Hey {{ first_name | human }},
I hope you had a great break and are ready for the year ahead. This week we have a quick round-up of things specifically in education that you might have missed over summer.
TL;DR: The 60 Second briefing
⚡️AI Tutoring : A two-year Khanmigo trial found little in attainment gains as pupils used it infrequently. Access alone is not tutoring.
🧪Educational AI is becoming more structured: Microsoft, Google and OpenAI are moving beyond blank chatbots towards guided study, diagnostics and teacher controls.
🚨Schools should think carefully before publishing children’s photos: Police and safeguarding warnings highlight risks around consent, identification, privacy and uncontrolled reuse.
📚 AI+education news
⚡️ Khanmigo Trial > What it is: A two-year trial across 18 Tennessee middle schools found that Khanmigo increased maths attainment by around 0.06–0.08 standard deviations. However, usage was limited. Although 96% of pupils tried it, the median pupil used it on only about a third of practice days. After making a mistake, pupils used it in just 17% of sessions.
Why this matters: Access does not guarantee effective tutoring. Learning depends on whether pupils engage with explanations, questions and feedback.
🧪 Study & Learn > What it is: Microsoft’s Study and Learn uses questions, feedback, quizzes and flashcards rather than simply providing answers. Google’s Study Notebooks use diagnostic quizzes to identify gaps and create targeted lessons. OpenAI is also developing education-specific tools and workflows.
Why it matters: If pupils are going to use AI to support their educational efforts, The design of the interaction may matter as much as the model’s intelligence. The key question is: What are pupils thinking about and practising?
🧪Norway’s AI Guidance > What it is: A few months back Norway issued new guidance that could be boiled does to pupils in Years 1–7 should not use generative AI for schoolwork. or Years 8–10, use should be introduced gradually and critically. The guidance argues that younger pupils need to develop core skills such as reading, writing and calculation without bypassing the learning process through AI. This guidance has now become law.
Why it matters: This means international comparisons could get interesting!
🚨Safeguarding Warning for Back to School Photos > What it is: A number of police forces have warned parents about publishing children’s back-to-school photographs on social media. Images can reveal identity, location, routines and relationships. Once online, they may be copied, altered or reused. Schools should also consider this warning for photos on their website and other social media channels too. Before publishing, consider:
Is the image necessary?
Can the child be identified?
Does the background reveal sensitive information?
Is the platform public or restricted?
Is consent current and specific?
Have the child’s views been considered?
Could the image cause distress or create safeguarding risks?
How long will it remain online?
Why it matters: A school website is public, not a private family album. Consent is important, but it is not the whole safeguarding assessment.
Do this next: Ask the question if you would still be comfortable if this image were copied, shared or viewed years later?
Use the least identifying image that serves the purpose. Avoid publishing full names with photographs unless there is a clear reason. For children with safeguarding risks or court orders, follow the school’s safeguarding and data-protection procedures and consult the designated safeguarding lead.
‘Till next week.
Mr A 🦾
Help a colleague save time by sharing this newsletter; distributing these ideas helps a friend get home on time and keeps our energy focused on what matters most: great teaching.
Safety & Privacy Notice
The tools and workflows mentioned are intended for professional productivity and educational enhancement. Users must ensure that any AI implementation remains compliant with their local data protection regulations and institutional safeguarding policies.
Data Privacy: Do not enter personally identifiable information (PII), sensitive student records, or confidential institutional data into public AI models.
Verification Required: AI-generated content can be inaccurate, biased, or out of date. Always maintain a "human-in-the-loop" approach by reviewing and fact-checking all outputs before use.
Professional Judgement: These suggestions do not substitute for formal legal, clinical, or safeguarding advice. Final responsibility for accuracy and appropriateness remains with the professional user.
