AI in Education: Understanding EdChat and What It Means for Teachers
Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming a growing presence in education settings, with South Australia leading the way through the introduction of EdChat — a chatbot tool designed to support learning and teaching. Developed by the Department for Education in partnership with Microsoft, EdChat is one of the first government-sanctioned AI applications being used in public schools to assist teachers and students.
What is EdChat?
EdChat is a secure, education-specific AI chatbot based on Microsoft technology and built within the Department’s digital environment. It is designed to answer student questions, help teachers prepare lessons, and increasingly, to assess student work. The Department says EdChat operates within a protected framework, meaning it can only access information aligned with the school curriculum and includes filters to ensure safety and privacy for students.
How is it being used?
Following several pilot programs across South Australian schools since 2022, EdChat has now been made available to all Education Department staff and is gradually being rolled out to public high schools across the state. The technology is being used for a range of purposes — from supporting student literacy tasks to assessing English proficiency for students from migrant or non-English speaking backgrounds.
The government says this approach will reduce teacher workload by automating certain administrative and assessment tasks, allowing teachers to spend more time with students.
The opportunities and the questions
There are clear potential benefits. AI can help streamline repetitive work, provide quick formative feedback to students, and allow for more personalised learning support. Many teachers see potential for innovation, particularly if it helps manage increasing workload demands.
At the same time, questions are emerging about how AI might reshape the teaching profession. If tools like EdChat begin to play a larger role in assessment or planning, how will teacher judgement, creativity and autonomy be maintained? Will workload be reduced — or simply shifted towards new forms of oversight and verification?
These questions are not about rejecting technology but about ensuring it complements the professional expertise of teachers rather than replacing or standardising it.
What about Catholic and independent schools?
Although EdChat has been developed for public schools, Catholic and independent systems often follow departmental innovations closely. It’s possible that similar AI models could be introduced in other sectors, raising important considerations for employment, data use, educational quality and consultation.
Teachers in these sectors will want to understand how any AI-based tool might change their day-to-day work and how decisions about its use are made.
The IEU(SA) view
As AI becomes part of the education landscape, IEU’s role is to ensure our members are informed and protected. We recognise the potential of technology to support learning — but also the need to safeguard professional judgement, privacy and employment.
By staying across developments like EdChat, the IEU ensures that any adoption of AI in Catholic and Independent schools occurs with teacher consultation, clear safeguards, and a focus on supporting — not replacing — educators.
Our members’ expertise remains central to quality education. AI may change how we teach, but it should never change why we teach.
Sources:
South Australia Department for Education – EdChat information page: https://www.education.sa.gov.au/parents-and-families/curriculum-and-learning/ai/edchat
Microsoft Australia – South Australian Department of Education: Azure AI and EdChat story: https://www.microsoft.com/en/customers/story/1751701319789621671-south-australia-department-of-education-azure-ai-content-safety-higher-education-en-australia
InnovationAus – AI-driven EdChat goes statewide in SA schools: https://www.innovationaus.com/ai-driven-edchat-goes-statewide-in-sa-schools/
SA Department for Education – EdChat Insights Report (PDF): https://www.education.sa.gov.au/docs/ict/edchat-insights-report.pdf
