What recent research reveals about AI tutoring, independent learning and the role of teachers: A critical review of Diordiev et al (2026) study of the impact of three chatbots on learning and engagement. AI can improve learning, but the strongest ca...
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AI Hub
FEthink uses the power of AI to deliver improvements in intelligence, performance and impact for education and business.
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AI Competency Framework for Educators and Business Professionals
FEthink (2026)
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Assessment in the Age of AI (2026)
An 86-page report on how educational institutions can address the issues of AI in assessment practice (Deakin, 2026).
Are You AI Ready?
AI adoption is accelerating, but organisational readiness and workforce capability are struggling to keep pace.
Drawing on four perspectives, this infographic highlights gaps in leadership, governance, staff development and assessment, alongside opportunities to improve learning through responsible AI use.
FEthink helps colleges and training providers turn experimentation into purposeful action through readiness reviews, practical training, leadership development and workforce capability research. If you want your AI measured, assessed for its impact on productivity and a roadmap towards a more AI-fluent workforce, contact FEthink. Our AI experts can help you with the planning, guard rails, policies and training.
References:
Aon. (2026). Technology powered, people driven: How humans amplify outcomes in the age of AI—UK report.
Deakin, J. (2026). Assessment in the Age of AI, Amazon.
Education Training Foundation. (2026). AI readiness across FE and skills: A leadership insight report on adoption, governance and workforce capability.
OECD. (2026). OECD digital education outlook 2026: Exploring effective uses of generative AI in education. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/062a7394-en.
Our AI Experts - We can help you improve productivity
Rufus Curnow
Rufus Curnow is an AI consultant, keynote speaker and designer of bespoke AI tools and workflows. Drawing on over 20 years in education product management, including leadership at Pearson, he helps organisations improve productivity, streamline processes and build lasting AI capability. His keynotes combine strategic insight with practical demonstrations, connecting AI opportunities to organisational priorities
Jen Deakin
Jen Deakin is a lecturer in Digital Transformation at Leeds Becketts University and is a doctoral researcher into the use of AI in Assessment. She advises organisations on AI literacy, assessment redesign and the ethics of AI implementation. Jen sits on several national boards shaping AI policy and understanding across FE and HE.
Dr Michael Smith
Dr Michael Smith is an expert in using AI to generate learner-centred feedback (e.g GCSE English), designing new assessment workflows and supporting teaching teams with making judgements about the ethical and practical use of AI in the curriculum.
Dr Paul Tully
Dr Paul Tully is an expert in using AI to conduct research, curate and interpret large datasets, write articles and design workflows. He also trains teachers to use AI to boost lesson creativity, reduce workload and design apps that increase their personal productivity.
Infographic: AI Readiness in Further Education & Skills (2026)
An infographic produced from the report by former Principal Stuart Rimmer MBE for the Education and Training Foundation on how FE & Skills leaders rate their readiness to adopt AI.
Read the original report here.
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OECD Digital Education Outlook 2026
The OECD’s Digital Education Outlook 2026 finds that generative AI can strengthen teaching, learning and organisational efficiency when used with clear educational purpose.
However, better AI-assisted outputs do not necessarily mean deeper learning: outsourcing thinking can undermine skill development.
The report recommends preserving human judgement and independent thinking, investing in research and tools co-designed with educators, establishing safeguards for privacy, safety and bias, and ensuring equitable access to technology, resources and sustained professional development.
AI blog posts by FEthink
Aon’s 2026 Human Capital Trends UK Report finds that AI adoption is moving faster than the foundations needed to use it effectively. While 45% of UK employers are hiring people with AI expertise, only 12% use AI to identify and assess future skills ...
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For many further education teachers, June brings a familiar conversation. "Can you pick up this new unit?" "Would you mind covering this qualification?" "We're short-staffed next year and need someone to take this programme." Mo...
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Artificial intelligence has moved from experimental novelty to everyday educational reality with extraordinary speed. In further and higher education, learners are already using generative AI systems to brainstorm ideas, structure essays, summarise ...
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Li, Cui, and Hagedorn’s article, 'The cognitive impact of ChatGPT in higher education: A systematic review of critical and creative thinking outcomes' (2026), is a systematic review of 67 empirical studies published between 2022 and 2025. Its centra...
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A powerful new training AI programme for busy educators has been launched by FEthink. It's unbelievable - but it really can earn you back 1 day a week. Even better - the first session is for free. We think you'll be so impressed, you'...
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Recent studies comparing AI‑generated and human responses focus on two questions: how good AI outputs are relative to human ones, and how well humans or algorithms can tell them apart (Rubin et al., 2025). To assess this, researchers have typically ...
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Introduction AI productivity is no longer hypothetical - it’s already reshaping work. Across the UK and internationally, the evidence shows real productivity gains from AI, but only where skills, governance and strategy keep pace. What the data says...
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AI Use Risk Scorecard & Dashboard (Department Level)
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£3.99
£3.99
This audit tool assesses the maturity, risk and consistency of AI use across an education department in nine departmental activity areas (e.g. teaching & learning, detection & response to AI misuse, learner accountability & understanding, etc.). The audit is organised around our CASVOR principles: cognition, application, structure, visibility, ownership and realism, which reflect well-established pedagogical findings: the need for learners to engage in independent cognitive processing (Sweller, 1988), to make thinking visible through explanation (Flavell, 1979), and to demonstrate understanding through application and authentic tasks (Wiggins, 1998; Biggs, 1999). In addition, dialogic approaches to learning (Alexander, 2008) and situated learning theory (Lave & Wenger, 1991) underpin the emphasis on explanation, defence, and real-world context. As part of this tool, you will also receive a dynamic dashboard in Micrtosoft Excel which will professionally display your audit outcomes.
Audience: education departments in schools, colleges, training providers and universities
Length: Six pages + dashboard
Editable: Yes (word, pdf, Xcel)
Opportunity: The scoring system is developed around our CASVOR principles and enables researchers and leaders to compare and benchmark departments.
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FEthink - AI tools for teachers
Visit FEthink for the latest in AI tools for teachers
Your AI Lesson Designer
COMING SOON!
AI-powered lesson design that saves you hours of planning every day. Lesson plans, slides, assessments, activities, quality checks, inclusion checks. Tons of new features on existing tools.
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AI-Powered Training
FEthink is producing dynamic, interactive online training sessions at the cutting edge of technology and professional development
Trailer: Level 1 - Using AI to Work SMARTER
