to: Define digital leadership and explore what makes an effective digital leader Outline and visualise your organisation’s digital practice Align digital strategy with organisational goals Assess the impact of emerging new technologies on your organisation Use data and stories to communicate digital transformation Explore and examine different approaches to digital transformation Apply change management models and techniques to embed and anchor change in your organisation Foster a culture of innovation through digital leadership By taking part in this course, you can also earn digital credentials to show your achievement. A key feature of the programme is the opportunity to connect and network with other digital leaders, participants are encouraged to join our free online digital leadership and culture forum.

Lead with vision, clarity, and confidence, ISTLC Certification empowers international school leaders to drive innovation in both learning and IT systems. Join the blended course that bridges strategy and hands-on practice for real-world impact. Super Early Bird Register by 30 June 2026 - $1050 Early Bird Register by 31 July 2026 - $1150 Regular Register by 30 September 2026 - $1250 Last minute After 30 September 2026 - $1350

Turn Canva into a powerful classroom tool with live learning, collaboration, interactive activities and quick checks for understanding. Move beyond creating resources and discover how Canva can become part of the learning itself. In this practical two-hour session, we'll explore how Canva can help you deliver more interactive and engaging lessons, from curriculum-ready activities and collaborative Whiteboards to live Learning Sessions, quizzes, pupil choice and quick formative assessment. You'll see practical classroom examples, explore different ways for pupils to participate and respond, and learn simple approaches for sharing activities with your class. Throughout the session, there will be opportunities to try the tools yourself and consider how they could fit into your own teaching. Ideal for educators who have completed Canva Foundations or are already comfortable with the basics of Canva.

BRILLIANT is the fastest growing education event in the UK and the country’s largest STEAM festival What is BRILLIANT Festival? BRILLIANT is a free , one day festival built to reignite your passion for teaching. It brings together more than 2,000 teachers, leaders and education professionals for the largest education event in the North West and one of the most energising days of CPD in the UK. The event creates a space where educators, employers, innovators and policymakers can share ideas, explore new approaches to learning, and build meaningful partnerships. It is not a traditional conference. Instead, BRILLIANT focuses on conversations, workshops, and real examples of how collaboration between education and industry can transform opportunities for young people. Across the day, attendees will hear from leading voices in education, business, and technology. They will explore new ways of thinking about skills, curriculum, careers education, and the role of employers in shaping learning. Most importantly, they will leave with practical ideas and connections they can take back into their work. BRILLIANT is about possibility and aims to show what happens when schools and industry work together to create better pathways for the next generation.

A practical, residential event exploring how AI is changing assessment AI is already changing how assessment is designed, delivered, supported and quality assured. Assessment organisations are now asking urgent questions about authenticity, validity, learner support, staff capability, policy, governance and trust.  Using AI in Assessment - From Theory to Practice is being designed to help assessment professionals move beyond general discussion and into practical understanding. The programme will combine expert insight with demonstrations, clinics, guided experimentation and collaborative discussion.  Across two days, you will be able to take part in: • Practical workshops • Live demonstrations • Expert clinics and peer discussion • Hands-on exploration in the AI Playground • Conversations about validity, integrity, accessibility, governance and human judgement More than a traditional conference, this will be a collaborative learning experience designed to build knowledge, confidence and meaningful connections across the assessment community. Delegates will explore what AI can do, where its limitations lie, and how organisations can make informed, responsible decisions. The residential format gives attendees time to connect, reflect and continue conversations beyond the formal programme.  This event brings together assessment leaders, practitioners, technology specialists, researchers and policy professionals for two days of insight, experimentation and discussion. It is designed for anyone who wants to understand how AI can be used responsibly across the assessment lifecycle.