The national expansion of AI Literacy in the Classroom, an initiative organised and delivered by ADAPT Research Centre with support from Google, continued on 24 January with a successful workshop hosted by Limerick Education Centre, where educators from across the region came together for a day of discussion, reflection and learning. The workshop was led by ADAPT experts, DCU’s Dr. Eileen Culloty and UCD’s Dr. Michal Wieczorek, whose complementary expertise shaped a thoughtful and engaging programme focused on AI literacy, ethics and educational decision-making.
Dr. Culloty introduced participants to the core principles of AI literacy, emphasising the importance of helping students understand how AI systems work, where their limitations lie and why critical thinking is essential in an AI-mediated world. Dr. Wieczorek expanded the discussion to consider the broader ethical and societal implications of AI in education, prompting reflection on responsibility, values and the dilemmas schools face when deciding whether and how to engage with AI tools. As with the Dublin workshop, the session prioritised dialogue over demonstrations, creating space for teachers to explore the ‘bigger picture’ rather than focusing solely on technical use.
Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, with every respondent stating they would strongly recommend it to other teachers and all reporting increased confidence in discussing AI use with their students.
What resonated most strongly with attendees was the emphasis on open discussion, ethics and clarity. Many highlighted the value of the conversations that emerged during the session, describing the workshop as ‘very clear and useful,’ ‘engaging,’ and ‘very informative, particularly regarding ethics.’ Several participants noted that the focus on limitations, values and intent helped them to think more critically about AI adoption in schools, with one teacher appreciating the reassurance that ‘it’s okay to say no to AI.’
Participants also praised the expertise of the speakers and the overall flow of the day. The accompanying online resources from ADAPT were described as ‘excellent and much needed for all schools,’ reinforcing the practical value of the workshop beyond the day itself.
Overall, the Limerick workshop demonstrated a strong appetite among educators for professional learning that foregrounds ethics, critical reflection and informed decision-making around AI. The enthusiastic response echoed the feedback from earlier sessions and underlined the importance of supporting teachers not just to use AI tools, but to thoughtfully interrogate their role in education.