How AI and Digital Learning Are Supporting Prison Education

At HMP Featherstone, innovative use of AI and digital learning tools is helping transform classroom engagement, reduce teacher workload and support learners in developing the digital skills needed for life after release.

As part of our commitment to innovation, teachers are exploring practical ways that technology can improve learning experiences while preparing prison learners for an increasingly digital world.

One example comes from Liz, an English teacher at HMP Featherstone, who has been using a range of digital platforms and AI-supported tools to create engaging lessons, streamline lesson preparation and build learner confidence with technology.

Why Digital Skills Matter in Prison Education

Digital capability is now essential for everyday life. Applying for jobs, accessing training opportunities, managing finances, communicating with services and completing applications increasingly require confidence using technology.

For many prison learners, access to structured digital learning opportunities can play an important role in preparing for successful rehabilitation and reintegration into society.

By embedding technology into classroom activities in safe and purposeful ways, educators can help learners develop:

• digital confidence
• communication skills
• independent learning habits
• familiarity with workplace technology
• readiness for employment and further education after release

At HMP Featherstone, digital tools are being used not simply to modernise teaching, but to help learners build practical skills that support progression beyond custody.

Using Digital Tools to Increase Learner Engagement

Digital learning is already well established within Liz’s English teaching practice. A combination of interactive tools, online resources and multimedia content helps maintain learner focus and supports a range of learning styles.

Some of the platforms regularly used include:

• YouTube and BoB (Box of Broadcasts) to source video materials for speaking and listening activities
• Online texts accessed through Open Borders to support reading activities and complement video content
• Wordwall for interactive quizzes and starter activities
• MathsBot – Number of the Day to help learners refocus and re-engage during lessons

Learners also use PCs for word processing tasks and participate using interactive whiteboards, helping create more collaborative and engaging classroom environments.

Please note: AI is used entirely by the teacher to support planning and resource creation. Learners do not access AI tools directly, ensuring use remains ethical, controlled and compliant with prison rules.

How AI Is Helping Teachers Save Time

Alongside digital learning tools, Liz has also begun using AI-supported features within Wordwall to support lesson planning and resource creation.

Using the platform’s AI functionality, she can:

• enter a short topic prompt
• generate an interactive quiz within seconds
• edit and refine questions to match learner ability and curriculum expectations

The process allows teaching resources to be created far more efficiently while ensuring the teacher retains full professional judgement and control over the final content.

By reducing the time spent creating starter activities and quizzes from scratch, AI helps free up more time for meaningful learner interaction, discussion and feedback.

This demonstrates how AI can support prison education in practical, controlled and teacher-led ways.

Building Confidence With AI in Education

Liz’s confidence using AI has developed gradually through experimentation, training and practical application in the classroom.

She primarily uses the chatbot generator within TeacherMatic because of its flexible prompt-based approach, allowing her to shape content more effectively around learner needs.

Following participation in the Novus Festival of Learning CPD day in 2025, particularly the digital learning development sessions, she became increasingly confident in:

• writing effective prompts
• refining AI-generated content
• adapting outputs to suit curriculum language and learner ability
• using AI as a starting point rather than a finished product

She is now exploring additional AI-supported features, including tools that generate questions from video content to support comprehension and classroom discussion.

Supporting Innovation and Rehabilitation Through Technology

This work at HMP Featherstone highlights how small, practical uses of AI and digital technology can have a significant impact within prison education settings.

By embedding digital learning into everyday teaching practice, teachers can:

• improve learner engagement
• reduce preparation time
• increase teaching efficiency
• support innovative approaches to education
• build learners’ digital confidence for release and employment
• create more opportunities for meaningful teacher-learner interaction

Most importantly, it demonstrates how technology can support rehabilitation by helping learners develop the digital skills increasingly needed to navigate modern life successfully.

As organisations across education continue exploring the role of AI and digital learning, examples like this show how thoughtful, teacher-led innovation can support both educational outcomes and long-term learner progression.