Kelly White
31 October 2025: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant concept in Australian classrooms, with teachers now increasingly looking to the opportunities this new technology brings.
91直播 Lecturer in Education, Dr Beth Chapman sees the transformative potential of AI tools for the profession, and teaming up with Google and the ACT Education Directorate, delivered the inaugural Classroom Innovation Training Day – an event aimed at demystifying AI and showcasing its real-world applications in teaching and learning.
Held at the 91直播’s Inspire Centre, the training day attracted over 120 educators from across the ACT
Attendees represented every age and stage of education in the capital – from early childhood to college – as well as the independent, Catholic and public school sectors. Also present on the day, was the ACT Minister for Education and Youth Affairs, Yvette Berry.
“The energy was amazing, and we had a great turnout – I think that really shows the desire among educators for this kind of training – I had people asking me: when’s the next one?” Dr Chapman said.
The program featured interactive workshops, keynote presentations, and networking opportunities, all designed to help teachers explore tools like Google Workspace, Gemini, and NotebookLM.
Dr Chapman, along with Director of Digital Education at the ACT Education Directorate, Ryan Elwell, and Digital Transformation Advisor for Google, Alex Galland, designed the event with a focus on AI literacy and practical classroom integration. Sessions were tailored to help teachers immediately apply new skills to address everyday challenges.
For instance, with AI tools, teachers can now instantly adapt existing resources, even hard copy versions, to better support a classroom with diverse student needs – from generating vocabulary lists for students learning English as an additional language, to adjusting document colours for those with dyslexia or colour blindness.
“Using an AI tool like Gemini, any resource can instantly be tailored to suit the need of students. You can take a photo of a hard copy resource, and instantly create vocabulary lists or pronunciation charts,” Dr Chapman said.
One standout feature discussed was Gemini’s guided learning capability, which guides students through problem-solving steps – a potential game-changer in classrooms where one teacher supports up to 20 students.
“Previously, a student needing one-on-one help might have had to wait,” Dr Chapman said. “Now, a guided learning tool like Gemini can help guide their thinking.”
The training day was a resounding success, with many teachers leaving feeling inspired and with greater confidence on how to integrate AI tools into their practice.
“The possibilities with AI tools are dynamic, so showcasing the examples and case studies can spark teachers’ imagination on how to utilise them within their own areas of expertise,” Dr Chapman said.
Professor Barney Dalgarno, Executive Dean at the University’s Faculty of Education, echoed this sentiment.
“Teachers are at the forefront of change, yet they are carrying increasing administrative burdens,” he said.
“By connecting Google’s technology expertise with UC’s deep expertise in pedagogy and assessment, this training day demonstrates how technology can give teachers time back for what matters most – engaging with students.”
With every ACT public school now operating as a Google for Education environment, and many students equipped with Chromebooks or similar devices, the infrastructure is already in place to support AI-enhanced learning.
Dr Chapman hopes the success of the training day will pave the way for future events.
“There's a huge spectrum in terms of people's familiarity with AI, with and I think at the moment there's still a sense of anxiety about what this change means and how to navigate it,” Dr Chapman said.
“I never want to minimise anyone’s concerns, because it is such a fast-moving technology, and there are pain points. We need to ensure that AI is used for genuine learning, not to cheat, and there are concerns around bias, copyright and its impact on the environment.
“But I think it is really important to focus on what we can control, and moving forward, how we can make sure the technology helps us. That’s what Monday was all about.”