Integrating AI in Education: Empowering Teachers and Students

The duty of an educator involves sharing knowledge with their students and nurturing their development of specific skills and capabilities. On the other hand, a coach is tasked with supporting and motivating their pupils through active listening, thoughtful questioning, and introducing challenges. While these roles may initially appear distinct, consider the impact if a teacher were to integrate coaching principles into their classroom, becoming a source of motivation as well.
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This was a fundamental concept during the new edition of the course "AI in Education: Transforming Teaching and Learning" that took place in Palermo from 30/03/2025 to 05/04/2025. The participants came from across Europe, including Mariella Johanna Jävert; Jonas Olof Hammarström and Anna Maria Haraldsson from Högadalsskolan in Sweden, Lidia Del Carmen Navarro Sánchez and Rosalva Giraldo Santana from Les Santa Lucia in Spain, Stanislav Soukup and Petr Florián from Gymnázium Český Krumlov in Czech Republic, Dagmara Władarz; Justyna Porwoł and  Justyna Matuszczyk from  Zespół Szkolno- Przedszkolny nr 6 Wodzisław Śląski in Poland, together with two participants coming from two belgian institutes: Liesbet Jacobs from Scholengemeenschap voor katholiek secundair onderwijs De Bron and Werner Claeys from HOGENT - University of Applied Sciences and Arts - School of Business and Management.

To start with the course, we delved into the importance of AI in education. This includes understanding how AI can enhance learning experiences by personalizing content, automating administrative tasks, and providing data-driven insights. Participants examined and learned how to use AI tools that can be used to support teaching, such as intelligent tutoring systems, automated grading software, and adaptive learning platforms.One of the main focuses was effective prompting of Chat GPT. This can significantly influence the quality of responses generated by AI, making it a key skill for educators. Participants practiced crafting precise and contextually appropriate prompts to maximize the utility of Chat GPT inside the classroom.

Ethical implications of AI in education were another big topic, covering aspects like bias in algorithms, privacy concerns, and the necessity for clear policies to govern AI use. Understanding these ethical dimensions is essential to ensure AI applications are fair, transparent, and beneficial for all students.

On another hand, we explored ICT tools with AI features, highlighting tools that enhance collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking among students. Participants were encouraged to explore various ICT applications and consider how these can be augmented with AI capabilities to improve learning outcomes.

Last but not least, we discussed developing new assessment methods that leverage AI for formative assessments, providing real-time feedback, and supporting differentiated instruction. The potential of AI to create more personalized and effective assessment strategies was emphasized.

To sum up, during this training week, participants had the opportunity to share their experiences and gain insights from diverse cultural backgrounds. This collaborative environment facilitated the acquisition of AI and facilitation skills and provided a platform for participants to explore applying these skills within their classrooms.
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Discover more about this course here.