Author: Miss Abercrombie

AI in Education: Guiding Principles and Support

As technology evolves, Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers powerful tools to enhance teaching and learning. This guide provides our position on AI use, links to guidance from other bodies and organisations and recommends tools that educators might consider exploring in their classroom. We emphasise the importance of AI literacy to prepare both educators and students for the future and offer a model for educators to work from. This is also where we will provide access to resources to help you navigate AI’s role in education confidently and responsibly.

As this is a rapidly evolving field we will review and update this page when necessary. The last time this page was updated is: 02 February 2026

Our Position in Education Services

Additional Documentation

SQA Guidance

Learning About AI: Courses for Educators

Tools for Teachers

The Importance of AI Literacy

Our Position in Education Services

As a digital learning team, we have developed this stance in co-ordination with Falkirk Council’s Data Protection Officer and the Information Management Working Group.

It is important that staff familiarise themselves with and consider the risks involved in using AI before they begin making use it. These risks include:

      • AI lacks human empathy and insights. It cannot judge if something is ethically correct.
      • It can inadvertently replicate bias that is present in the web pages, documents, books, articles etc it is trained on.
      • It can provide answers that are inaccurate and can be inconsistent.
      • Responses can be out of date.
      • Any input can become part of the ‘learning’ of AI, so you cannot guarantee any information you input will be dealt with in confidence. You should not input any confidential Council information, including personal information we hold (for example, about our employees and citizens).
      • It is susceptible to copyright infringement.
      • It has limited creativity as it can only generate responses based on existing data.
      • It can be used to generate fake news and misinformation.

The Learning about AI section of this page provides signposting to materials staff can access to learn more about AI, machine learning and the ethics of AI.

Our position emphasises that AI should enhance, not replace, human teaching. We are committed to ethical and responsible AI use, ensuring compliance with data protection principles. Teachers are empowered to use AI tools thoughtfully, with a focus on professionalism and informed decision-making, while safeguarding sensitive information and conducting proper risk assessments.

All education staff making use of AI in schools must comply with the following advice:

Staff Use

Teachers are permitted to use generative AI tools for a variety of educational activities, provided they adhere to established professionalism and data protection legislation.

Tool Approval and Risk Assessment

Currently, no generative AI software requiring pupil login credentials is approved for pupil use. As with any digital tool, teachers must conduct an appropriate risk assessment before implementation as outlined in Falkirk Council’s Service Circular 50, available on the Intranet.

Professionalism

Teachers using generative AI to create content are reminded of their professional responsibility to thoroughly review any AI-generated material before sharing it with pupils or the wider school community. Just as with any other resource, teachers must ensure content accuracy and appropriateness.

Data Protection

Under no circumstances should sensitive or personal information about pupils, staff, or other stakeholders, including the school itself, be submitted to AI tools or software. This is a critical GDPR compliance issue. Only data already in the public domain may be used, and no personally identifiable information should be shared with AI models.

Additional Documentation

Links to further guidance and support documentation from public bodies and organisations.

Digital Scotland

SCOTLAND’S ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE STRATEGY

 Scotland’s AI Strategy focuses on building a trustworthy, ethical, and inclusive AI ecosystem. While the strategy isn’t exclusively education focused, for educators it highlights the importance of AI literacy and education to equip both students and teachers with essential AI skills. The strategy encourages integrating AI into education to enhance learning while preparing students for an AI-driven future. It also discusses the importance of teaching ethical AI use, ensuring technology benefits society fairly and inclusively.

You can access the full document here.

UK Government Department for Education

GENERATIVE ARTIFICAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) IN EDUCATION

The UK government’s document on generative AI in education provides guidance on using AI tools responsibly in educational settings. It mentions the potential benefits of AI for personalised learning and administrative efficiency while highlighting the importance of ethical considerations, data privacy, and avoiding reliance on AI-generated content for assessments. The document encourages educators to develop AI literacy among students and to integrate AI in ways that support, rather than replace, traditional human led teaching methods.

For more details, visit here.

Llywodraeth Cymru (Welsh Government)

GENERATIVE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN EDUCATION

Hwb’s* guidance on generative AI in education focuses on fostering AI literacy, critical thinking, and creativity within Wales’ Curriculum. It emphasises safeguarding against online risks, equitable access, and supporting educators with resources. Estyn (education and training inspectorate for Wales) is reviewing AI use in schools to explore its benefits and challenges, with findings due this summer.

*(Hwb is a digital learning platform provided by the Welsh Government to support education across Wales)

Access the full guidance here.

Education Scotland

MACHINE LEARNING AND AI WITHIN GLOW

The “Machine Learning and AI within Glow” guide outlines the use of AI and machine learning tools within Scotland’s Glow platform. It explains how educators can leverage these technologies to enhance teaching and learning, while also touching on ethical considerations and data privacy. The resource highlights the importance of AI literacy for both students and teachers, providing guidance on responsible AI use in educational settings.

For more details, you can visit the full document here.

WEST Partnership

AI IN EDUCATION SCOPING REVIEW 

The AI in Education Scoping Review explores the potential of AI in educational settings, examining its benefits, challenges, and ethical considerations. It emphasises the importance of teacher training, data privacy, and the need for careful implementation to enhance learning outcomes. The review calls for ongoing research and collaboration to effectively integrate AI into education.

You can access the full document here.

Goodison Group

21ST CENTURY SKILLS: AI AND EDUCATION REPORT

The report from Scotland’s Future Forum explores the impact of AI on education, discussing its potential to transform teaching and learning. It highlights the need for ethical considerations, teacher training, and equitable access to AI tools. The report emphasizes collaboration between educators, policymakers, and technologists to harness AI’s benefits while addressing challenges.

For more details, you can access the full report here.

OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development)

GENERATIVE AI IN THE CLASSROOM: FROM HYPE TO REALITY?

