Llama 3 and school budgets
July 10, 2024
Meta’s release of Llama 3, an open‑source AI model, is being hailed as a turning point for education. But for school and college leaders, the real question is not “Is this exciting?” but “Does this change our budget, risk, and data‑protection picture?” This pragmatic buyer’s guide explains what Llama 3 actually means for schools, compares total cost of ownership with closed models like GPT‑4 and Claude, and sets out realistic hosting, privacy and procurement options. It focuses on practical decision‑making rather than hype, so you can plan the next 1–3 years of AI adoption with confidence.
Designing AI‑Resilient Assessments
July 8, 2024
Generative AI has changed how students complete written work, but it does not have to undermine meaningful assessment. This article offers a step‑by‑step playbook for designing ‘AI‑resilient’ portfolio, oral and practical assessments that focus on learning rather than policing. You will find ready‑to‑copy task briefs, sample rubrics and clear AI usage rules that can be dropped straight into existing units without rewriting your whole curriculum. The aim is not to ban AI, but to design assessments where authentic understanding, process and performance still matter most.
AI in Summer School Programmes: Engaging Students Over the Break
July 5, 2024
Summer school and holiday programmes can be a powerful time to explore AI in playful, low-pressure ways – without letting screens take over. This practical age-banded playbook offers ready-to-use project ideas for primary, lower secondary and upper secondary learners, along with low-device options to support equity. You will find family communication templates, clear safeguarding guardrails and planning tips for clubs, camps and at-home learning. Ideal for teachers and leaders who want to keep pupils curious, creative and safe with AI over the break.
AI for Outdoor Learning: Fieldwork Cycles That Start in Nature
July 1, 2024
Explore how to design AI-supported fieldwork cycles where pupils collect data outdoors, then use AI back in the classroom to analyse, compare and reflect. Discover practical project ideas for different age bands, clear guardrails to protect time in nature, and a simple checklist to get started.
Claude 3.5 Sonnet vs GPT‑4o: a buyer’s guide for education
June 24, 2024
Anthropic’s Claude 3.5 Sonnet now beats GPT‑4o on many benchmarks, but what does that actually change for schools, universities, and edtech platforms? This pragmatic guide focuses on classroom practice, assessment, and product design, with concrete rollout checklists rather than technical deep‑dives.
AI Literacy in Schools: Why It Matters Now
June 21, 2024
AI is rapidly becoming as fundamental as reading and digital citizenship. This article outlines what whole-school AI literacy really means, why it matters now, and how leaders can phase implementation with concrete cross-curricular examples, CPD plans, policy guidance, and a 90‑day quick-start checklist.
Creating Your School's AI Acceptable Use Policy
June 16, 2024
AI tools are arriving in classrooms faster than most policies can keep up. This practical guide walks school leaders step by step through building a clear, workable AI Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) that you can copy, paste and adapt. It translates high‑level principles – safeguarding, data protection, academic integrity and staff conduct – into concrete clauses, role descriptions and consent wording for staff and students. You will also find advice on keeping your policy “live” as AI tools and laws evolve, plus a simple checklist to take you from first draft to governing body approval.
Our New File Upload Feature
June 14, 2024
Automated Education is excited to introduce a new file upload feature that promises to revolutionise the way educators interact with the platform. This update allows users to directly upload various file formats such as PDFs, Word documents, and Google Docs, thereby saving time and effort. The feature maintains the original formatting, making it ideal for tasks like lesson planning, quiz generation, and translation. This enhancement aims to streamline the educational process, offering greater flexibility and efficiency for educators. Explore this new capability today and transform your teaching experience.
LGR22 utvecklingssamtal: an AI-supported workflow
June 13, 2024
Utvecklingssamtal can feel like a dozen parallel tasks: gathering evidence, keeping the pupil’s voice central, writing an IUP, aligning language to LGR22, and communicating clearly with families. This article frames the process as an “utvecklingssamtal OS”: a repeatable, AI-supported workflow that starts with three teacher inputs and reliably produces five usable outputs. You’ll see how to keep data protection tight, how to shift expectations between Years 1–5 and Year 6+, and how to quality-check tone, bias, and translation before teacher sign-off.
Effective Behaviour Management for Educators
June 3, 2024
Introducing the new **Behaviour Management Tool** in the Automated Education app, designed to help educators tackle classroom behaviour challenges efficiently. This innovative tool offers scenario-based assistance, providing personalised strategies and tips for issues such as disruptive behaviour, bullying, and mental health struggles. By using this tool, teachers can create a positive and productive learning environment, save time on behaviour management plans, and gain fresh perspectives on recurring problems. Enhance your classroom dynamics with tailored solutions and maintain focus on teaching with ease. Start improving your classroom environment today with the Behaviour Management Tool.
Enhanced Parent-Teacher Communication
May 31, 2024
The Automated Education app introduces a new feature: Parent Communication. This tool aids educators in crafting clear, concise, and effective messages to parents or guardians regarding students' progress, behaviour, or other important matters. The AI-powered tool allows for context input, personalisation, and multilingual support, ensuring tailored and professional communication. It streamlines the message drafting process, saving time and fostering better relationships between school and home. Enhanced communication through this feature can lead to improved student engagement and academic outcomes, making it an invaluable resource for educators.
Free AI Training for Educators
May 30, 2024
Enhance your teaching methods and meet the diverse needs of your students with Google's **Generative AI for Educators** course. This free, self-paced training, developed in collaboration with MIT RAISE, offers practical, hands-on experience with AI tools to save time, personalise instruction, and create engaging lessons. Suitable for middle and high school teachers across all disciplines, the course requires no prior technical experience. Upon completion, educators receive a certificate that may count towards professional development credits. Transform your classroom and streamline your workflow by enrolling today.
Complex Topics Simplified
May 29, 2024
Introducing the latest feature in the Automated Education app: the **Concept Explainer**. This innovative tool empowers educators to simplify complex topics into student-friendly explanations tailored to specific year groups. Input any concept, and the AI-driven tool will generate comprehensive, age-appropriate breakdowns, making even the toughest subjects like gravity or the stock market accessible. Save time, enhance understanding, and boost student engagement with this versatile tool, perfect for lessons, study materials, and homework help. Try the Concept Explainer now and transform your teaching experience.
Craft the Perfect Cover Letter with Ease
May 28, 2024
Automated Education is excited to introduce a new feature that simplifies your job application process: the Cover Letter tool. This innovative addition helps you craft professional, tailored cover letters using advanced AI, making job applications smooth and efficient. Provide your resume and job details, and the tool generates a customised cover letter that highlights your qualifications. Save time, reduce stress, and improve your chances of success with a well-structured, error-free cover letter. Ideal for new positions, promotions, or career changes, this tool is a must-have for any job seeker.
Substitution Planning Just Got Easier
May 24, 2024
Introducing the new **Cover Work** feature in Automated Education, designed to simplify substitute lesson planning. This tool enables swift creation of detailed lesson plans, ensuring smooth transitions for substitute teachers, even with limited subject familiarity. By inputting the lesson topic, year group, and subject, users can generate structured plans with defined learning outcomes and key points. Ideal for last-minute arrangements, this feature supports various subjects like geography, history, and science. Experience seamless, efficient lesson planning and maintain educational continuity with the Cover Work feature.