The national expansion of ADAPT’s AI Literacy in the Classroom initiative was launched in Dublin on Saturday, 4th October, with an energising and inspiring workshop that brought together teachers from all Ireland. The event, hosted by Google, marked the official start of the new phase of the initiative, which aims to strengthen AI literacy among post-primary teachers and student teachers nationwide.
Workshop presentations were delivered by Dr. Eileen Cullaty (DCU), Dr. Michal Wieczorek (UCD), and Dr. Eamon Costello (DCU), whose combined expertise spans AI literacy, ethics, educational policy, and media literacy. Dr. Cullaty opened with a session demystifying core AI concepts and addressing common misconceptions; Dr. Wieczorek led a thoughtful discussion on the social and ethical dimensions of AI in education; and Dr. Costello guided participants through interactive group work focused on drafting and evaluating AI policy in school settings, highlighting how different actors, teachers, students, parents, policymakers and industry can shape the evolving landscape of AI in education.
The Dublin workshop set the tone for this next chapter with a day of stimulating discussions, expert presentations, and highly interactive sessions. Participants praised the clarity and expertise of the speakers, highlighting how the sessions ‘deepened understanding’ while keeping the content ‘practical, engaging, and relevant to classroom realities.’ Teachers particularly valued the opportunity to exchange experiences with colleagues and appreciated the openness of discussion and the collaborative atmosphere, noting that the format allowed them to connect ideas across diverse school contexts and policy settings. Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, with comments celebrating the interactive design, relevance of content, and strong sense of professional community.
This launch event now paves the way for upcoming regional workshops in Waterford (15th November) and Limerick (24th January), ensuring broad participation across Ireland. The online AI Literacy in the Classroom course, already taken by more than 500 teachers, will also launch in Irish over the coming weeks, making these resources accessible to an even wider audience.
Finally, a key feature of the national phase is the introduction of teacher training sessions within Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). These sessions will support student teachers in embedding AI literacy from the outset of their careers, ensuring that future educators are equipped to integrate AI responsibly and confidently into their teaching practice.
Reflecting on the milestone, Laura Grehan, Head of Education, Engagement and Societal Impact at ADAPT Centre, said:
“This workshop marked an important step in expanding AI literacy in schools nationwide. Teachers are eager to engage critically and creatively with AI, and we are delighted to support them with resources that are inclusive, evidence‑based, and relevant to their everyday practice.”
Anne Rooney, Head of Government Affairs & Public Policy at Google Ireland, added:
“At Google we want to equip Ireland’s young people and educators with the skills needed to understand and navigate this transformative technology. Our continued support for ADAPT underlines our commitment to making AI literacy accessible across Ireland, ensuring that students are prepared to shape an AI-enabled future that benefits all.”
With this strong beginning to the national rollout, ADAPT and its partners look forward to further workshops, dedicated teacher training in HEIs, and the introduction of new classroom resources, ensuring that Ireland’s teachers and students are equipped to thrive in an AI-enabled future.
Find out more and register for upcoming workshops or access the online course at https://ai-literacy-in-the-classroom.adaptcentre.ie