The OECD document discusses the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in education, focusing on its potential to enhance learning outcomes, address educational challenges, and support personalized learning. It also emphasizes the need for ethical guidelines, data privacy, and teacher training to ensure responsible AI integration. The report provides recommendations for policymakers and educators on effectively using AI in education systems.

For more details, you can access the full document here.

Daydream Believers and Education Scotland

GenAI IN EDUCATION EXPLORATION HUB

The GenAI in Education Exploration Hub is a website in joint partnership between Daydream Believers and Education Scotland to help make sense of the Generative AI advancements and how best to utilise them in learning environments to be helpful tools for educators and students.

You can access the website here.

DigiLearnScot (Education Scotland)

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN SCOTTISH EDUCATION

This blog post explores the burgeoning presence of artificial intelligence (AI) within the Scottish education landscape, outlining key considerations for educators and stakeholders. It highlights the potential of AI to transform teaching and learning practices, including personalized learning experiences and streamlined administrative tasks. However, it also underscores the critical importance of addressing ethical implications, data security, and the necessity for professional development to equip teachers with the skills required to navigate and leverage AI tools effectively. The article serves as an informative resource for understanding the current and future impact of AI on Scottish education, promoting informed discussions and strategic planning.

Read the full post here.

Children’s Parliament

EXPLORING CHILDREN’S RIGHTS AND AI

This webpage details the Children’s Parliament’s project “Exploring Children’s Rights and A.I.” conducted in partnership with the Scottish A.I. Alliance and The Alan Turing Institute. This programme investigates how children in Scotland interact with Artificial Intelligence, focusing on their views concerning the potential opportunities and risks of A.I. use, while also exploring ways to involve them meaningfully in policy development. A key outcome of this work is the children’s development of twelve powerful ‘Calls to Action’. The project has produced educational resources to help bridge the knowledge gap highlighted by national surveys of both pupils and school staff on this important technological and ethical landscape.

For more details, you can access the full page here.

SQA Guidance

It is imperative that secondary teachers are aware of the clear SQA clear stance around pupil use of generative AI for assessments associated with national qualifications including assessed coursework and exams. Below you can find the guidance published around this.

SQA – Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Assessments UPDATED 12 JULY 2025

The SQA have produced a new position statement for academic session 2025-26 on the use of Generative AI in assessment. Broadly speaking, it is permissible to use GenAI if it doesn’t undermine assessment integrity or a learner’s ability to show their skills, or if the course explicitly allows it. However, AI-generated content cannot be used as an independent source or submitted as a learner’s own work, as this constitutes malpractice. They stress the importance of following assessment conditions.

For full details on the official SQA stance, visit this page.

You can also view the SQA’s Generative AI Consultation Results on this page.

SQA – Authenticating Learner’s Work Good Practice Advice for Centre Staff

The SQA’s document on authenticating learners’ work provides guidance to ensure the integrity of assessments. The advice includes strategies such as supervising assessments, using plagiarism detection tools, and encouraging learners to maintain a reflective log. It also highlights the need for clear communication between educators and students regarding expectations and the consequences of academic misconduct.

For more details, you can access the full document here.

Within their AI Exemplification document the SQA outline three critical questions that are useful for all teachers when considering learner use of AI:

Learning About AI: Courses for Educators

Links to free online courses where teachers who are keen to learn more about AI generally (how it works and the wider societal and ethical implications of AI) can learn at their own pace. These courses are not specific to an education context. All of these courses are free, self paced and completed online.

Forth Valley College – Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) – Online

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionising the world, and this free short course provides you with an exciting opportunity to learn the fundamentals of AI. Whether you’re a beginner or seeking to expand your skills, the Introduction to AI course offers a flexible and accessible pathway to learn more about this transformative field.  Applicants for this course must reside in Scotland. The course is online and self paced.

For more details and how to apply, see the FVC website.

Google Cloud Skills Boost – Introduction to Generative AI Learning Path

 This Google Cloud Skills Boost pathway offers a series of courses designed to help learners develop an understanding of artificial intelligence. We recommend the first three short courses in this pathway to professionals looking to deepen their knowledge of Generative AI, Large Language Models and principles of responsible AI. Courses are free and award badges at the end upon successful completion of a quiz.

For more information, visit Google Cloud Skills Boost

University of Helsinki – Elements of AI

 Elements of AI is an online course designed to make AI accessible to everyone, regardless of their background. Part one of the course, ‘Introduction to AI’ covers what AI is, what is possible (and not possible) with AI, and how it affects our lives – with no complicated math or programming required. The course is free, self-paced, and suitable for learners of all levels, helping them understand and engage with AI technology responsibly.

For more information, visit Elements of AI.

University of Helsinki – Ethics of AI

The Ethics of AI is a free online course created by the University of Helsinki. The course is for anyone who is interested in the ethical aspects of AI – we want to encourage people to learn what AI ethics means, what can and can’t be done to develop AI in an ethically sustainable way, and how to start thinking about AI from an ethical point of view.

For more details, you can access the course here.

Google – Making Friends With Machine Learning

Making Friends With Machine Learning was a 6 hour internal-only Google course specially created to inspire beginners and amuse experts. It has now been made available to everyone and this article by presenter Cassie Kozyrkov gives the links to watch the videos. Part one of the course, Introduction to ML and AI simplifies AI concepts and gives real-world examples, it is ideal for those looking to better understand how AI works without diving into too much technical detail.

For more details, you can read the full article here.

Children’s Parliament – Why Children’s Rights Matter in AI: A Resource for Professionals

A series of five free eLearning modules aimed at giving adults who work in the AI, digital, and data space an introduction to children’s human rights and how to best ensure that their work in developing, deploying or making decisions around AI technologies can respect and protect children’s rights.

For more details and to access the course visit this page.

Tools for Educators

Discover some AI tools, or services which use AI models, handpicked for their ability to either assist teachers in planning and delivery of learning or to allow learners to explore and work with AI in a controlled manner.

