AI is Here to Stay: How UAE Schools Are Managing ChatGPT in Classrooms
AI tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot are increasingly part of school assignments in the UAE. Educational leaders consider this shift a natural outcome of emerging technology. What was once approached with caution is now a reality educators are handling by balancing innovation, ethics, and student growth.
ChatGPT in the Classroom: A Growing Trend
Students are actively experimenting with AI tools. Baz Nijjar, Vice President of Education Technology at GEMS Education, confirms that curiosity drives students to explore these new technologies early on. GEMS has formed working groups to develop policies, integrate AI into curricula, and train teachers to spot AI-generated work. Their goal is to encourage responsible AI use and rethink assessments accordingly.
AI as a Language Bridge
At Dubai Schools Al Khawaneej (DSK), part of the Taaleem group, older students are using ChatGPT to support research and critical thinking. Elementary Principal James Efford notes that multilingual learners especially benefit from AI as a language bridge, helping them express complex ideas in English or Arabic. This has increased student participation and enriched classroom discussions.
Balancing Digital and Traditional Assessments
Bloom World Academy takes a progressive stance by accepting AI as part of education rather than banning it. Founding Principal John Bell combines traditional pen-and-paper assessments with digital tools to maintain academic integrity.
Turning Misuse into Learning Opportunities
Instances of students relying too heavily on AI have surfaced, but schools prefer to treat these as teaching moments rather than punishments. DSK incorporates checkpoints and draft reviews that emphasize original thinking and student voice.
Increasing Parental Engagement
GEMS adopts an educational and restorative approach. Nijjar highlights task redesigns that require critical thinking beyond AI-generated answers. From the next academic year, there will be a stronger focus on parental awareness to support responsible use of AI at home.
Addressing AI-Generated Plagiarism
Bell points out that AI-generated plagiarism is subtle and constantly changing. To counter this, Bloom World Academy maintains strong analogue components like verbal presentations and written assignments to ensure students fully understand their work.
Teachers Embrace AI Tools
Teachers also use AI to improve lesson planning, personalize content, and create real-time assessments. At GEMS, custom AI agents help design differentiated activities and quizzes. DSK uses AI to simulate student misconceptions and generate tiered questions. Bloom applies AI for both academic and administrative tasks, freeing teachers to focus more on teaching quality and student interaction.
Embedding AI Across the Curriculum
AI literacy is becoming a curriculum-wide focus. GEMS is launching the School of Research and Innovation featuring AI and XR labs, with subjects like AI, robotics, game design, and esports. Bloom offers an accredited AI course for students aged 14+, with AI literacy introduced even to KG2 students through a spiral curriculum. Taaleem schools integrate AI across subjects, from critiquing AI content in English to discussing ethics in moral education.
Ethics and Accountability Remain Central
All schools emphasize a strong ethical foundation. GEMS prioritizes anonymized data governance and asks critical questions about safety and positive use cases. Bloom teaches fairness and bias through mock trials and critical thinking exercises. DSK promotes a human-centered AI approach, encouraging students to question, verify, and use technology responsibly.
Opportunities and Challenges Ahead
AI offers personalized learning, workload reduction, and deeper engagement. However, concerns remain about fast development, misuse, and unequal access. Educators see AI as an integral part of education’s future, working to ensure its impact stays positive.
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