What exactly do we mean by AI? Is it all about robots? What about Chat GPT? What does it have to do with education and school staff?
Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to change almost every job throughout organisations and even replace some roles entirely. It also has big implications for the privacy and rights of you, your colleagues, the children in your schools and the vital public services you provide.
- What do you as a worker need to know so you can protect yourself, your colleagues and vulnerable people from potential harms?
- Are there ways that it could make your job easier and increase the time you spend directly with the people you support?
- How should AI be used by to improve services for the people you support?
- How can you can make sure AI doesn’t control your working day or destroy your job?
These are the big questions that this 2 x after school session course will begin to address:
- Session 1: 24/9/25 - 3.30-5pm
- Session 2: 1/10/25 - 3.30-5pm
This course is designed for front line workers in schools and other education settings - with your interests, issues and ideas at the centre.
Knowledge is power, and the more you know about this technology the lower the risk of being swept away by the tides of change.
(Please note: this session is not training on how to use specific generative AI tools to achieve efficiency savings, etc. Application-specific training should be organised and funded by your employer when new technologies are implemented in your workplace)
You will learn about:
- Definitions and types Artificial Intelligence
- Current and potential applications in local authorities, NHS, police and justice, energy. There are specific sessions for social care and schools listed on our Eventrbite page
- AI risks and your rights
- Worker involvement in implementation
The course will involve interaction and discussion. You will work in groups to analyse fictional case study scenarios, which will be sent to you ahead of the course.
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Worker Voice
Your course will be delivered by an expert tutor who will guide you and your fellow workers on a three-stage journey during your course:
- Issues – how does this issue affect you and your colleagues?
- Ideas – what would make things better for you and your colleagues?
- Involvement – how can you and your colleagues get involve in making positive changes in your workplace, including through your trade union?
You will take part in activities that capture your voice and we will communicate the outcomes anonymously to UNISON local branches, self-organised groups and sectoral forums. This means voice on the subject is heard at the heart of your union’s democratic structures.
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Provider: UNISON Cymru
Your tutor will be Richard Speight, UNISON Area Learning & Development Organiser, a trained political economist and digital literacy tutor who has been researching this field for several years. He will help you to cut through the hype and the scaremongering and talk about your hopes and fears about your future with “artificial intelligence”.
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This course is organised by UNISON Cymru Wales and is funded by the Wales Union Learning Fund (WULF). To attend this course, you must be living/working in Wales and be employed within public services.
This information will be securely stored and destroyed after one year. For more information on how UNISON uses your personal data, please go to: https://www.unison.org.uk/privacy-policy