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Before you take a look at the tools please remember that there are many tasks that Generative AI can be used for, educators and learners should use the chart below to assess whether it is safe to use Generative AI for a task.

In addition, anyone using Generative AI should remember:

  • Check for Bias and Accuracy: AI may produce biased or incorrect content. Always double-check your output thoroughly before sharing.
  • Human Judgment Matters: See AI-generated content as a starting point, not a final product. AI outputs can be helpful, but they should not be used to replace human/professional judgements.
  • Protect Privacy: Do not give any personal or sensitive information about people or organisations to the AI model.

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Education Prompt Library

Looking for some help with AI prompting for education? Visit our new education prompt library. Designed to help educators boost their prompting to get better outputs and save valuable time.

The education prompt library is a collection of pre-prepared, high-quality prompts covering a wide range of planning and preparation tasks and pedagogical approaches for use with Large Language Models. Educators can browse the prompts, copy and paste their selected prompt directly into Google Gemini, then customise it to suit their specific context and needs.

The education prompt library is an ongoing piece of work and will continue to grow over time.

AI Teacher Tools: Starter Suite

Our Starter Suite offers a carefully curated collection of free AI-powered tools to provide a practical entry point for teachers and establishments embarking on their AI journey. Covering a range of essential functionalities, from lesson planning to differentiation, this suite provides accessible and valuable tools to explore and integrate AI into teaching practices.

Each tool has been assessed to ensure its educational value and ease of initial use, allowing you to confidently begin harnessing the power of AI to enhance learning outcomes. View the Starter Suite embedded below or use and share the short link: https://bit.ly/aistartersuite

 

AI Starter Suite by Miss Abercrombie

Google Gemini

Gemini Quick Guide by Miss Abercrombie

What does it do?

Google Gemini chatbot is a large language model (LLM) developed by Google. While Google Gemini describes a family of LLM tools integrated throughout Google Workspace, the Google Gemini standalone chatbot is available to all staff via Glow login to the Google Workspace tenancy operated by Glow/Education Scotland. Its ability to process and generate diverse information aims to create more natural and helpful AI interactions. Google Gemini is an 18+ product and is only available to staff users within Glow. It is designed to be multimodal, meaning it can understand and operate across text, code, images, and more.   

How do I get access? Staff can log into Google Gemini for free via their Glow account. Learners do not have access to Google Gemini via Glow as it is an 18+ product.

NotebookLM

NotebookLM Quick Start Guide by Miss Abercrombie

What does it do?

NotebookLM is a specialised mini-LLM (Large Language Model) from Google. Unlike LLMs like Gemini, ChatGPT and Copilot, Gemini interacts only with the content you provide. You can upload up to 50 sources, including web links, YouTube videos, and various file types (PDF, .txt, Markdown, audio, images). You can use NotebookLM to question, summarise, and interact with your materials in the chat, or utilise the “studio” to create new assets, even generate downloadable AI podcasts. It’s like having a dedicated AI research assistant focused solely on your specific documents.

How do I get access? Staff can NotebookLM  via their Glow account. Learners do not have access to NotebookLM via Glow at the moment.

Wayground (Quizizz)

Wayground Quick Start Guide by Miss Abercrombie

What does it do? Wayground (formerly Quizizz) is an online learning platform that enables teachers to create and share interactive quizzes, polls, and lessons. Wayground has integrated AI features that allow teachers to automatically generate quizzes, worksheets, and questions based on specific topics or curriculum needs. By using AI, Wayground can suggest questions tailored to different skill levels, provide instant feedback to students, and offer personalised learning paths. This streamlines lesson planning and helps teachers quickly assess student understanding, making the platform more efficient for educational purposes.

How do I get access? Teachers can sign up for a free account at wayground.com

Pupils do not need accounts to participate in Quizizz activities.

 

Curipod


Curipod Quick Start Guide by Miss Abercrombie

What does it do? Curipod is a platform designed to assist educators in creating engaging and interactive lessons. It combines elements like polls, word clouds, and drawing activities to make learning dynamic and participatory. Curipod’s built in AI features allow educators to generate interactive lessons quickly and easily. All AI output is customisable. Additionally, Curipod’s AI adapts content to suit different teaching styles and student needs, streamlining the lesson material creation process while making learning more interactive and engaging.

How do I get access? Teachers can access Curipod by signing up for a free basic account on the Curipod website.

Pupils do not need accounts to participate in Curipod lessons.

 

Diffit


Diffit Quick Start Guide by Miss Abercrombie

What does it do? Diffit is an AI-powered tool designed to help educators create differentiated learning materials quickly. It allows teachers to generate customised content at various reading levels based on a given text or topic. By adjusting the complexity of language, Diffit ensures that students with different abilities can engage with the same subject matter, supporting personalised learning and making lesson planning more efficient for teachers. 

How do I get access? Teachers can sign up for a free account on the Diffit website.

Pupils do not need to access Diffit.

 

Magic School


Magic School Quick Start Guide by Miss Abercrombie

What does it do? Magic School is a collection of 70+ AI tools (Magic Tools) to help teachers with a variety of tasks including lesson planning, differentiation, planning group work, generating vocabulary lists, and so much more. It also has 40+ responsible AI tools that can be launched to students to allow them to explore generative AI while the teacher can monitor their interactions with and the outputs from the AI model. Tools for students include study habits, debate partner, multiple explanations and more.

How do I get access? Teachers can sign up for a free account on the Magic School website.

Pupils do not need accounts to participate in Magic School activities.

 

School AI

SchoolAI Quick Start Guide by Miss Abercrombie

What does it do? School AI allows learners to explore a Large Language Model in a safe environment through ChatGPT powered experiences called Spaces. Teachers can choose from a library spaces, or create their own with custom instructions tailored to learners’ needs. Teachers can manage, moderate and steer as students interact with the machine and receive real time ‘insights’ as well as being able to access live conversations from the teacher moderation screen.

