Brisbane Catholic Education schools involved in a pilot writing program using feedback from artificial intelligence software have seen NAPLAN results improve eight times faster than the state average. Source: The Australian.
The program, which saw eight Catholic Education schools across Brisbane take part, used an AI writing tool called Writers Toolbox.
Queensland has often performed poorly in writing. In 2023, the combined Queensland average NAPLAN writing score across all years tested (grades 3, 5, 7 and 9) was 486 points.
A year later, the state’s score rose by just two points to 488.
But for those schools that took part in the AI pilot program, NAPLAN scores increased significantly, rising from 490 in 2023 to 555 points in 2024.
St Mary’s College principal Carmel O’Brien, whose school was involved in the program, described the results as “outstanding”, adding that the app was now being used across all year levels to boost student writing.
St Columban’s College principal Mike Connolly said the AI tool had helped the school achieve its best Year 9 NAPLAN writing score in its history.
He said the tool also enabled teachers “to change the program to cater for the students and give them instant feedback”.
“They love seeing their overall result and saying, ‘Can I make this better?’ And it’s great to see the look on the students’ face when they actually succeed,” he said.
It comes as schools across the country consider how best to approach the technology, with some opting to limit access, while others embrace AI.
Trent Wilson, a Canberra-based geography and global studies teacher, said schools had a “moral imperative” to equip students with AI skills.
When students leave school, “whether it’s at university or into workplaces, they’re going to be expected … to be able to engage with AI”, he said. “And so we have an obligation to be equipping students with the skills they need to be able to do that in the future.”
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Queensland pilot writing program shows promise of AI in schools (By Marcus de Blonk Smith, The Australian)
