HILLS Tech Talk
AI Integration Series
AI in Education: Year 11 & 12
Navigating in SACE
AI in Schools
Wednesday 12th of June
Session 1
"AI won't replace people, but people who use AI will replace people who don't."
Karim Lakhani (2023)
At HILLS we have taken the stance that:
"AI should be used to help students think more about what they are learning... not less."
We have also taken the stance that:
"AI should be used to help educators improve and amplify teaching, not dilute it."
"Experts" have helped to inform our Journey so far....
Updated internet Usage agreements and use of reputable educational Platforms Vetted for Students & Privacy Policies
Adobe Firefly - Creative Image Editing
Ethical AI image generation tool
Canva For Education: AI Magic & Image Generation
AI design platform for classrooms
Gemini - Protecting student data and linking to drive.
Research assistant with cited sources
What are your biggest concerns or dislikes about AI in school?
"I think AI is harming education as it destroys creativity and makes people rely on it instead of learning."

"Well, I don't fully understand what is happening with it. Kinda creepy."

"Teachers should not be allowed to give us AI-generated feedback. It makes me feel invisible."
"Teachers should not be allowed to give us AI-generated feedback. It makes me feel invisible."
Have you seen or experienced generative AI helping someone (yourself or others) in a meaningful way?
"Yes, when someone put a complex-worded website into AI, it translated it into something I could actually understand." - This applies to teachers too.
"I have used AI many times when trying to understand a task sheet. It helps me not feel overwhelmed." This applies to teachers too.
"AI has helped me improve assignments by giving me ideas, but I made sure to put them in my own words." This applies to teachers too.
Here's a real example: I was asked to step in and teach a Year 10 maths class on Standard Deviation for a relief lesson…..
What questions, doubts, or challenges do you have about generative AI in school?
"How accurate is it when you get it to draft grades?"
Great question, and the honest answer is: AI can be helpful, but it's not a final judge.
When AI is used to help draft grades or provide feedback, it's looking at patterns, structure, and sometimes the relevance of your content. But it can’t always interpret creativity, original thinking, deep understanding, or even your tone and intent, the way a human teacher can.
So, while AI can help spot basic errors, suggest improvements, and give a rough indication of where a piece might sit, it should never be used as the final marker. Your teacher will always apply professional judgement based on the learning goals, assessment criteria, and how you’ve grown over time.
Think of AI as a second set of eyes, not the final say.
This conversation has prompted us to continue to explore it more deeply areas like assessment. That means asking:
How can AI help, not hinder, teacher judgment?
How do we make sure students like you aren't disadvantaged by unfair AI use?
How do we keep learning authentic, creative, and human?
What questions, doubts, or challenges do you have about generative AI in school?
"If parents are paying school fees for their children to learn, and the school is using AI to do that learning for them, what are we even paying for?"
Vision for AI in Education @ HILLS
For Teachers
"We want AI to make teachers more available, not more robotic. We want AI to help us teach in more creative ways, not more generic ones. And we want AI to give us more time to give you human feedback, not less."
For Students
"In the same way, we want you to use AI to think more about your learning, not less. To unpack tricky content, not shortcut it. To get curious, not just copy and paste."
For Schools
"We want AI to enhance education, not replace it. To augment human capabilities, not substitute them. To create more meaningful learning experiences, not automated ones."
Tips for using AI to as your Tutor Agent to help you think more not less..
How Students Can Use AI to Think More, Not Less
Core AI Learning Strategies
1
Use AI to understand the task
Upload your assignment prompt and ask: "Can you explain what this is really asking me to do?" Clarify before you begin, not after you get it wrong.
2
Use AI to get feedback on your draft
Paste your writing into AI and ask: "Which parts are unclear? How can I make this better?" Use the feedback to strengthen your own work — don't let AI rewrite it.
3
Use AI to unpack hard concepts
Ask AI to explain something in simple terms, then like you're teaching it to someone else. If you can teach it, you understand it.
4
Use AI to explore creative approaches
Ask for different ways to present or express your ideas: infographic, story, analogy, etc. AI gives options — you choose the one that best shows your thinking.
5
Use AI to check your thinking
Before submitting, ask: "What questions might my teacher ask me about this?" It helps you spot gaps in your understanding before they're marked.
6
Keep your voice
If AI's response doesn't sound like you — don't use it. Use AI to sharpen your thinking, not to replace it.
Powerful AI Prompting Techniques
Clarify Marking Criteria
"What does 'evaluate with evidence' mean in this rubric?"
Revise & Quiz Combo
"Summarise this topic for me, then quiz me on it." First, AI helps you understand the content in simple terms. Then it checks your learning with custom-made questions.
Role-Play a Critic
"Pretend you're a strict examiner—what would you critique in my answer?"
Compare Perspectives
"Show me two sides of the ethical debate on AI in warfare." Helps prepare balanced arguments.
Time Management Help
"I have 3 assignments due in 10 days. Help me make a study plan." Turns overwhelm into action.
How Teachers Use AI to Improve Learning
Teachers can leverage AI in multiple ways to enhance the educational experience:
Creating Example Answers to Learn From
Teachers can ask AI to generate sample responses to help show what a high-quality answer looks like. They might go through these examples with the class to explain why they work.
Presenting Information in Different Ways
If some students prefer reading, others benefit from diagrams, and some need step-by-step instructions — AI helps teachers adapt the same content into different formats to support everyone.
Planning for Students With Different Needs
Teachers can use AI to suggest small changes or supports that help students who learn differently, such as those with ADHD, autism, or learning difficulties. This helps make learning more accessible.
Finding Better Ways to Teach Complex Topics
Some subjects are hard to explain. AI can help teachers come up with clear examples, activities, or real-life links to make complex topics easier to understand.
Responding to Student Feedback and Progress
When students fill out surveys or complete tasks, AI can help teachers spot patterns — like common misunderstandings — and adjust teaching based on what students actually need.
Saving Time on Admin
AI can help with repetitive tasks like writing rubrics or summaries. That gives teachers more time to work with students directly instead of being stuck at their desks.
Designing Learning, Not Just Delivering Content
Rather than just giving you information, teachers use AI to design lessons that are more thoughtful, engaging, and personalised — while still making sure they align with what you need to learn.
"Everything I presented to you today, the videos, the slides, the visuals, was created with the help of AI. That's no secret. But the point isn't that AI did the work for me. The point is that it helped me get it done faster, so I could spend more time thinking about you, what questions you might have, and how to answer them meaningfully."
"This is what we're aiming for, not to replace teachers, but to amplify teaching."