Education On Fire - Sharing creative and inspiring learning in our schools BBC Bitesize Guide to AI
Cerys Griffiths is the Head of BBC Bitesize, the BBC's free, online learning resource for students aged 5 to 16, their teachers and parents. Bitesize also aims to support educating the whole child through it's Careers, Study Support and media literacy offer, Other Side of the Story, as well as special educational initiatives like the Bitesize Guide to AI.
Cerys was, for many years, a journalist in the North West, a TV and newspaper reporter and then an editor of news programmes for both ITV and the BBC. She is on the board of the Micro:bit Education Foundation and is an advisory board member for the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester.
Key Takeaways
Teen attitudes to AI are complex — BBC Bitesize's annual Teen Summit Survey found a third of teenagers are worried about AI's impact on their career prospects and the spread of misinformation, while 47% are already using AI tools for homework and revision.
Confidence can be a blind spot — Many young people feel they already know enough about AI when in reality they don't fully understand its deeper implications. The challenge is helping them recognise what they don't yet know.
Critical thinking is the core skill — Rather than focusing on specific tools (which change rapidly), BBC Bitesize's approach centres on equipping young people with the ability to assess, verify and question the information they encounter every day.
AI as a collaborator, not a substitute — Cerys emphasises that AI works best as a companion tool. Young people still need to be thinkers, creators and developers alongside it — not passive users of it.
A positive, empowering outlook — BBC Bitesize's Guide to AI uses real young people in real-world scenarios to show both the benefits and risks of AI, deliberately avoiding a fear-based approach.
New resources to tackle misinformation — Solve the Story is a brand new episodic mini-drama for classroom use, where students must solve a fake news mystery across six episodes — a creative, engaging way to build media literacy skills.
Trust is BBC Bitesize's superpower — All content is reviewed by practising teachers and education consultants, making it one of the most trusted sources of educational content in the UK.
Chapters:
- 00:03 - Introduction to BBC BiteSize
- 06:08 - The Evolution of AI in Education
- 09:35 - The Role of AI in Education and Misinformation
- 18:55 - Introducing 'Solve the Story' - A New Educational Initiative
- 23:20 - Educational Content Creation and Trust
- 29:00 - Empowering Youth Through Education
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize
Instagram: @bbcbitesize
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