Great Schools Trust piloted the use of AI deepfake technology in classrooms. This combined effort takes a collaborative approach to improve educational delivery and reduce the burden on our overworked teachers. The Valley school is piloting a national new initiative, Move to Improve. They’re employing an AI deepfake as a virtual maths teacher for gifted students in Years 9, 10 and 11.
Shane Ierston, the CEO of Great Schools Trust Shane is passionate about giving every student a world-class, top-class education. He claims that this is his top priority. The Trust’s goal is to leverage AI to provide tailored, one-on-one instruction. Together, these efforts mission will realize creating a more level educational playing field for all students.
This misuse of AI deepfakes is in accordance with our larger strategy to protect and reinforce teachers and students on their mark. Great Schools Trust’s experimental AI lesson planning tool has received remarkable uptake. Since that official launch in September of last year, more than 40,000 teachers have logged in to take an active role as a teacher within the resource. This interactive tool, funded by the Department for Education (DfE), is designed to support educators in planning high-quality lessons that can be tailored to students’ specific needs.
This year, Great Schools Trust has been pioneering AI deepfakes in the classroom. Then, from there, they’ll continue to seek feedback from staff, students, and parents so they understand what their next steps should be. The program assists missing students in getting back on track while studying from home. It helps us communicate with our parents by translating messages into the 46 different languages that are spoken in our schools.
Benjamin Barker, Director of AI at Great Schools Trust, highlighted the potential of this technology to identify gaps in students’ learning and aid teachers in planning future lessons. “We want to ensure every child receives personalized tuition,” he stated.
Not all reactions have been positive. The National Education Union (NEU) condemned this use of AI deepfakes as an “unacceptable situation.” Concerns about the implications of technology replacing human interaction in education remain a hot topic among educators and parents alike.
Nicola Burrows, an employee of Great Schools Trust, showed hesitation about the technology behind deepfakes. Her daughter Lucy is in Year 11 and already we’re seeing this new method of pedagogy affecting her. Burrows noted the importance of maintaining a human element in education: “Will your virtual teacher be there to dance with you at prom, hug your mum during results day, or high-five you in the corridor because they know you won the match last night?”
Despite some skepticism from parents—only 12% of whom believe AI should be used in classrooms according to Great Schools Trust’s annual survey—Shane Ierston remains optimistic. He sees a future where, when integrated intelligently, AI can help save teachers time. That additional time means they can prioritize what really matters in education, such as instilling character, developing leadership skills, and building resilience.
Ierston added that we’re doing things with technology, including the ones that have a bad rap. Our mission is to find out how it can best serve the societal good. And no, it’s not about replacing teachers, he stressed. Rather, it’s to help them improve their practice so they can engage students in deeper and more meaningful ways.
Tackling these parental concerns will be important for the success of this initiative. Indeed, parents are “deeply skeptical about AI,” said Frank Young, an educational consultant who spoke on the panel. He went on to stress that building trust by being transparent about how AI will be used is key. “I think we can get there if parents are provided with reassurance over how this AI will be used and how it will benefit the children,” he added.
It’s easy to see how the advantages of employing AI deepfakes would go far beyond classroom instruction. Great Schools Trust hopes to use this technology in a more far-reaching way. It’ll help students make up for lost work and improve the district’s ability to communicate with non-English speaking families.
As this experiment unfolds, Great Schools Trust remains committed to collaborating positively with NEU representatives and educators to navigate the challenges of integrating AI into educational settings. The non-profit’s unique approach points to a growing movement within education. For the sake of their teachers and students, institutions are searching for new, creative solutions to help lessen teacher workload while maintaining quality levels of student learning.
