Elite Qld schools trial AI to mark student work, ease load on teachers

Artificial intelligence is being used at more than 20 of Queensland’s most prestigious schools to help mark student assessments in a trial aimed at to reducing teaching workloads.

St Joseph's Gregory Terrace at Spring Hill is one of the Queensland schools using AI to help ease teachers’ workload. Picture: Liam Kidston

Artificial intelligence is being used at more than 20 of Queensland’s most prestigious schools to help mark student assessments in a trial aimed at to reducing teaching workloads.

AI-based platform Edexia will be used for nearly 20,000 students across twenty-two schools including Brisbane Grammar School, St Joseph’s College Gregory Terrace, Brisbane Boys’ College, St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School, St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School, Somerville House and Villanova College.

The trial follows successful classroom testing in ten schools last year.

The software has the capability to automatically mark all forms of written assessment and can even analyse handwriting, maths, graphs and engineering portfolios.

Using a school’s criteria sheet, it provides a grade and comprehensive feedback for students, both of which can be adjusted by the teacher to train the software’s future marking style.

The technology has also been tested at Somerville House at South Brisbane. Picture: Liam Kidston

Villanova College’s Head of the Humanities and Languages Faculty Tyler McCluskey said the school’s use of Edexia had allowed teachers to spend more time conferencing and discussing feedback with students.

“We have trialled the platform mainly for the marking of drafts across our text-heavy Humanities subjects,” he said.

“The most notable impact has been the immediate time savings that it offers teachers in an increasingly time-poor profession.

“Another benefit, in the broader faculty context, is that the platform allows for greater consistency across multiple classes across a cohort.”

Another teacher who wished to remain anonymous said pieces of major assessment could take up to one hour to mark, two classes of 25 students could generate up 50 hours of marking over a fortnight.

The Queensland Teachers’ Union said it was greatly concerned for teacher wellbeing and acknowledged that due to high workloads, not all students were receiving the personalised attention and feedback required to develop essential skills.

The unions says that AI, if implemented in the right schools and right way, could help prevent teacher fatigue.

“Innovation that genuinely reduces workload for teachers and school leaders is always welcomed,” QTU President Cresta Richardson said.

“However any products or tools must be reliable, accurate and fit for purpose when rolled out.”

Edexia CEO Daniel Gibbon said the software was created to empower more teacher-student contact, “the reason most teachers become educators in the first place”.

He said teachers could have personalised control over the way in which the AI marks assessments.

“Teachers spend so much time away from the classroom and can feel distanced from the profession,” he said.

Queensland Teachers Union president Cresta Richardson. Picture: Richard Walker

“Edexia is complemented by the amazing teachers and institutions who guide us in safely and effectively implementing AI as a force for good.”

The Department of Education said it was working collaboratively with teachers and education providers in creating safe, ethical and responsible guidelines for implementation of AI.

“The Department is currently trialling generative AI applications, investigating the opportunities and challenges in teaching and learning, including the implications that such tools have on supporting teachers to manage workload,” said a spokesperson at the Department of Education.

“While generative AI tools can contribute to future-focused learning, teachers remain instrumental in leading learning, including helping students developing critical and creative thinking skills.”