How do I get access? Teachers can access School AI by signing up for a free basic account on the School AI website.

Pupils do not need accounts to participate in School AI spaces.

Padlet ‘AI Image’ 

Padlet AI Image Quick Start Guide by Miss Abercrombie

What does it do? Padlet’s “AI Image” feature uses a text-to-image AI model to transform users’ written descriptions into images.

How do I get access? Teacher sets up a Padlet and learners access via link or QR code. Pupils do not need to log in.

 

Adobe Express

Adobe Express Quick Start Guide by Miss Abercrombie

 What does it do? Adobe Firefly in Adobe Express is an AI-powered tool that allows users to generate and edit images using text prompts. It enabling users to quickly create designs, add effects, and make creative adjustments to photos, illustrations, and graphics.

How do I get access? Learners have access to Adobe Express via Glow.

 

Importance of AI Literacy

Learn why developing AI literacy is crucial for both teachers and students, preparing them for a tech-driven future.

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Developing AI literacy is crucial for both teachers and students as it equips them with essential skills to thrive in a tech-driven future. It enhances critical thinking, problem-solving, and ethical awareness, enabling students to navigate AI technologies responsibly. For teachers, AI literacy allows them to guide students effectively, integrating AI into learning while fostering digital citizenship. This knowledge ensures both educators and students are prepared for the evolving job market and societal shifts driven by AI advancements.

AI literacy as a concept is still evolving because AI technology itself is rapidly advancing and becoming more integrated into everyday life. As generative AI and automation, continue to shift the landscape, requiring ongoing adaptation in educational frameworks and public understanding to keep pace with innovation.

The AI literacy model we will work with in Falkirk Council education establishments is shown below. This is adapted from a model from the University of Hong Kong and includes principles and conceptualisations from across AI4K12 Initiative, ISTE’s AI Education Framework and the OECD’s AI Literacy Principles. It has been adapted to be simple, clear and suitable for children, young people and adults alike.

Falkirk Digital Learning Leadership Week

Digital Learning Leadership Week (26th to 30th May 2025) is focused on developing and enhancing digital learning leadership across our education establishments in Falkirk. Through a series of events, including digital partners and guest speakers, we’ll explore strategies, approaches and tools to help us meaningfully integrate technology into teaching and learning to improve learning outcomes and experiences for children and young people.

This week is about creating the time and space to collegiately discuss, explore, share and develop the ways in which we can lead the leverage digital tools effectively, to improve educational outcomes for our students and equip them with the confidence, skills and knowledge needed to thrive in an ever-changing, fast-paced digital world. From strategic school leadership level, to classroom based leaders of learning – there are events for everyone over the course of the week.

What’s on?

Google Discovery Day: Leading Digital Learning

Time: 10am – 3pm • Location: Forth Valley College

Audience: Senior leadership/digital leads in all sectors

Description: Join Canopy and Google for Education to explore how school leaders can effectively lead digital learning in their establishment to improve student outcomes. The session emphasises strategic and pedagogical approaches and innovative uses of technology. Hear inspiring stories from local schools who have successfully implemented digital learning strategies, overcome challenges and are having an impact on learners and learning. Explore how to leverage technology to enhance teaching and learning, and ultimately, drive student success.

Your school does not have to be actively using Google Workspace for Education to attend, the session focuses on leadership of digital learning. Lunch is provided at this event.

Day Overview:

This full day workshop aims to equip school leaders with strategies and frameworks to effectively lead the consistent and meaningful use of digital learning tools in their schools, particularly in relation to Google Workspace use on iPad. Sessions will have a Google focus, but strategies shared could be applied in any school setting. The day will be split into four parts consisting of:

Your Reality – Usage, Impact & Potential: Participants will reflect on their school’s current usage of digital tools, identify barriers to best practice, and potential for improving provision.

Defining Success – Powerful and Effective Workflows: This section focuses on agreeing upon core workflows that support school priorities and balancing consistency with pedagogical freedom. We will introduce Google’s Gemini AI tool in this session. 

Leading the Change – Supporting Staff & Embedding best practice: Practical strategies to support staff in adopting and embedding Google Workspace effectively will be discussed, including the use of Google tools for leadership and planning professional development.

Learning from the Field – Effective Leadership in Practice: Participants will hear real-world examples of leading Google Workspace implementation from local peers in a Q&A panel format.

Sign up here.



 

Teaching and Learning Using Google on iPad

Time: 10am – 3pm •  Location: Grangemouth Town Hall

Audience: Classroom teachers, faculty heads and SLT in all sectors.

Description: Join Canopy and Google for Education in this professional development day for classroom teachers who lead learning in their classroom every day. Focused on enhancing your teaching and learning using Google Workspace tools. Find solutions to your questions about AI, digital pedagogy and practice. Discover tips and tricks to reduce your workload using Google tools to maximise productivity and lead change in your setting from the ground up.

Your school does not have to be actively using Google Workspace for Education to attend but this session does focus on Google tools, please ensure you have logged into Google Workspace via Glow (including checking you have access to Google Gemini) and accepted the terms and conditions prior to attending this session. This session is perfect for those already using Google Workspace who wish to delve deeper into the tools or those who are interested in using Google Workspace to get hands on and discover what is possible. Lunch is provided at this event.

Day overview

Today is all about maximising impact using Google Workspace and your iPad in the Classroom. Join us for a practical, hands-on workshop focused on getting the most out of Google Workspace and iPads in your classroom. This day is designed for teachers who want to enhance learning, save time, and create inclusive learning environments using technology. Here’s what you can expect:

Session 1: The Connected Classroom – Mastering Google Classroom on iPad:

  • Learn to navigate the Google Classroom app on the iPad efficiently.
  • Discover how to create and manage assignments using the iPad, incorporating photos, videos, and annotations

Session 2: Engaging Learners – Dynamic Formative Assessment & Feedback with Google on iPad:

  • Explore using Google Forms for quick quizzes, exit tickets, and feedback.
  • Learn to provide timely, effective feedback using iPad annotation tools and Google Docs/Slides features.

