Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Practical Examples of AI use in Primary Schools
The following examples of AI use in primary schools have been extracted and summarised from the Department of Education and Youth’s Guidance for AI in Schools .
They are grouped under the following headings:
- Teacher Planning & Preparation
- Teaching & Learning
- Leadership & Management
Teacher Planning and Preparation
Example: A second class teacher wants to make better use of the physical teaching resources available to them. They photograph items such as cubes, cylinders, and scales, and upload them to a GenAI tool. Using the Oide RASE prompt framework, they generate activity ideas that align these resources with curriculum outcomes. They review the ideas and adapt them for their context.
Example: A fifth class teacher uses GenAI to generate images that accompany an Irish story from Dúchas.ie, with the goal of supporting learners’ understanding of the text. The images are intended to provide visual support for engagement and comprehension.
Example: As part of the formative feedback process, the teacher uses anonymised rubric scores aligned to clear learning intentions and success criteria. The GenAI tool processes the data to generate a summary of which criteria most students have mastered (Feed-Back) and which require further teaching (Feed-Forward). The teacher then uses this insight to inform their planning.
Example: A teacher uses a GenAI tool to help draft an email communication to parents about an upcoming field trip. They then use a translation tool to convert the email into the home languages of all students. While the translation may not be perfect, it helps ensure that all parents can access the key information.
Example: A CPD coordinator has curated resources for a staff meeting on wellbeing. Based on these publicly available resources, they use GenAI to generate case-study-style scenarios for discussion. The coordinator reviews the scenarios for suitability, accuracy and alignment with key messages from these resources, before including them in the staff meeting.
Teaching and Learning
Example: In a brainstorming session, students provide individual ideas on a topic. GenAI is used to organise these inputs into categories and generates a visual mind map. The teacher then uses the mind map for questioning, group discussion, and connecting new material to existing knowledge.
Example: A SEN teacher uses a GenAI tool to create reading passages on the same topic at different levels of complexity. After reviewing and adjusting the content as needed, the teacher provides these materials so that all students can engage with the material in a way that suits their learning needs.
Example: A sixth class teacher wants to select challenging vocabulary from a chapter of a novel being studied in class. They use GenAI to generate vocabulary lists tailored to different abilities. The teacher selects the words they consider most appropriate from these lists and plans extension activities using them.
School Leadership and Management
Example: An Assistant Principal (AP) reviews the school’s current mathematics equipment. They use GenAI to analyse this inventory alongside the Primary Mathematics Curriculum. This analysis reveals any gaps or additional resource needs, helping the AP determine the necessary resources and guide future spending decisions to support effective teaching and learning.
Example: A principal is reviewing a new publication relevant to their role. They use GenAI to create audio conversations in a podcast format, enabling a more accessible and efficient overview of the publication. This approach effectively primes them to engage with the full document independently and with greater understanding.
Example: A principal collects updates from staff regarding school activities and events. GenAI assists in synthesising this information into a coherent and engaging newsletter draft. The principal subsequently reviews and revises the draft to ensure the tone reflects the school’s ethos and highlights priorities relevant to the local community.
