EdChat AI rolls out to every South Australian high school as experts urge careful use

SA to roll out ChatGPT-style AI app in all high schools as experts urge caution

South Australia will deploy EdChat - a ChatGPT-style app developed with Microsoft - across all public high schools next term. The rollout follows a trial with educators and 10,000 students, and broader staff access since late 2024.

The goal: help students use AI safely and productively. The Education Minister said the platform includes privacy protections and content safeguards to keep personal information in and harmful content out.

What EdChat can do for learning

• Explain solutions to tough maths problems step-by-step.
• Rephrase task instructions to improve comprehension.
• Run quick quizzes and checks for understanding.
• Support iterative questioning: ask, refine, clarify, repeat.

A participating principal called it "an education equaliser," noting that access extends into the evening. One Year 11 student said she uses it daily for study plans, schedules, and staying on track.

Built-in guardrails - and clear boundaries

The app includes prompts and moderation to flag potential self-harm content for follow-up by appropriate staff. It also draws a firm line with students: EdChat is a learning assistant, not a friend.

Why that matters: boundaries protect student wellbeing and reduce the risk of over-attachment to AI tools.

Benefits with caveats

Tech experts say generative AI belongs in modern learning - with conditions. One expert warned against letting AI become a crutch: students still need to learn how to write, argue, and think critically.

Another noted that, used well, these tools can strengthen critical thinking through brainstorming and critique. The difference comes down to prompts, process, and how outputs are evaluated.

Practical steps for school leaders

• Publish a clear AI use policy: acceptable use, prohibited inputs (personal data), academic honesty, and reporting procedures.
• Specify "assistive, not replacement" use: explain, outline, critique, quiz - but no full-essay generation.
• Adopt documentation norms: require AI-use statements, prompt logs, and reflection notes on what was accepted or discarded.
• Plan PD: short, ongoing staff sessions on prompt design, evaluation, and assignment redesign.
• Engage parents/carers: share the guardrails and the learning purpose to build trust.

Classroom routines you can run next term

• Think-Pair-AI: students brainstorm, compare ideas, then query EdChat to pressure-test their thinking.
• Three-pass prompting: first pass for breadth, second for structure, third for depth with sources and counterpoints.
• Socratic checks: ask EdChat to quiz students on course objectives; students explain answers in their own words.
• Maths explainers: students request steps, then annotate where the method matches or departs from class methods.
• Reading support: rephrase dense paragraphs at different reading levels without changing meaning.

Assessment integrity that still builds skill

• Oral defenses and mini-vivas: 3-5 minutes to explain key choices or methods.
• Process-first grading: credit plan, drafts, feedback loops, and AI interaction logs.
• Personalization: anchor tasks to local data, lived experience, or class-only sources.
• Variant prompts: rotate datasets, constraints, or perspectives across classes.
• Detector caution: use AI detectors as a signal, not a verdict; verify with layered evidence.

Student guidance you can post on day one

• Do: ask for explanations, outlines, examples, quizzes, and feedback on your own writing.
• Don't: submit AI-written essays or input personal or sensitive information.
• Always: verify facts with your notes and assigned materials; cite sources.
• Reflect: state how you used AI, what you changed, and why.

Data privacy and safety hygiene

• Reinforce a "no personal data" rule for students and staff.
• Review vendor documentation on responsible AI and data handling.
• Run a quick DPIA-style checklist before enabling new features or integrations.

For a high-level view of responsible AI principles, see Microsoft's approach to Responsible AI. For policy framing in schools, compare with UNESCO's guidance on AI in education here.

Sample prompts to model in class

• "Explain this quadratic solution in three steps. Then show a common mistake and how to fix it."
• "Rephrase these task instructions at a Year 8 reading level without changing meaning."
• "Create a five-question quiz on plate tectonics with answers and brief explanations."
• "Critique my paragraph for clarity and bias. Suggest two stronger topic sentences."
• "Give me a study plan for the next two weeks for Chemistry Unit 3, 45 minutes per day."

Professional learning for your staff

If your team needs fast, practical upskilling on prompts and classroom workflows, explore focused options on prompt engineering.

What's next

EdChat will be available in all SA public high schools next term, following trials and staff access since 2024. A similar approach has been tested in New South Wales.

Bottom line for educators: EdTech is most effective with clear rules, visible process, and consistent coaching. Keep AI assistive, keep students in the driver's seat, and make the learning process the graded product.