NSWEduChat
NSW Department of Education staff will now have access to NSWEduChat, the department’s generative artificial intelligence tool, providing them with a safe and secure way to explore the benefits of generative artificial intelligence.
Introduction to NSWEduChat
NSWEduChat is a secure, department-owned generative artificial intelligence (AI) tool ensuring security, privacy and equity while offering tailored content for the NSW Education environment.
The tool aims to provide additional support to staff in developing and delivering teaching experiences, easing workload demands, and empowering users to advance their AI skills in a safe environment.
NSWEduChat can simulate many tasks that a human might perform but may not always be accurate. School leaders, teachers and trained, experienced employees in non-teaching positions should apply professional judgment when using NSWEduChat.
NSWEduChat is currently the safest and most cost-effective generative AI tool available for our schools and staff. NSWEduChat is based in our own cloud environment in Sydney, Australia, data is secure, caters to the NSW educational context and aligns to the NSW AI Assessment Framework.
NSWEduChat trial
In Term 1 2024, the department began a trial of its own generative AI tool, NSWEduChat, in 16 schools, expanding to 50 schools in Term 2. The trial currently continues in the 50 schools to all staff and students in stage 3 to stage 6 until the end of Term 4, 2024.
The objective of the initial trial during Term 1 and Term 2 was to understand the impacts of generative AI on teaching and learning. Following positive feedback, such as teachers reporting work efficiencies, and high engagement from the 50 trial schools, the department is enabling access of the NSWEduChat tool to all staff.
Expanding the trial of NSWEduChat to all staff will allow the department to understand work efficiency use-cases given the positive and promising feedback from the 50 trial schools.
How to access NSWEduChat
Staff can access NSWEduChat directly via the NSWEduChat website or their Staff Portal. Staff need to log in using their staff credentials.
Features and benefits of NSWEduChat
Key features:
- Privacy first: NSWEduChat uses best-practice privacy and data-sharing methods to minimise the risk of data breaches.
- Built-in safeguards: Content is restricted, monitored, and filtered to ensure compliance with department standards.
- Tailored content: Content aligns with the department’s policies and resources. Staff always have the responsibility to check the accuracy of any content produced by NSWEduChat.
Key benefits:
- Skill development: Teachers can use NSWEduChat to enhance their AI skills and digital literacy.
- Task automation: Automates administrative tasks, giving teachers more time to focus on personalised learning and student interactions.
Please note that the use of individual free-to-use generative AI tools other than NSWEduChat is neither endorsed nor recommended by the department. While not endorsed, staff still have access to free-to-use generative AI tools.
Student use of generative AI
Student use of generative AI within department networks remains restricted due to concerns about data privacy, student safety, the potential exposure to harmful or explicit content and content inappropriate for teaching and learning.
Only students in stages 3-6 in trial schools currently have access to NSWEduChat. The trial will be reviewed from Term 4, 2024. This will inform any decisions about the use of NSWEduChat by additional students.