Student teachers in University College Dublin’s Professional Master of Education (PME) programme took part in specialised training on 10 November and 18 November as part of the AI Literacy in the Classroom initiative. The sessions introduced future post-primary teachers to the opportunities and challenges posed by artificial intelligence and media technologies, preparing them to support young people in navigating an increasingly algorithm-driven digital world.
AI Literacy in the Classroom empowers educators to critically engage with AI both as everyday media users and as facilitators of student learning. The training equips participants with foundational knowledge, ethical frameworks and practical pedagogical strategies that strengthen their ability to guide students in making informed, reflective decisions about the digital content they encounter.
A core focus of the initiative is critical AI literacy, an essential dimension of modern media literacy. PME students explored how AI systems influence online content, from personalised feeds to algorithmically generated text and imagery, and learned to identify bias, understand data use and consider the wider social implications of AI tools in education.
During the training, participants developed skills to question the reliability of AI-generated media and reflect on its impact. They engaged with key questions such as: Who created this content? Why was it created? How might algorithms have shaped it? Should AI be used in this context at all?
The training also emphasised values-led teaching, encouraging future educators to think critically about how AI should be integrated into their own classrooms. Topics such as misinformation, deepfakes and the role of generative AI in student work were explored, helping student teachers build confidence in addressing emerging ethical issues.
By the end of the sessions, PME students were better prepared not only to use AI and media tools, but to model thoughtful and responsible engagement with them. The team were praised for creating an engaging, supportive learning environment and for translating complex concepts into practical classroom approaches, ensuring participants felt equipped and energised by the experience.
Further training sessions are planned in South East Technological University (SETU) and University of Limerick with additional institutions to follow as the programme expands nationwide in the months ahead.