AI in Education: Conversations That Shape Tomorrow

Leena, Alicia and Swati from GEMS Winchester School Dubai, share their remarkable journey to achieving AI Quality Mark gold status. Over 12 months, they developed a school-wide AI strategy by establishing an AI core team, working party, and champions across both primary and secondary divisions. Their systematic approach also included AI tool evaluation through detailed risk assessments, and the creation of a bespoke AI literacy programme for their teachers. Their conversation reveals how they engage all stakeholders, including teachers, students, and parents, to cope with the challenges of this rapidly evolving technology and prepare students for an AI-infused world.

This episode features Matthew Pullen from Jamf, who talks about what thoughtful integration of technology and AI looks like in educational settings. Drawing from his experience working in the education division of a company that serves more than 40,000 schools globally, Mat has seen numerous use cases. He distinguishes between the purposeful application of technology to dismantle learning barriers and the less effective approach of adopting technology for its own sake. He also asserts that finding the correct balance between IT needs and pedagogical objectives is crucial for successful implementation.

Many schools begin their AI journey by formulating AI policies. However, Matt King, Director of Innovative Learning at Brentwood School, reveals their preference for establishing guiding principles over rigid policies considering AI’s rapidly evolving nature.

Alex was genuinely fascinated when reviewing transcripts from his research interviews and noticed that students consistently referred to AI as "they," while adults, including teachers, used "it." This small but meaningful linguistic difference revealed a fundamental variation in how different generations perceive artificial intelligence. As a teacher, senior leader, and STEM Learning consultant, Alex developed his passion for educational technology through creating the award-winning "Future Classroom", a space designed to make students owners rather than consumers of knowledge. In this episode, he shares insights from his research on student voice, explores the race toward Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), and unpacks the concept of AI "glazing". While he touches on various topics around AI during his conversation with Daniel, the key theme that shines through is the importance of approaching AI thoughtfully and deliberately balancing technological progress with human connection.

This podcast episode was recorded during the Watergrove Trust AI professional development workshop, delivered by Good Future Foundation and Educate Ventures. Dave Leonard, the Strategic IT Director, and Steve Lancaster, a member of their AI Steering Group, shared how they led the Trust's exploration and discussion of AI with a thoughtful, cautious optimism. With strong support from leadership and voluntary participation from staff across the Trust forming the AI working group, they've been able to foster a trust-wide commitment to responsible AI use and harness AI to support their priority of staff wellbeing.

This episode features Thomas Sparrow, a correspondent and fact checker, who helps us differentiate misinformation and disinformation, and understand the evolving landscape of information dissemination, particularly through social media and the challenges posed by generative AI. He is also very passionate about equipping teachers and students with practical fact checking techniques and encourages educators to incorporate discussions about disinformation into their curricula.

With her extensive teaching experience in both mainstream and special schools, Bukky Yusuf shares how purposeful and strategic use of technology can unlock learning opportunities for students. She also equally emphasises the ethical dimensions of AI adoption, raising important concerns about data representation, societal inequalities, and the risks of widening digital divides and unequal access.

In this enlightening episode, Dr Lulu Shi from the University of Oxford, shares technology’s role in education and society through a sociological lens. She examines how edtech companies shape learning environments and policy, while challenging the notion that technological progress is predetermined. Instead, Dr. Shi argues that our collective choices and actions actively shape technology's future and emphasises the importance of democratic participation in technological development.

In this podcast episode, Daniel, George, and Ricky discuss the integration of AI and technology in education, particularly at Belgrave St Bartholomew's Academy. They explore the local context of the school, the impact of technology on teaching and learning, and how AI is being utilised to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes. The conversation also touches on the importance of community involvement, parent engagement, and the challenges and opportunities presented by AI in the classroom. They emphasise the need for effective professional development for staff and the importance of understanding the purpose behind using technology in education.