Educator Hub
Profile & Account
Teaching Essentials
Teaching Tools
Learning Resources
CPD & Training
Professional Life
Trustee Governance

function updateHeaderHeight() {
        // Get the height of #brx-header
        const headerHeight = document.querySelector('#brx-header').offsetHeight;
          
        // Store the height in the CSS custom property --header-height
        document.documentElement.style.setProperty('--brxw-header-height', headerHeight + 'px');
    }

    // Execute the function as soon as the document is ready
    document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() {
        updateHeaderHeight();  // Initial update of header height when the document is ready

        // Update the header height on window resize and orientation change
        window.addEventListener('resize', updateHeaderHeight);
        window.addEventListener('orientationchange', updateHeaderHeight);
});

The Lounge

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in BSL Teaching

In this session, we explore how AI is being used in BSL teaching and learning. Members share their experiences, discuss the benefits and challenges of AI, and consider its ethical use in classrooms and professional development.

Back to CPD & Training

Three picture of biscuit up close with blue background

Overview of Member Insights

Friday 24th Octber 2025 6:30pm - 8pm

Lorem ipsum dolor ist amte, consectetuer adipiscing eilt. Aenean commodo ligula egget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quak felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quid, sem.

What Members Said and Key Points

Member Discussion

Members shared experiences using AI in teaching.
Some have used AI to create lesson resources; others have not used AI before.
Concerns raised about data collection, privacy, and how AI platforms use information.
Questions about the ethical use of AI and its impact on teaching roles.

Summary of What We Discussed

1. AI Supports Growth

Helps create lesson plans, exercises, and multimedia resources.
Can save time and inspire new teaching ideas.

2. Data Collection & Concerns

AI collects data to learn and improve its performance.
How data is used depends on the platform:
- Free / open-source AI → improves the system only.
- Commercial AI → may monetise data or services.

3. Data Privacy & Ethics

Students’ personal information should not be uploaded to AI tools.
GDPR and privacy rules apply.
Teachers must remain responsible and ethical when using AI.

4. Good Practices for Teachers

Use a separate work/school email for AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT).
Keep personal and professional AI work separate.
Some workplaces use licensed AI tools (e.g., Microsoft Copilot) for official work.

5. Protecting BSL Teachers’ Roles

Teachers should stay informed and united.
AI is a tool, not a replacement for human expertise.
Proactive use ensures teachers maintain control and relevance in teaching.

Unpacking

ABSLTA takes key points from discussion and organises into five themes:

AI-Assisted Lesson Planning & Resource Development

What it is: AI tools can help create lesson plans, worksheets, quizzes, and multimedia resources (videos, animations, simulations).

Benefits: Saves time, inspires ideas, supports visual learning (e.g., SignAI for BSL).

Challenges: Content may have errors, lack cultural nuance, or reduce teacher creativity.

AI in Student Assessment

What it is: AI can evaluate students’ skills, provide instant feedback, and track progress over time.

Benefits: Faster assessment, objective measurements, personalised feedback.

Challenges: AI may misinterpret signs or responses, limited nuance, over-reliance reduces teacher judgment.

Accessibility, Inclusion & Personalisation

What it is: AI adapts lessons to learners’ needs and levels, making education more inclusive.

Benefits: Supports diverse learners, remote learning, customised pacing.

Challenges: Digital divide, AI may not fully capture learner context, accessibility of AI tools varies.

Teacher Training & Professional Development

What it is: AI helps teachers improve their skills, provides practice scenarios, and suggests teaching strategies.

Benefits: Supports CPD, offers new methods, keeps teachers updated on technology.

Challenges: Teachers need training to use AI, over-reliance on AI may reduce peer collaboration, technology can overshadow pedagogy.

Ethics, Privacy & Data Security

What it is: AI stores and processes student data to enhance learning.

Benefits: Enables personalised insights, data-informed decisions.

Challenges: Privacy risks, misuse of student data, ethical concerns about AI interpreting signs incorrectly.

Feedback

ABSLTA CPD Poll (2025–2026)

Members found the session useful, gained meaningful takeaways, felt the pace was well-suited, and would largely recommend ABSLTA CPDs to others.