Using AI in Education - Cornelsen Workshop

Saturday 13th September, 2025

Today I thoroughly enjoyed a workshop on the topic of Artificial Intelligence, what it means for education in the future, and how we can use it as a tool to support learning. (Cornelsen – DaFutura, Cologne)

A few years ago I thought: “Oh gosh — what if my role as a teacher becomes obsolete?!”

Since then, I’ve trialled it in my lessons to support learners, and shown them how they can use it to practise independently, as well as how I can incorporate it into the planning process, which allows me to devote more of my energy to delivering the lesson itself.

I am a big fan of using ChatGPT or similar providers, but must also acknowledge that there are many things that need to be considered, as discussed in the workshop today.

These include teaching learners how to be critical of the results they get, checking the sources, spotting errors and being aware that many results can reinforce clichés!

Apart from that, it is important to be aware of the environmental impact that AI has. A huge amount of water is needed to generate each response.

This definitely does play on my mind and makes me think twice about whether I really need ChatGPT to help me in a certain case, or whether I can complete something without it.

I’m happy that attending today’s workshop helped me to gain a new insight into where we are with AI and education, engage in an interesting discussion about the advantages and disadvantages of using it, and pick up some new and exciting methods to incorporate into my teaching repertoire.

I’m excited to try them out soon!

And I got a tasty lunch!

Conclusion: AI is an excellent tool for teachers to use and promote in the classroom. It can support lesson preparation and free up energy to be more present for students. At the same time, it is vital that teachers handle the topic critically while also helping their students strengthen their digital competence. We must stay up to date with technology and continue to adapt, so that our teaching remains relevant and empowering. And finally, we should stay mindful of AI’s environmental impact — choosing carefully when its use is truly necessary.

@cornelsenverlag #dafutura