Dublin College Blackrock was awarded €5,000 to collaborate with four colleges of further education*, to design and pilot a professional learning programme on the effective and ethical use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in teaching and learning.
Teachers participated in a structured CPD process involving a needs analysis, a bespoke Articulate Rise e-learning course, and an online Community of Practice hosted on Moodle. The project aims to build teachers’ digital capability and confidence and create reusable CPD resources aligned with the Digital Strategy.
*List of collaborating colleges of further education:
- Dublin College Dundrum
- Dublin College Dún Laoghaire
- Dublin College Sallynoggin
- Dublin College Stillorgan
School’s reflection
Leading the ‘Empowering Further Education Teachers through Generative AI’ project was a transformative experience in collaborative professional learning, the initiative fostered a critical partnership among five colleges to navigate the rapid emergence of GenAI.
The project was uniquely grounded in a quantitative needs analysis, which identified a significant gap: while 75% of staff were aware of GenAI, only 10% felt very confident. This experience highlighted the necessity of a structured, blended CPD model, comprising an online Moodle course, a SharePoint GenAI Hub, and a face-to-face workshop, to translate awareness into practical application.
The impact on teachers has been the establishment of a shared baseline of understanding, promoting teaching efficiency and creativity while directly addressing substantial concerns regarding academic integrity. These professional learning activities have facilitated clearer guidance on responsible AI use, such as for drafting and idea generation. By enhancing teacher digital capability, the project ensures students benefit from increased engagement while safeguarding against dependency, ultimately building a sustainable, scalable foundation for the future of the Further Education sector.