AI Offers Teacher Workload Cuts, Requires Ethical Guidance, Report States

Estyn, the education watchdog, has reported that artificial intelligence can substantially cut teacher workloads and help pupils learn. However, schools need clearer guidance on using AI "safely and ethically," according to the report.

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Estyn's report on artificial intelligence indicates some teachers use it for lesson planning and drafting letters to parents and pupil reports. Yet, teachers also voiced concerns about AI potentially harming pupils' skills, along with worries about plagiarism and inappropriate technology use.

The Welsh government stated the importance of balancing AI's effective use with the safety and wellbeing of both pupils and staff.

At Birchgrove Comprehensive School in Swansea, pupils learn to use AI as part of Information and Communication Technology lessons. Staff across the school are encouraged to become more AI-literate, and pupils can use it to research subjects.

"If we see a pupil using it, we encourage them to use it but we encourage them to use it responsibly and that really does have a positive impact," said Ryan Cresswell, the school’s digital and innovation lead. He added that the school's approach is "very positive" because pupils will use it, and they prefer to teach responsible use.

Cresswell acknowledged "absolutely valid concerns" that pupils might use AI as "a crutch as opposed to a learning tool." He addressed staff worries about AI-submitted work, stating, "we know our pupils, we know the work that they’re capable of because we see them day in and day out."

The aim, Cresswell explained, is to use AI to "accelerate" learning and "promote curiosity."

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The Estyn report found that secondary school pupils were using AI for tasks such as summarising revision notes and creating quiz questions tailored to exam content. However, the report noted significant variations in pupil AI use.

Some pupils were "more fearful, concerned about what use is permissible and worried that teachers will accuse them of cheating if they do use it." Pupils aged 13 at Birchgrove Comprehensive said they used AI for revision and to review lesson content.

Grace, a pupil, said, "I think it’s useful. Teachers can find out if we’re cheating or not but when you use it in the correct way it can help you." Maya added, "If I’m curious about something in the house I might ask AI and they will answer me."

Emilia commented, "If I don’t get anything in class, I’ll search it up and ask it to break it down for me." She also said, "I double check it on lots of other websites to make sure it’s definitely the right answer."

Overall, Estyn found that most schools visited were "in the early stages of exploring the benefits of AI, with pockets of experimentation led by digitally confident and curious staff." However, AI adoption was "ad hoc and usage varied considerably between individuals, phases of learning and departments."

Many staff were "excited by the potential of AI but wary of its use," generally expressing caution about AI's potential issues, such as accuracy, bias, and safeguarding risks. The report highlighted that using AI to draft letters and reports had helped some schools by "substantially reducing administrative workloads," freeing staff to focus more on pupils.

Teachers also informed Estyn that AI could be effective for tailoring resources to individual pupils, particularly those with additional needs.

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• AI can substantially reduce teacher workloads and aid pupil learning.

• Schools require clearer guidance on using AI "safely and ethically."

• Teachers reported concerns including negative effects on pupil skills, plagiarism, and inappropriate use.

Source: BBC