Dr Leon Furze: AI In Education & Practical Insights for School Staff | Episode 172

"The heart of education remains unchanged. The relationships we build, the questions we ask, the critical thinking we nurture, and the care we show our students remain at the heart of great education." Dr Leon FurzeArtificial intelligence is transforming education at an extraordinary pace. But alongside the excitement comes uncertainty. How does AI actually work? What are its limitations? How can educators use it ethically, thoughtfully and without losing sight of what matters most?In this episode, Meg Durham is joined by educator, author and AI specialist Dr Leon Furze. Together, they unpack how AI works, the opportunities it presents for teachers and students, the ethical considerations schools need to navigate, and why educators don't need to have all the answers to begin engaging with this technology.Throughout the conversation, Dr Furze encourages us to move beyond seeing AI as simply an advanced search engine and instead understand its broader capabilities. He also explores how AI can support inclusion, reduce workload and improve accessibility, while reminding us that the future of education will always be shaped by relationships, professional judgement and human connection.Whether you're feeling curious, cautious or completely overwhelmed by AI, this episode will help you better understand the technology, think more critically about its role in schools, and feel more confident navigating the future of education.----In this episode, you'll learn:How AI actually works and what large language models do.The limitations, risks and ethical considerations of AI in education.The biggest opportunities AI presents for teachers, students and school leaders.How AI can support inclusion and assistive technology for diverse learners.Practical ways educators can become more confident and skilled in using AI.What the future of AI in education may look like, and what schools should be preparing for now.And so much more...----Chapter Markers:02:30 What AI is and how it actually works06:00 The limitations, bias and ethical challenges of AI09:20 The biggest concerns educators have about AI13:00 Helping students, staff and parents navigate AI17:30 The opportunities AI presents for education18:00 AI as assistive technology and supporting inclusion23:20 How educators can become more confident using AI30:10 The risks of moving too quickly with AI32:50 The future of AI in education37:40 What every educator should keep in mind----Reflection prompts:I would like to learn more about...One way AI could genuinely support my work is...One conversation my school needs to have about AI is...One deliberate action I will take after listening to this episode is...----Episode 172 Show Notes – Click here.----Dr Leon Furze – Website | LinkedIn | Practical AI Strategies 2: The Critical Guide to GenAI in Education----Meg Durham – Website | LinkedIn | InstagramWeekly Newsletter – Subscribe hereSpeaker Booking – Complete the booking form to start the conversation.----Your Questions Answered:How does AI actually work?Dr Leon Furze explains that AI models learn patterns from enormous datasets rather than thinking or understanding information in the way humans do. Large language models are trained on trillions of words, enabling them to predict and generate text, images, audio and code based on the patterns they have learned.What are the limitations of AI?AI is not neutral. Dr Furze discusses important limitations including bias in training data, environmental impacts, copyright concerns, privacy considerations and the influence of the companies that build these technologies. Understanding these limitations helps educators make more informed decisions about how and when to use AI.How can AI support teachers and students?One of AI's greatest opportunities lies in reducing workload and improving accessibility. Dr Furze shares how AI can support lesson planning, curriculum design and administrative task