This half term, as part of their Design and Tech-nology project, Year 6 students are diving into the fascinating world of artificial intelligence (AI). They are learning what AI is, how it works, and explo-ring some of the important ethical questions sur-rounding its use, especially in relation to art creation.
To kick off the topic, students attended a talk by Dr Steven Hamblin, an expert in the field of AI. He introduced them to the basics of artificial intelligence and explained how these systems operate. Dr Hamblin also touched on some of the more controversial as-pects of AI, such as its environmental impact and the ethics of gene-rating artwork using AI tools.
As the project continues, and under guidance, Year 6 will try using AI image generation tools themselves. They’ll experiment with promp-ting AI to replicate artwork and then explore deeper ethical questions, including what it feels like when your own work is used, without permission, to train an AI model. We’re excited to share more about this engaging and thought-provoking project in the coming weeks.The school was also fortunate to welcome Dr Hamblin for a special session with our parents. In this talk, he expanded on the ideas he presented to the students, going into greater depth about how these systems actually work. He then offered his thoughts on how AI might shape the educational landscape in the years ahead. A key takeaway from his talk was the importance of training children’s attention. Activities that build focus and concentration, he argued, will be crucial for helping young people thrive in a world increasingly shaped by digital tools.
He emphasised, “The ability to think when it is noisy, to put down the screens and concentrate, to grapple with complex ideas without needing to immediately relieve the tension by looking up the answer will differentiate those who can master this environment and those who can’t.”
At St Christopher’s, we are proud to embrace the tools of the future while maintaining a strong focus on citizenship, critical thinking, and ethical responsibility. By exploring the possibilities and challenges of AI, our students are not only gaining technical insight, but also learning what it means to use emerging technologies thoughtfully and responsibly.