Session 3: Inclusive Practice – Supporting Every Learner with Google on iPad Accessibility:

  • Learn to leverage Google Workspace and iPad accessibility features to support students with diverse needs.
  • Discover how to adapt assignments and materials for differentiation.
  • Explore tools like Google Keep and Calendar to aid organization for learners.

Prerequisites: Please bring your iPad with the necessary Google apps (Classroom, Drive, Docs, Slides, Forms, Keep) installed and logged into your Glow/Google Workspace account.

Sign up here.

Adobe x Falkirk: Adobe Creative Educator and AI Tools in Express

Time: 4pm – 5.30pm • Location: Online

Audience: Educators in all sectors.

Description: Calling all creative teachers! This session is for our classroom teachers who value creativity, imagination and self expression in the classroom. Explore Adobe Express and find out how it can be used to encourage and inspire creative projects where learners can show what they know, explore ideas and tell their stories. Get to grips with exciting built in AI features including AI image generation. Become a certified Adobe Creative Educator Level 1 and become a creativity leader in your school. All Falkirk teachers have access to Adobe Express via Glow on iPad (app) and desktop (browser) – make sure you have logged in prior to the session.

Sign up.

Heads of Establishment Conference: Digital Leadership

Time: 9.15am – 2.30pm •  Location: Forth Valley College

Audience: Head Teachers and Heads of Centre in ELC, primary and secondary.

Description: The focus of this Heads of Establishment Conference is digital leadership. Join Dan Fitzpatrick – educational strategist, author and international keynote speaker on artificial intelligence in education – for a morning keynote on navigating the changing landscape of education. Learn the “Three Box Solution” to drive innovation and develop future-ready leadership skills.

Participate in hands-on workshops with Dan Fitzpatrick and our local Digital Learning Team focused on AI leadership as well as time to collaborate with colleagues on the Agile Leadership work we are currently exploring with Dr. Simon Breakspear. 

The afternoon culminates in a session with Professor Steve Munby – a world-leading authority on leadership and on system reform –  focusing on building future-ready schools. 

No sign up required. Confirm attendance in line with usual practices for HOE Forum.

Prep the machine: writing AI prompts for teachers with Dan Fitzpatrick

Time: 3pm – 4pm • Location: Larbert High School

Audience: Classroom teachers in primary and secondary (limited spaces)

Description: Looking to level up your prompt engineering and truly leverage the power of an AI assistant? Join educational strategist and author of “The AI Classroom,” Dan Fitzpatrick, for this intimate and interactive workshop on crafting powerful AI prompts. Learn the PREP framework to get the most out of AI tools. Discover how to write prompts that generate engaging lesson plans, personalised learning materials, and innovative assessment tasks. This hands-on session will equip you with the skills to effectively integrate AI into your teaching practice. Don’t just use AI, master it and lead the way with prompt engineering in your school. Limited places available.

Sign up here.

The AI Classroom with Dan Fitzpatrick

Time: 4:15pm – 5:15pm • Location: Larbert High School

Audience: Classroom teachers, faculty heads and SLT in all sectors.

Description: Ready to ride the AI wave instead of being wiped out by it? Join educational strategist Dan Fitzpatrick, author of “The AI Classroom,” for an inspiring session on revolutionising learning with artificial intelligence. Discover how AI can free up educators to focus on critical thinking, understand its disruptive potential, and learn practical ways to harness its power today. Explore advanced AI and its implications for education. This isn’t just about tech; it’s about transforming the learning experience. Sign up now and prepare your students for the future.

Sign up here.

Borrowbox

BorrowBox is the digital library for Falkirk schools. Thousands of eBooks and eAudiobooks at your fingertips.

🔍 What does it do?

BorrowBox is a digital reading platform provided by the Falkirk Learning Resource Service. It allows pupils across the Falkirk to borrow and download digital books and audiobooks for free. Just like a physical library, pupils can browse the “shelves,” reserve popular titles, and return books when they are finished – all through the app on their iPad or via a web browser.

🎓 Why is it useful?

  • Instant Access to Choice: Pupils have access to a huge range of titles that might not be available in their physical school library, from the latest bestsellers to classic curriculum texts.

  • Support for Dyslexia and Visual Impairments: The eBook reader allows pupils to change the font (including a dedicated OpenDyslexic font), adjust text size, and change background colors to make reading more comfortable.

  • Audiobooks for Literacy: Audiobooks are a fantastic way to improve vocabulary and listening skills. Pupils can listen to stories while they follow along with a physical book or use them to access complex stories that might be above their current reading level.

  • Offline Reading: Once a book is downloaded, it can be read or listened to without an internet connection – perfect for reading at home or on the bus.

  • No Late Fees: Books are returned automatically at the end of the loan period, so there is never a worry about “overdue” items!

⚙️ How does it work?

1. Launch: Open the BorrowBox app on your iPad or find the Bolinda BorrowBox tile on your Glow Launchpad.

2. Sign In: Users sign in using their Glow credentials, see below for specific login guides:

Logging in on iPad

Open the Borrowbox app. Next to ‘Library’ choose ‘Falkirk Learning Resource Service’ (hint if you start typing a drop down list will appear where you can select it without typing in the whole thing).

Next to ‘username’ type in the first part of your Glow username followed by @glow (i.e. gw22falkirkfreddie@glow). Type your usual Glow password and press ‘Sign in’.

You will be asked to accept the terms and conditions of Borrowbox. Choose ‘Agree’ in the bottom right hand corner.

The first time you log in you’ll be asked to complete your registration. Fill in the ‘Email’ box with your full Glow email. Use your first name as your ‘Display name’. Select ‘Done’ at the bottom of the screen.

You can now use Borrowbox. Next time you log in follow the same process (you will not have to do the complete registration process again).

