AI tools on Tech hub

Introduction

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

AI is already built into many of the apps Outwood staff use every day, from Google Search summaries to Gemini in Gmail. Understanding what it is, what it can and can’t do, and how to use it safely will help you get more from these tools in your role.

What is AI?

Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to computer systems that can perform tasks typically thought to require human intelligence, such as understanding language, recognising patterns, making decisions, and generating content.

Getting started

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Outwood staff have access to a growing set of AI tools—as part of your school accounts—that can help with a wide range of tasks. Some are standalone assistants you chat with directly; others are AI features built into tools you already use.

Available AI tools

Gemini app

Google’s Gemini app is a general-purpose AI assistant, similar to ChatGPT or Claude. You chat with Gemini and give it instructions (called prompts) to help with a wide range of tasks—from drafting emails to generating images. You can also share files directly from Google Drive.

AI and student work

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AI tools are becoming part of students’ lives—used in some lessons and encountered every day outside school. Outwood’s approach is to set clear expectations about appropriate use and help students develop the judgement to use these tools responsibly.

Questions about authenticity in student work are becoming more common. The most reliable approach remains what you already do: knowing your students’ work, spotting inconsistencies, and monitoring the process.

What students can use AI for

The guiding principle is aid, not author: students can use AI to help them understand, explore, and engage with material. But their work must be in their own words, with students acknowledging the use of AI.

NotebookLM

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

NotebookLM is Google’s AI research and learning tool—give it your documents, PDFs, websites, or videos as sources, and it answers questions, creates summaries, and generates resources, drawing only on the information you’ve provided, with citations throughout.

Go to notebooklm.google.com and sign in with your school Google account to get started.

Key areas of NotebookLM

Sources

Sources are the foundation of your notebook. Add documents, websites, images, and videos to serve as the notebook’s knowledge base.