Impact of Gen AI
Stage 1 of Barker’s AI Foundations & Ethics course now available
In Term 3 2026, Barker College launched the first stage of our research-informed and age-appropriate courses helping students approach AI safely, thoughtfully, and purposefully. To clearly communicate to families, this article and pre-recorded webinar are now available outlining the purpose of the course, the content, how it is being delivered and can be accessed by parents, and how to give feedback.
Four Barker staff discuss the course in the 19-minute video below.
The Barker approach to Generative AI:
- Centres our students, and their learning, development, and identity, when making decisions about technology and learning.
- Draws on research, expertise, and review. Read the recent research conducted by the Barker Institute as part of a larger strategic focus here..
- Anchors our approach to AI in our Christian faith and our identity as an Anglican School. Read five reflections on AI and the Christian faith by Rev Craig Tubman here.
one.
The need to teach AI Foundations & Ethics
Regardless of any school’s policies around AI, it is increasingly becoming part of the lives of young people in ways that affect their learning, wellbeing, and futures. This course is just one formal approach to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to allow for positive and safe approaches to AI as they explore what role it may play for them.
Content
The course will be delivered through 18 modules grouped into three stages. They will gain knowledge of what AI is and isn’t, and what AI can and can’t do. They will develop skills in prompting and in recognising and verifying AI outputs. They will be guided towards dispositions for recognising the learning gap that can occur when using AI, for knowing when to seek help, and for retaining cognitive agency, authorship, and independence.
Delivery of Stage 1
Three courses covering the same six topics have been developed to meet the developmental needs and experiences of students of different ages.
A Year 5-6 course will be delivered in collaboration between the classroom teacher and Mr Brad Kirk, Junior School Digital Learning Leader. This commenced in late Term 3 with Year 5 and will be completed with Year 6 in Term 4.
A Year 7-9 and a Year 10-12 course has also been released as online modules on Canvas, our learning management system. In 2026, this is available to students as a self-guided course or one that can be undertaken with families. In 2027, it will begin to be embedded in school-time lessons.
We invite parents to consider completing these modules with their children as a family. All parents in the school can access the Year 7-9 and Year 10-12 courses on Canvas. The Year 7-9 course is appropriate for Junior School students when completing with their parents.
Review
Student and staff feedback has been positive. We will continue to review the AI Foundations & Ethics course so updates to the course’s form, content or implementation can be made in readiness for 2027. To assist with this review process, Barker parents who access the course on their own or with their children are invited to provide feedback. The platform for initial feedback can be accessed via this link.
Parent Access
You can access the courses via the links below. After you have followed the link you will need to click on the "Join Course" button on the top right and reload the page.
For more information please contact:
Dr Matthew Hill, Director of Professional Learning and The Barker Institute
Steve Solomonides, Digital Learning Leader and Lead Author
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