Logging in on Browser

Log into Glow as normal and select the Borrowbox tile from your school launch pad. Borrowbox should open in a new tab with you logged in. You may be asked to ‘Complete registration’. Add your Glow email, choose a display name and tick the terms and conditions box. Choose ‘Complete Registration’.

You should then be taken to the main Falkirk Learning Resource Borrowbox home page where you can begin using the service.

3. Search & Browse: Use the “Search” tab to find a specific author or the “Explore” tab to see themed collections (e.g., “First Level,” “New Releases,” or “Picture Books”).

4. Borrow: Tap on a cover and select ‘Borrow’. You can have up to 2 eBooks and 2 Audiobooks on loan at any one time.

5. Listen & Read: Your borrowed items appear in the ‘My Loans’ section. Tap a book to start reading or listening instantly.

 

🚀 Beyond the Basics

  • ERIC Time: Use BorrowBox as a digital alternative during “Everyone Reading In Class” time. It ensures every pupil has something they want to read, even if they forgot their physical book.

  • Customising the Experience: Show pupils how to tap the ‘Aa’ icon in an eBook. They can change the line spacing and font to suit their specific needs, helping to remove barriers to reading for pleasure.

  • Sleep & Relaxation: Audiobooks can be a great tool for “wind-down” time. The app includes a Sleep Timer that automatically stops the audio after a set time (e.g., 15 or 30 minutes).

  • For Modern Languages: Look for the “World Languages” section to find eBooks in different languages, supporting pupils with EAL or those learning a second language.

  • eMagazines: BorrowBox also provides access to digital magazines. Use these for non-fiction reading tasks or to keep up with current events and STEM news.

Adobe Express: Logging In

Adobe Express is available to use for all Falkirk staff and pupils via Glow. This article takes you through how to access Adobe Express on Connected Falkirk iPad and the sign in process. You can share this with learners to support their login. Once you have logged in on your iPad your app will stay logged in unless you delete the app or choose to sign out – for this reason the app can only be used on 1:1 iPads at the moment or in a browser on a desktop computer.

Please note that your iPad must be on iOS17 or above to run the Adobe Express app.

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Before you start

The Adobe Express app is required on iPad. Although you launch Adobe Express from Glow on a browser (via the tile in Glow) you cannot use Adobe Express in Safari, Chrome or any other mobile browser on a mobile device including tablets. Adobe Express is available via Glow on desktop and laptop computers through the internet browser – there is more on this at the end of the article.

Teachers in Falkirk should request the iPad app for their pupil and staff app portals by emailing connectedfalkirk@falkirk.gov.uk as per the usual process.

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Logging in

  1. Ensure you have downloaded the Adobe Express app from the Connected Falkirk App Portal. Open your Adobe Express app.

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2. Choose ‘Continue with email’ to access your education Adobe Express account via Glow email.

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3. Type in your Glow email address. When you hit ‘Continue’ the Glow login page will launch, type in your Glow username and password.

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4. When prompted choose ‘Company or School Account’. Do not choose ‘Personal Account’, if you choose personal account you will not have access to the Adobe Express Education benefits and features. 

5. When prompted choose ‘Falkirk Council – Education’. Do not choose Education Scotland, if you choose Education Scotland accidentally you should log out using the profile button in the top right hand corner and begin the log in process again.

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5. Wait for the loading screen to pass. 

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6. When you first log in there will be two pop ups to resolve by hitting ‘ok’ and ‘continue’.

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7. You are now logged into Adobe Express and you can begin creating!

Using Adobe Express on desktop or laptop

Adobe Express is also available on desktop and laptop computer via internet browser. To log in:

  1. Open your web browser
  2. Go to Glow
  3. Log in to Glow using your Glow username and password.
  4. In the Falkirk Council launch pad click on the Adobe Express tile.

Case Study: Improving Writing with Digital Technologies

This case study looks at how class teacher Ciara Hutton at St Francis Xavier’s RC Primary School explored the impact of integrating digital technology into primary school writing lessons. By allowing three students with varying writing challenges to type their work, the Ciara observed significant improvements in confidence, writing quality, and engagement. This successful intervention has led to the wider implementation of digital tools within her classes and has been shared with the wider school supported by Pupil Digital Leaders.

Context

“My main goal was to improve attainment in writing by introducing digital technology. I had a class of 33 pupils in the upper school and I found that they did not feel confident in their writing. I selected three pupils who did not have any specific learning needs but did require some support with writing. One learner found concentrating at a table with others difficult, another found handwriting challenging and one struggled to write quickly for long periods of time. We are not a 1:1 device class so I decided to use a combination of class PCs and our shared Connected Falkirk iPads to give the pupils the opportunity to type their writing. This was to not only build confidence but remove any literacy barriers from their ability to succeed in writing.”

What did you do?

“I had a rota which rotated the devices used by the pupils over the course of four weeks. They would type directly on to Word and then save these on a OneNote, which was shared with myself and someone at home. Pupils did require some training at first on how to edit and save their work but they were confident with this by week 2.

During this time I collected my findings in 3 different ways, though a baseline questionnaire, a Leuven Scale and document analysis. The questionnaire was to uncover learners’ attitudes to writing and their confidence with the subject. The Leuven Scale was to determine if they were more focussed when given the device.

Finally I conducted a document analysis to see if there was improvement in learner work. After the four week period, I decided the whole class would benefit from the opportunity to write on a device and so I created a randomiser wheel in which pupils would be selected and all pupils would be given the chance to type by the end of the year. This allowed me to see the writing ability in the class as a whole and offer the opportunity to engage with digital devices for writing to all learners.”

Learners used Word to write. Word Online is available to all Falkirk Council learners through their Glow account. 

OneNote and OneNote Class Notebook are also available to all learners through Glow.

What was the impact?

