The NSWEduChat app, a new generative artificial intelligence (AI) tool developed by the New South Wales (NSW) government, will be available to all teachers in public schools by the start of the fourth term. This app aims to automate administrative tasks for teachers, allowing them to save time, customize resources, and focus on their essential work in the classroom.
According to Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Prue Car, NSWEduChat is not intended to replace teachers but rather to support them in their roles. Feedback from teachers who participated in the trial of the AI app showed that it significantly improved workload efficiency, enabling them to spend more time teaching.
The trial of NSWEduChat began in 16 schools at the start of 2024 and expanded to 50 schools in the second term. Teachers involved in the trial reported saving more than one hour per week on producing lesson resources. The government aims to reduce the administrative burden on teachers by five hours per week to address the teacher shortage.
NSWEduChat is based in the department’s cloud environment to ensure data security. Staff use of the app is optional, and professional training and workshops are provided. By the start of the fourth term, the app will be available to all teachers in what is described as one of the world’s largest systemic rollouts of AI chat for teachers.
Additionally, there is a separate version of NSWEduChat for students, although student use of generative AI within department networks is currently restricted due to concerns about data privacy and student safety. The trial will be reviewed in Term 4, 2024, to determine further student access to the app.
Overall, the introduction of AI into schools aims to assist teachers in their roles rather than replace them entirely. Research suggests that AI can enhance teaching and learning without replacing the unique qualities that human teachers bring to education. Teachers are encouraged to integrate AI effectively into their practices while addressing issues such as data protection, ethics, and privacy. Please rewrite this sentence.
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