AI trialled in WA schools to ease teachers’ workload


Brandon How
Reporter

Generative artificial intelligence tools will be trialled in Western Australian classrooms in a state and Commonwealth government effort to reduce time spent on lesson planning and other administrative tasks.

The $4.7 million investment was announced Monday to test the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in eight classrooms across the state in partnership with Catholic Education WA, the Association of Independent Schools of WA, and the School Curriculum and Standards Authority.

The non-government sector is committing $300,000, with the remainder made up by an equal state and Commonwealth government co-investment.

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The generative AI pilot was signed off by federal Education minister Jason Clare and state Education minister Tony Buti at the end of June.

The eight Western Australian schools involved in the generative AI pilot program are:

  • Harrisdale Primary School
  • Joseph Banks Secondary College
  • Lesmurdie Primary School
  • School of Isolated and Distance Education
  • Emmanuel Catholic College
  • Ursula Frayne Catholic College
  • Carey Baptist College
  • St James Anglican School

In a joint statement, Mr Clare said “AI will never replace a great teacher, but it can help cut down the time they spend doing admin so they can spend more time in the classroom”.

Meanwhile, Mr Buti said “unnecessary administrative burdens must be reduced, and we hope this new pilot program can support our teachers and ease their workload”.

The trial will be guided by the 25 principles outlined in the Australian Framework for Generative Artificial Intelligence in Schools, released in December 2023. Among these principles, the guideline instructs teachers not to use generative AI tools that sell student data.

The federal government is funding the AI pilot through the Workload Reduction Fund, a $30 million commitment it has spread across all states and territories under the broader National Teacher Workforce Action Plan.

According to the Commonwealth’s investment schedule, the Western Australian will need to submit its first progress report on the generative AI pilot by the end of January 2025.

The first report must include a finalisation of the program’s evaluation methodology “outlining how the impact of the pilot will be assessed”. It must also include a summary of risk and issue management along with any successes or challenges encountered.

Three subsequent progress reports are due at the end of July 2025, end of January 2026, and the end of July 2026. A final evaluation report is due on April 9, 2027.

The Commonwealth has also spent $900,000 to co-fund a Western Australian pilot for the use of digital forms on the state Education department’s intranet to reduce the workload associated with information sharing, service requests, and other regular reporting responsibility.

Do you know more? Contact James Riley via Email.

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