“Overall, I saw a large increase in learners’ confidence and understanding of writing. Learners could see the increase in the quality and quantity of their writing, as they could see the progress from week 1 to week 4.

When pupils then returned to writing in their jotters, the skills they had gained had transferred. They were more confident with editing and reading their writing and they were writing similar amounts to week 1.

The questionnaire found that children felt more confident in their work and enjoyed the ability to do further research while writing. The Leuven Scale showed that pupils enjoyed the opportunity to write in a different way and focussed more as a result. The document analysis showed an increase for all 3 children in the length of their writing and the clarity on what they were saying. We did have to discuss the risks of plagiarism and how all ideas must be their own. However this was a useful opportunity to inform all pupils about this.

The findings suggest that the use of digital technology can improve attainment in writing. Although time still needed to be given for handwriting, introducing typing as a form of writing allowed pupils to focus their time on creative writing skills. I also found my ability to mark and give specific writing feedback improved, as I could clearly see their successes and areas of improvement.”

Pupil Voice

My baseline questionnaire had stated that the learners found writing “hard and bad”, whereas the final questionnaire stated that they thought that writing could be “exciting” and they were “able to use imagination more.”

The Leuven Scale which showed an increase in pupil overall, with the only decreases being due to some issues with using the new technology at first. Overall their focus and enjoyment increased through the four week period.

Where next?

“The immediate next steps I took were to offer all pupils one opportunity a year to write using digital technology. This allowed me to assess their writing ability without literacy barriers and for learners to see their progress clearly. I also continued to assess and monitor the three pupils within the focus group to see if they were able to transfer and maintain the skills they had gained during this practitioner enquiry. I found that they were able to transfer back to their writing jotters and had more confidence with their writing.

Since this practitioner enquiry, I have begun teaching another class and I have used this approach straight away. I have used a randomizer wheel so that all pupils have had the opportunity to use these tools, and not just those with specific learning needs. I have also trained the Digital Leaders within the school to be able to support other learners with writing on Word and uploading documents to One Note, so that other teachers may try this approach in their own class.”

Google Classroom

Google Classroom: The central hub to manage, distribute, and grade classwork in one place.

🔍 What does it do?

Google Classroom is a free web-based platform that brings all your teaching materials together. It replaces the traditional “paper trail” by allowing you to post announcements, set assignments, and collect work digitally. It automatically organises your files into folders in Google Drive, making it impossible for students to “lose” their homework. In Falkirk Google Classroom is used as a Virtual Learning Environment which is a digital extension of the physical classroom.

🎓 Why is it useful?

  • Centralised Communication: Use the Stream to post daily agendas, reminders, or discussion prompts. It keeps your class informed without cluttering their inbox.

  • Paperless Workflow: When you create an assignment, you can choose to “Make a copy for each student.” This automatically gives every pupil their own Doc or Slide to work on – no more photocopying!

  • Real-time Feedback: You can see student work as they are doing it. You don’t have to wait for them to “hand it in” to leave a helpful comment or nudge them in the right direction.

  • Streamlined Grading: The Grades tab gives you a birds-eye view of who has submitted work, what is missing, and how the class is performing overall.

⚙️ How does it work?

  1. Launch: Open the Google Classroom app on your iPad or login to Google Classroom on your internet browser.

  2. Sign In: Use your Glow email (e.g., gw15smithjohn@fa.glow.scot) and use your normal Glow password.

  3. Create a Class: Tap the ‘+’ icon and select ‘Create class.’ Give it a name like “P6 2025/2026” or “Mr F – S2 Science.”

  4. Invite Students: Share the unique Class Code with your pupils. They enter this code on their iPads to join instantly.

  5. Create Assignments: Tap the ‘Classwork’ tab and then the ‘+’ icon. Choose between Assignment, Quiz, Question, or Material.

 

🚀 Beyond the Basics

  • Discussion Forums: Use the ‘Question’ tool to post a debate topic (e.g., “Should school uniforms be banned?”). Students can post their answers and – if you enable the setting – reply to their classmates’ points.

  • Exit Tickets: At the end of a lesson, post a quick Google Form as a ‘Quiz Assignment.’ Classroom will automatically show you which pupils grasped the concept and who needs more help tomorrow.

  • Multimedia Resources: Use the ‘Material’ type to post a “Choice Board.” You can attach a YouTube video, a website link, and a Google Doc, allowing pupils to choose how they want to research the topic.

  • Private Check-ins: When students submit an assignment, they can add a ‘Private Comment.’ This is a safe space for them to tell you if they found the work hard or if they are proud of what they achieved.

  • Individualised Assignments: You don’t have to send every assignment to the whole class. Use the ‘All Students’ dropdown to select specific pupils for differentiated tasks or extension work.

💡 Top Tips for Google Classroom

  • The Comment Bank: Save time when marking! You can create a “Bank” of your most common feedback (e.g., “Great use of adjectives!”) and pull them into any student’s work with just a few taps.

  • Scheduled Posts: You don’t have to post your work in real time. Use the ‘Schedule’ feature to prepare your whole week’s lessons in advance; they will appear for students exactly when you want them to.

  • Reuse Post: Don’t reinvent the wheel. If you have a great lesson from last year, use the ‘Reuse post’ feature to pull it into your new class, including all the attachments and instructions.

🔗 Teacher Quick Links

Get Started with Google Classroom for Students – iPad

Get Started with Google Classroom for Students – Latop/PC

A Guide to Google Classroom on Your Connected Falkirk Device

Google Classroom 101 for Teachers

Google Sites

Google Sites: Pull your classroom resources, school event or project information together into one secure, professional website.

 

🔍 What does it do?

Google Sites is a drag-and-drop website builder. It allows teachers and pupils to create “internal” websites that can only be seen by people with a Glow login or external facing websites easily. 

 

🎓 Why is it useful for Glow users?

  • Centralised Learning: Instead of pupils searching through Google Drive or Classroom for five different links, you can give them one “Site” URL that contains everything they need for a specific unit or project.

