Northern Ireland teachers reclaim hours with AI
Examples included risk assessments, podcasts, mind maps, and inclusive Irish language lessons.
A six-month pilot across Northern Ireland put Gemini and Workspace into classrooms. One hundred teachers participated under the Education Authority’s C2k programme. Reported benefits centred on time savings and practical support for everyday teaching.
Participants said they saved around ten hours per week on routine tasks where freed time was redirected to pupil engagement and professional development. More than six hundred use cases from the one hundred participants were documented during the trial period.
Teachers cited varied applications, from drafting parent letters to generating risk assessments quickly. NotebookLM helped transform curriculum materials into podcasts and interactive mind maps. Inclusive lessons were tailored, including Irish language activities and support for neurodivergent learners.
C2k plans wider training so more Northen Ireland educators can adopt the tools responsibly. Leadership framed AI as collaborative, not a replacement for teachers. Further partnerships are expected to align products with established pedagogical principles.
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