Using AI CPD as a tool to improve teaching and learning at HMP Hatfield

At Novus, CPD is an important tool to make sure that we are supporting colleagues with their professional development, so that all colleagues are equipped with the relevant and up-to-date skills and knowledge to educate learners. 

Recently, the Novus education department at HMP Hatfield ran CPD sessions focusing on AI to improve teaching and learning, with some excellent results! 

Using AI CPD as a tool for improving teaching and learning

At the end of last year, teachers and LSP's at HMP Hatfield were invited to a monthly training session with the focus being on AI and specifically, the use of TeacherMatic to advance teaching and learning.

The Local Education Manager, Sophie, delivered the training session which included a walk through of the system, demonstrating various generators with requests from teachers. During the session, one of the teachers asked Sophie to demonstrate the 'Create exam style questions' for his level 1 maths learners, whilst another asked for a demonstration of 'Ask an expert' and specifically requested we asked for Rishi Sunak's ideas on reducing knife crime in the UK. 

All colleagues who attended the session responded positively and saw the opportunities that the system provided. The session enabled colleagues to feel creative and excited about what they could create using TeacherMatic.

Recap and reinforce session to further develop colleagues AI skills

Following on from the initial session, Sophie ran a ‘Recap and reinforce’ session to further develop colleagues’ AI skills and knowledge. All teachers and LSP’s were given a project brief and had 60 minutes to actively use TeacherMatic generators and chat options to build a session and resources on their project brief. 

HMP Hatfield’s English teacher, Fay, worked in collaboration with another Functional Skills tutor, Lauren, with their project brief focusing on propaganda in war/dictatorships. Together they generated their lesson plan, an informative PowerPoint presentation, a research task that encouraged learners to use digital tools, and a task for learners to review and evaluate examples of propaganda from history, focusing on layout features and language.

They identified very quickly which generators worked well for their project brief and responded positively to challenges faced. They were able to reflect that their resources would need some fine-tuning following generation, but that it had saved so much time using Teachermatic as a starting point.

With the digital landscape constantly evolving, and the rise of AI applications, it is crucial that we are providing teachers with the CPD needed to develop their own skills in AI, AI applications and how they can be utilised in teaching, so that they are equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to educate learners on AI and digital technologies. 

Sessions like the ones delivered at HMP Hatfield, not only show educators how to utilise these AI applications in teaching and learning but also fosters creativity and excitement around using these applications to enhance their teaching and delivery. 

To learn more about how we support colleagues with their professional development, take a look at the news section.