Use of Apps and AI software in Scottish schools: FOI release

Information requested

1. Information held by Education Scotland confirming, by name, which Apps and AI software are currently being used in Scottish schools and whether these Apps are being used in pre-school, primary or secondary education settings.

2. Information regarding Education Scotland’s involvement in promoting the use of Apps or AI in Scottish Schools or AI pilots being undertaken.

3. Information confirming the annual subscription paid by education authorities directly or indirectly of using each App or AI software in the case of subscription services.

4. A copy of any Data Privacy Impact Assessment that has been undertaken by Education Scotland in respect of each App or AI Software currently in use.

Response

Question 1.

Education Scotland does not maintain a database of Apps and AI software being used in Scottish schools. We do have a list of all Apps that are available via Glow, the national digital learning platform and this is included in Annex A. In addition local authorities who have opted in to using Google Workspace for Education via Glow can access a range of Apps and extensions – for more information please see Apps and Extensions Overview – Glow Connect.

Question 2.

Education Scotland has invested in an AI Exploration hub GenAI in Education Exploration Hub as a space for local authority/school leaders and practitioners to find resources/collaborate/explore/learn about AI in schools.

Education Scotland ran a AI in Schools week in March 2024 #ScotAI24 – Scottish AI in schools week recap – DigiLearn (and will run again in March 2025 Themed Weeks 2024/25 – DigiLearn) focusing on three areas of AI – Learning about AI, Learning with AI and Creating AI. The week includes live lessons for learners, sharing current practice sessions and professional learning sessions, all of which are accessible online for teachers across Scotland.

Education Scotland has worked with the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland (ADES) on a project called Learning Beyond Boundaries – Learning Beyond Boundaries - which worked with children and young people and teachers to understand their thoughts on the challenges and opportunities of using AI in schools. This project is also developing tools for schools to support discussions around the use of AI.

In the early days of ChatGPT Education Scotland shared a briefing note –attached at Annex A – with all schools and local authorities on AI in schools. This broadly mirrored the note sent out to schools in England and Wales from the UK Government.

However, Education Scotland does not promote the use of specific Apps and AI software into Scottish schools. As part of the ongoing update of Microsoft applications within the Glow platform, Microsoft will continue to integrate aspects of AI into its range of core services. Local authorities and schools who have opted into Google Workspace for Education within Glow will have a similar experience with aspects of AI rolling out to core services. Adobe Express for Education was made available as an opt in service within Glow this year and that includes access to Adobe Firefly. The Glow programme has been conducting a short life pilot project with local authority colleagues and a small teacher group in Clackmannanshire and Argyll and Bute, to explore the use of Google Gemini by teachers. Further information around this work can be found at Machine Learning and AI within Glow – Glow Connect.

Question 3.
Education Scotland does not collect information relating to any subscription services paid for by local authorities or schools.

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that Education Scotland does not have the information you have requested.

Question 4.

Data Privacy Impact Assessments (DPIAs) are conducted by and the responsibility of local authorities as Data Controllers. DPIA information in relation to Glow can be found at Has a Data Privacy Impact Assessment been carried out on Glow? – Glow Connect.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

FOI 202400443536 - Information Released - Annex

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