Research Study: How the use of AI in industry impacts leadership, teaching and learning in schools
This research seeks to explore how industry is using AI to transform their work, how this will impact education and how both education and those working in industry feel we should prepare children in primary and post primary for the future use of AI.
It will seek to answer the following questions:
- How are industry and education using AI in their contexts?
- How does education perceive AI as being used by those working in industry?
- How does industry use of AI impact teachers and students in primary and post primary education?
- What should we prepare our students for AI use in the future?
This research is being undertaken by Dr Emma O Brien, Dr Aysegul Liman Kaban and Dr Eleanor Walsh, Mary Immaculate College.
You are invited to participate in a 45 minute interview, it will be a discussion on:
- Your use of AI, how it has changed your role, and drivers for this change.
- The skills you perceive are important for current and future educators to prepare students for AI use and how best to do this.
- The perceived impact of not preparing school going aged students effectively for job roles with AI.
- Note participation is entirely voluntary you are not under any obligation to participate, this will not affect your grade in any way.
Your data will be collected using MIC approved institutional software. The recordings will be stored on a secure folder and will be password protected. Data will be transcribed and anonymised and recordings will be deleted once this has been completed. Only the research team will have access to data, and they will only access the anonymised data.
The data gathered will be used to produce a report that will inform teachers of AI use in industry, develop case studies and produce academic publications and research proposals for formal collaborations in this field of research. In each instance the data will be presented collectively where possible and where not the data will be anonymised.
Participation in this study will support the development of case studies and informing teachers of the emerging use of AI and how best to prepare school aged students for future roles. It will benefit pre-service teachers, in-service teachers and educational leaders.
There are no significant risks associated with participating in this project. However, if you wish to discuss any unpleasant or distressful thoughts or emotions that you have experienced during the completion of the study of after you have participated in the study, please contact the MIREC administrator.
You can withdraw from the study at any stage by emailing one of the research team.
Any participant who wishes to find out the results of the study, please contact the research team after the study to receive a brief summary of results
To find out more information about the studyContact Aysegul.LimanKaban@mic.ul.ie, Emma.OBrien@mic.ul.ie or Eleanor.Walsh@mic.ul.ie.
This research study has received Ethics Approval from the Mary Immaculate College Joint Research Ethics Committee (JREC)-JFREC2025-038. If you have any concerns about this study and wish to contact an independent authority, you may contact: ResearchEthicsDesk@mic.ul.ie.
