Overview
This session explored the growing role of Artificial Intelligence in education and what it means for teaching, learning and school practice. It focused on developing a shared understanding of AI, highlighting both its potential benefits and its limitations.

Emphasis was placed on professional judgement, safeguarding, data protection and ethical use, ensuring that AI is used to support teaching and learning without replacing teacher expertise. The session also encouraged open discussion around appropriate, transparent and responsible use of AI within the school context.

Learning Outcomes:

• Identify and apply practical, ethical uses of AI to support school leadership, including planning, communication, SSE, policy development, and workload management, while retaining professional judgement.
• Evaluate the benefits, risks, and limitations of AI in a school setting, with particular reference to GDPR, child safeguarding, data protection, and Department of Education guidance.
• Develop a shared, whole school understanding and agreed approach to the use of AI, supporting consistent, transparent and ethical practice across leadership, staff and governance structures.

Facilitator:
Colm Conlon is Principal of a small rural school in Longford and spent 5 years working with Oide as a Professional Learning Leader on the Wellbeing Team.