Let’s talk about Learning
It is not surprising that there is growing scepticism and even open opposition to AI in education. Even if the latest release of Large Language Models have shown a marked improvement Generative AI remains problematic on a number of levels including so called hallucinations, ongoing biases, limited provision in many languages and so on. Perhaps most problematic is the control asserted by a very limited number of large manly American companies all of whom have tried to hype. The value of their products for education. All of which is true but is just a continuation of the trend to over […]
Learning to think in the age of AI: lessons for vocational education from the new UNESCO Courier
The latest issue of the UNESCO Courier asks a deceptively simple question: do we still need to think? At one level, the answer is obvious. Of course we do. Yet the fact that the question now has to be posed tells us something important about the moment we are in. Generative AI has arrived in education not simply as another digital tool, but as a technology that appears to challenge some of the core purposes of teaching and learning. It can generate essays, summaries, lesson materials, quiz questions, code, translations and feedback at speed. In doing so, it encourages a […]
AI Ready Schools Open Workshop for Teachers
The Erasmus+ AI Ready project aims to enhance AI literacy in education by empowering schools, teachers, and students with knowledge about artificial intelligence’s benefits, risks, and ethical use.The project aims at balancing AI’s transformative potential with human-centric values, adhering to ethical guidelines, and raising public awareness about responsible AI implementation in educational settings.This includes the development of comprehensive guidelines for schools to implement responsible AI policies and the enhancement of the SELFIE tool with AI readiness assessment questions. The project willpromote responsible and human-centric AI use in educationTeacher Empowerment, training teachers inAI literacy and pedagogical skills and organising workshops for […]
Researching Futures in Education and Training: Reflections on the Social Life of AI and Troubled Times
The rapid adoption of Generative AI – at least […]
Trained to stop learning?
A new report from the UK-based higher education think […]
Podcast: Teachers, Trust and AI in VET
A couple of weeks ago I greatly enjoyed being interview by Michael Hallissy for Teachnet Ireland. We covered a lot of ground but being honest I didn’t want it to stop. Anyway here is their report on the podcast and you can listen to the podcast on their website. In the latest edition of the TeachNet podcast, Dr. Michael Hallissy is joined by Dr. Graham Attwell, a researcher and practitioner in vocational education and training (VET), and a leading voice in digital learning and artificial intelligence in VET. Drawing on over four decades of experience, Graham offers a critical and […]
The Gap Between AI Theory and Practice: A New Look at Labour Market Impacts
The debate over artificial intelligence and its effect on employment often feels like a pendulum swinging between utopian promises and dystopian fears. It is a discourse in need of data. A new report from Anthropic, titled “Labor market impacts of AI: A new measure and early evidence” [1] attempts to ground the conversation in reality. The authors have developed a new metric—observed exposure—that moves beyond theoretical speculation by combining AI’s potential capabilities with data on its actual, real-world usage. The report contains a chart that tells a far more interesting and complex story than a simple narrative of job destruction […]
New EU Digital Education Guidelines
George Bekiaridis and Graham Attwell from AI Pioneers were […]
Integrating AI in TVET Institutions
UNESCO‑UNEVOC are developing a practical guide for the integration of AI in TVET institutions, together with Shenzhen Polytechnic University and Otto‑von‑Guericke University Magdeburg. The practical guide focuses specifically on TVET, not general education. They say they “are therefore particularly interested in the challenges, opportunities, practices, and lessons learned that relate to the unique realities of TVET, especially the practical dimensions, including the teaching, learning and assessment of hands‑on skills both in school-based settings and in workplace environments.” From AI Pioneers myself, Graham Attwell, George Bekiaridis and Oliver Nahm all applied to join the expert group for the publication and all […]
Opportunities to Shape the Future of AI in Education
Artificial intelligence is increasingly influencing the landscape of education, presenting both opportunities and challenges. As AI and other advanced digital technologies become more integrated into our learning environments, it is important to develop a dialogue that is inclusive, ethical, and forward-thinking. For researchers, educators, and policymakers in the field of vocational education and training (VET), two recently announced calls for papers offer a chance to contribute to this important conversation and shape the future of AI in education. AI in Vocational Education and Training (VET) Cedefop, the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, has launched a call for […]
