AI for Teaching, Learning and Assessment in FET (Autumn 2026)

Session Overview
The rapid evolution of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping the FET landscape, bringing both unprecedented opportunities and significant challenges. This interactive session will critically examine how AI impacts assessment design, teaching and learning practices, and equity within FET, while emphasising the importance of ethical and critical engagement with these technologies.

Framed around real-world dilemmas that educators face, the session will firstly explain the experience in LCETB as our guidance to practitioners on AI use was re-shaped to address the reality of AI use.

The facilitators will then guide participants through a structured exploration of key questions based on the experiences in LCETB College of FET including:
• How can we design authentic assessments that remain meaningful in the age of generative AI?
• In what ways can AI act as a supportive tool for both learners and educators?
• How do we ensure that AI integration does not deepen inequalities or compromise academic integrity?
• What critical and ethical frameworks should inform the adoption and use of AI tools in FET?

Target audience: All FET educators and particularly those involved in assessment of learners includinf QA staff.

Facilitation: Máire Lynch and Dr Brendan Ryan

Máire Lynch is a QA Officer with Limerick and Clare ETB with responsibility for curriculum development and review, new programme development and quality assuring teaching, learning and assessment across the organisation. Máire previously worked in industry before taking up a teaching position with the former VECs and worked extensively in classroom and co-ordination roles before moving into the area of quality assurance. She was part of the national working group responsible for the development of the FET Referencing Handbook and Academic Writing Handbook for Learners. Areas of particular interest include incorporating UDL Principles into teaching, learning and assessment at all NFQ levels, use of Plain English tools and facilitating AI practices to enhance teaching, learning and assessment.

Dr Brendan Ryan has worked in Adult and Further Education for over thirty years and as a Learning Technologist for over twenty of those years. In his role with Limerick and Clare ETB Further Education and Training (FET) Division he leads up the Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) Support Service. Brendan has extensive teaching and research experience and recently completed a PhD study focused on embedding criticality in Learning Technology Professional Development.

 Please note: Pre-booking is essential. Please do not book onto this session unless you are sure that you will attend / have approval to attend (if required). If an emergency arises, please inform us ASAP (cpdcancellations@fess.ie) as we operate a waiting list system and if time allows, we can offer your booked place to another person.