  • Instant Embedding: You can “embed” a Google Doc or Slide directly onto the page. If you update the Doc in your Drive, it automatically updates on the website – no re-uploading required.

  • Student Ownership: It is an incredible tool for Digital Portfolios. Pupils can create their own sites to showcase their best work across the year, choosing their own themes and layouts.

  • Safe Publishing: By default, sites created in Glow are private. You choose whether to keep it visible only to you, your class, or the whole school community.

 

⚙️ How does it work?

  1. Launch: Open Safari on your iPad and go to sites.google.com.

  2. Request Desktop View: Tap the ‘AA’ icon in the Safari address bar and select ‘Request Desktop Website’ to unlock the full editor.

  3. Create: Tap the ‘+’ icon to start a new site. Choose a Theme from the right-hand menu to set your colors and fonts.

  4. Add Content: Use the ‘Insert’ menu to drag in text boxes, images, or “Layouts” (which are pre-made grids for photos and text).

  5. Publish: Tap the blue ‘Publish’ button. Give your site a name (e.g., “Room4-Vikings”) and check your privacy settings to check who can see it.

 

🚀 Beyond the Basics

  • Class News Site: Set up a “Class Newspaper” site. Assign different pupils to be “Editors” for different pages (e.g., Sports, Book Reviews, School News). They can type their articles directly into the site.

  • Maths Help Hub: Create a site filled with “How-to” videos and links to interactive maths games. Embed a Google Form at the bottom of the page where pupils can submit “Question of the Day” answers.

  • Unit Dashboard: For a topic like “Space,” create a page for each planet. Embed your class Slides presentation on the first page and a Shared Drive folder on the last page for pupils to download experiment templates.

  • Virtual Classroom: Create a “Calm Zone” site. Embed a Spotify or YouTube playlist of relaxing music, a Google Doc with mindful colouring templates, and a “Check-in” Form for pupils to share their feelings.

  • Visual Choice Boards: Use large, clear images as “Buttons.” Link each image to a different activity or website. This helps pupils who struggle with heavy text to navigate their learning independently.

💡 Top Tips for Google Sites

  • Data Protection: Remember you should not use any personal sensitive information or non-public data in Glow, including in Google Sites! 

  • Layouts are your friend: Don’t struggle with moving text boxes manually. Use the pre-set ‘Content Blocks’ in the Insert menu to keep your site looking neat and professional on both iPads and phones.

  • Version History: If a pupil accidentally deletes a whole page of work, don’t panic! Tap the ‘three dots’ menu at the top and select ‘Version History’ to restore the site to how it looked yesterday.

  • Preview Mode: Before you publish, tap the ‘Preview’ icon (it looks like a laptop and phone). This lets you see exactly how the site will look to a pupil using a mobile phone versus a tablet.

🔗 Teacher Quick Links

How to Use Google Sites

Google Drive

Google Drive, your digital filing cabinet: store, organise, and share your learning from any device.

🔍 What does it do?

Google Drive is a cloud-based storage service. It is where all your Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets are automatically saved. It also allows you to upload photos, videos, and PDFs. Because it is part of Glow, everything is saved “in the cloud,” meaning you can start a project on a school iPad and finish it on any other device.

🎓 Why is it useful?

  • Automatic Backup: There is no “Save” button in Google apps. Everything you do is instantly backed up to Google Drive. You never have to worry about losing work if an iPad runs out of battery or your computer shuts down unexpectedly.

  • Paperless Scanning: Use the iPad camera to scan physical worksheets or hand-drawn posters directly into Drive as high-quality PDFs.

  • Search Mastery: Drive has a powerful search bar. You can search for a keyword (like “Vikings”) and it will find that word even if it’s buried inside a PDF or a handwritten note you scanned.

⚙️ How does it work?

  1. Launch: Open the Google Drive app on your iPad or login to Google Drive on your internet browser.

  2. Sign In: Use your Glow email (e.g., gw15smithjohn@fa.glow.scot) and use your normal Glow password.

  3. The ‘+’ Button: Tap the colorful ‘+’ icon to create new folders, upload photos from your library, or start a new Google Doc/Slide.

  4. Organising: Tap and hold a file to move it into a folder. Use the ‘Star’ icon for files you need to find quickly every day.

  5. Sharing: Tap the ‘three dots’ next to a file and select ‘Share.’ to share files and folders with other Glow Google Workspace users

 

🚀 Beyond the Basics

  • Digital Portfolios: Create a folder named “Writing Portfolio.” At the end of every unit, upload your best piece of work. By the end of the year, you have a visual record of how much your writing has improved.

  • Observation Logs: If you are doing an experiment, take a photo or short video each day. Save them in a specific Drive folder to create a “Time-lapse” record of your results. Once you have all the images, you can use Slides, Docs or Sheets to create a report.

  • Scanning Sketches: Use the ‘Scan’ feature (tap + in the bottom right hand corner of the iPad add then choose Scan document) to digitise your physical drawings. This makes it easy to put your artwork into a Google Slide later.

  • Offline Mode: If you don’t have Wi-Fi at home, tap the ‘three dots’ on your important files and select ‘Available offline.’ You can keep working on the bus or at home, and it will sync when you get back to an internet connection.

💡 Top Tips for Google Drive

  • Shared with me: This tab can get messy! If someone shares a file with you, don’t just leave it there. Tap the ‘three dots’ and select ‘Add shortcut to Drive’ to put it in one of your own organised folders.

  • Naming Files: Always name your files clearly (e.g., “Maths_Fractions_Jan19”). If you leave them as “Untitled,” you may have trouble finding them again.

  • Trash: If you delete a file by mistake, it stays in the ‘Trash’ for 30 days. Tap the menu (three lines) in the top left to find it and restore your work.

🔗 Teacher Quick Links

How to Use Google Drive – iPad

How to User Google Drive – Laptop/PC