Bishop McEgan College was awarded €5,000 as part of the Féilte Bursary Scheme to collaborate with Coláiste Ghobnatan, Scoil Mhuire, St. Brogan’s College, and Youthreach, to focus on the integration of Artificial Intelligence into education. This project aims to support initiatives that foster innovation & professional development in education, empowering educators to keep pace with advancements in technology, in line with the Department of Education’s Digital Strategy to 2027.
School's reflection
Participation in the Teaching Council FÉILTE Bursary project has been an incredibly valuable and impactful professional learning experience. The project was led by McEgan College, which took the central coordinating role across a broad cross-sectoral collaboration involving:
- Brogan’s College, Bandon
- Coláiste Ghobnatan, Ballyvourney
- Scoil Mhuire, Ballingeary
- Youthreach Macroom
- McEgan College, Macroom
This diversity of schools, spanning mainstream post-primary and Youthreach, created a dynamic Community of Practice and Professional Learning Community, all focused on the pressing and evolving field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education.
Programme Overview
We designed a programme of five expert speakers to explore various aspects of AI’s influence on education. To date, we’ve hosted:
- Patrick Hickey: Post-primary History and English teacher, AI integration specialist, and experienced CPD facilitator. Patrick featured on RTÉ and Newstalk, presenting innovative uses of AI like ChatGPT to enhance student engagement and teacher efficiency.
On the 26 February, at McEgan College, Patrick gave a comprehensive session on AI and its implications for assessment.
- Jim O’Mahony: Professor Jim O’Mahony is co-chair of MTU’s working group on generative artificial intelligence and is also a member of the National Advisory group on Generative AI for the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning.
On the 12 March, at McEgan College, Jim offered insights into a range of practical AI tools available to teachers and school leaders such as Google Notebook LM, Gamma and Claude.
Both sessions were insightful, practical, and fostered rich professional discussions among the participating schools.
Looking Ahead to 2025
Time constraints meant we could not complete the full series within one academic year, but we have secured three additional speakers for early in the 2025 school year:
- Mark Delahunty: Teacher and experienced conference and workshop speaker on AI in education, known for his practical insights and application of AI technologies within teaching and learning contexts.
- Mark Kelly: Founder & President of AI Ireland; Chief Customer Officer at Alldus International; author and globally‑recognized AI keynote speaker
- Keith Young: Assistant Professor in ICT & Digital Learning, Mary Immaculate College, Limerick
These sessions will further deepen our collective understanding of AI in teaching and learning.
Project Support & Resources
The bursary funding was pivotal in supporting the project, covering speaker fees, travel, and catering to support meaningful collaboration sessions and enabling the purchase of audiovisual equipment (including a television for presentations and workshops)
Collaboration & Impact
The collaboration between McEgan College, St. Brogan’s College, Coláiste Ghobnatan, Scoil Mhuire and Youthreach, Macroom has been outstanding. The collaborative workshops, and the sharing of insights have strengthened professional relationships and expanded our collective expertise.
Reflection
This bursary-supported initiative has significantly enriched our understanding of AI’s potential and challenges in education. It has also demonstrated the strength of cross-sector collaboration, and the momentum built ensures that our Professional Learning Community will continue to grow into 2025 and beyond.