Why Google Schools Need to Start Upskilling Staff in AI — Now
- Ben Duggan
- Jun 2
- 3 min read
By Ben | Taught AI Academy
For the last two years, much of the conversation around AI in education has focused on tools like ChatGPT.
And rightly so. It introduced many educators to what AI could do.
But something significant has changed.
For schools using Google Workspace for Education, AI is no longer an external tool. It's becoming part of the ecosystem teachers already use every day.
Gemini is now embedded across Google Workspace, Classroom, Drive, Docs, Slides, Gmail, Meet and NotebookLM. This means schools don't need to go searching for AI solutions elsewhere. The tools are increasingly sitting right in front of them.
The challenge is that most staff haven't been trained to use them.
The Risk Isn't AI. It's Untrained AI Use.
Across the schools I work with, I see the same pattern.
Staff are enthusiastic.
They can see the potential.
But many are unsure about:
What can and can't be uploaded
GDPR and safeguarding considerations
When to use Gemini versus NotebookLM
How to create effective prompts
How to evaluate AI outputs
How AI links to Ofsted expectations and school policies
Without training, schools risk ending up with inconsistent practice, unnecessary safeguarding concerns, and staff who never move beyond basic use.
Gemini, Gems and NotebookLM: Different Tools, Different Purposes
One of the biggest misconceptions I encounter is that AI is a single tool.
In reality, Google's AI ecosystem is becoming increasingly sophisticated.
Gemini is excellent for drafting, planning, communication and day-to-day productivity.
Gems allow schools to create bespoke assistants tailored to specific workflows, subjects or policies.
NotebookLM offers something particularly powerful for education: the ability to ground AI responses in trusted sources such as curriculum maps, policies, schemes of work and research.
Understanding when and how to use each platform is quickly becoming a core digital skill for educators.
Why Training Matters More Than Technology
The schools seeing the greatest benefit from AI aren't necessarily using the most advanced tools.
They're the schools investing in staff confidence.
When teachers understand:
safeguarding boundaries
effective prompting
source selection
curriculum integration
quality assurance
AI stops being a novelty and starts becoming a genuine workload-reduction tool.
More importantly, it becomes something staff can use confidently and safely.
The Programme I've Built
This challenge is exactly why I created the Taught AI CPD Programme.
Rather than focusing on flashy demonstrations, the programme takes school leaders, AI champions and staff through a structured six-week journey from cautious adoption to confident implementation.
The programme covers:
Week 1: Safeguarding & GDPR
Starting with the non-negotiables: compliance, data protection and safe use of AI in schools.
Week 2: Outstanding Prompts
Learning how to build professional, educational prompts and test them for quality and bias.
Week 3: AI Cognitive Load
Understanding how to structure curriculum documents and create safe, reliable sources for NotebookLM and Gems.
Week 4: Tools Working Together
Moving beyond individual tools and creating joined-up workflows that save staff significant amounts of time.
Week 5: Ofsted & Google Drive
Using Google Drive and AI to map evidence, analyse curriculum documentation and support inspection readiness.
Week 6: Handover & Next Steps
Ensuring schools leave with sustainable systems, resources and confidence to continue their AI journey.
The Next Big Shift
The conversation is moving away from "Should schools use AI?"
Most schools have already answered that question.
The real question is:
Are staff equipped to use the AI tools they already have access to?
For Google schools, that answer increasingly depends on how well leaders understand Gemini, Gems and NotebookLM—and how effectively they can support their teams to do the same.
Because the schools that invest in AI capability today won't just save workload tomorrow.
They'll be better prepared for the future of education.
And that future is arriving much faster than many people realise.
Explore the course here... www.taughtai.co.uk/cpd
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