Learner Guidance for FE

Context

Since we published our original Learner Guidance for FE in early 2024, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education has evolved rapidly. AI is now built into tools such as Microsoft 365, Google Classroom, and other platforms used across colleges. Many learners also use AI through familiar apps like Snapchat’s AI assistant, Grammarly, Canva and Quizlet — meaning most learners already use AI in some way.

This updated guidance is aimed at helping learners understand how to use AI responsibly, safely, and effectively in college. It explains what AI is, how it can support your learning, and the risks you need to be aware of. It focuses on using AI tools already available, rather than creating your own AI systems.

The text below is example guidance for learners, which you can take, adopt, and use in any way that suits your college.

Guidance for learners

Understanding AI and Generative AI

When you think of AI, you probably think of ChatGPT, but actually AI has been around a long time in various forms.  The term Artificial intelligence (AI) means computer systems performing tasks that usually need human thinking, such as writing, analysing information, recognising speech, or identifying images.

Not all AI tools create new content or chat to you. You might even realise these are using AI. Some, like Spotify or TikTok recommendation systems, use predictive AI to analyse patterns and make suggestions. These tools learn from data to personalise what you see, hear, or experience — for example, recommending videos, playlists, or products. This type of AI is already part of your everyday life.

Tools like ChatGPT are known as Generative AI and create new content, such as text, images, code, or videos, based on your instructions. Examples include ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini as well as video creation tools like Sora. Many of these tools can help you understand difficult topics, summarise notes, or check your spelling and grammar. When we talk about AI in college, we are usually talk about these kinds of tools.

They can make learning more engaging and help you prepare for assessments, but they are there to support your learning, not replace it — your own ideas and understanding are what matter most.

Building AI Literacy and Skills

Being confident with AI will help you study, work, and live successfully in a digital world. This includes understanding how AI works, its limits, and how to use it critically and safely.

By building these skills, you can use AI to support your learning, explore new ideas, and prepare for a future where AI is part of almost every job.

AI for Learning

AI can make study time more productive by helping you plan, create, and review work. Learners who use AI wisely can save hours each week while improving understanding and presentation quality. However, AI should never replace your own thinking. You are responsible for the quality and accuracy of your work.

AI can:

• Streamline study tasks
• Support research and information gathering
• Help structure assignments
• Suggest improvements to work
• Provide feedback for reflection and progress

Example prompts for learning

Title	Description	Example Prompt
Summarising Notes	Turn long notes into short, clear summaries	“Summarise my notes from today’s Engineering class on electrical safety into 5 key points.”
Feedback on Assignments	Get advice without AI rewriting your work	“Give feedback on this paragraph about equality in Health and Social Care. Focus on clarity and tone.”
Creating Study Resources	Generate quizzes or practice questions	“Create 5 quiz questions for Level 2 Plumbing on safe tool use, with short answers.”
Planning and Time Management	Help plan realistic study schedules	“Make a 2-week revision plan for my GCSE Maths resit. I can study one hour each evening except Wednesdays.”
Reflective Learning	Support reflective writing	“Suggest a structure or key points I could include in a short reflection about what I learned during my work placement in a nursery, focusing on teamwork.”
Critical Thinking	Check accuracy and bias	“Fact-check this summary of the Industrial Revolution using UK sources and explain any errors.”
Research and Evaluation	Compare and verify sources	“Compare what AI says about apprenticeships in construction with information on gov.uk.”

 

AI Skills for Employment

Using AI tools like Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, and Google Gemini helps you build the skills employers increasingly expect. These are the same tools being adopted across industry. Learning how to use them effectively will give you hands-on experience with industry-standard technology, helping you develop essential workplace skills like problem-solving, communication, organisation, and digital confidence. By practising how to prompt, review, and apply AI outputs critically, you’re not just learning how to use new tools, you’re learning how to work smarter, adapt faster, and add value in any job.   Staying adaptable as technology changes.

Using Approved AI Tools and Safeguarding Your Data

When using AI, it’s important to protect your personal information and your college’s data. You should only use AI tools that your college has approved, such as Microsoft Copilot for Education or Google Gemini for Education. These tools are built into your college’s systems, like Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, and follow strict data protection rules. Anything you do within your college account stays inside that secure environment.

These approved tools can help you write, plan, or summarise work safely because your data is not used to train public AI models. Always use your college login when accessing these tools. Never use personal email accounts for college work involving AI.

Be cautious with websites or apps that include AI features, such as ChatGPT (free version), Canva, or other online chat tools. Unless your college specifically approves them, you should avoid entering any personal details, private files, or original coursework into them. Once information is uploaded to a public AI tool, you lose control over how it is stored or reused.

AI chat tools are designed to sound human. However, they don’t learn in the same way people do. They’re trained on huge amounts of internet data and don’t always handle information securely. For example, if a site’s database isn’t protected properly, your conversations could be exposed publicly.

 

By sticking to authorised tools and following your college’s data policies, you can benefit from AI while keeping your information and work safe.

Accuracy

AI tools can be very helpful for learning, but they do make mistakes. They can give information that sounds convincing but is factually wrong, out of date, or based on biased sources. Always double-check what AI produces against trusted materials such as your textbooks, college resources, or reliable websites.

When using AI to support your work, treat its outputs as drafts or suggestions, not finished answers. Read carefully, think critically, and make your own decisions about what to keep or change. If you’re unsure whether information is correct, compare it with an official source

Personal Data

When you use AI tools, it’s vital to protect your personal information. Anything that identifies you or someone else, such as your full name, address, phone number, email, date of birth, photos, student ID, or details about your college, counts as personal data.

Remember that protecting personal data is part of keeping yourself and others safe online. Treat AI like any other digital space, think before you share, follow the college’s acceptable use and privacy policies, and if you’re unsure, ask your tutor or the digital learning team before entering any data.

Sustainability and the Environment

AI uses energy, so it’s important to use it thoughtfully. Only generate what you need, and avoid unnecessary tasks like creating long or multiple drafts. Using AI responsibly helps reduce digital waste and supports the college’s sustainability goals.

Accessibility and Inclusion

AI tools can make learning more accessible and inclusive. They can adjust text for different reading levels, translate materials, create image descriptions, or convert speech to text. These features can make studying easier if you have a learning difference, speak English as an additional language, or prefer to access materials in different formats.

However, AI can also reflect bias from the data it was trained on. For example, it might produce images or examples that reinforce stereotypes, or text that assumes a particular culture or background. Always review AI-generated content carefully to check that it is fair, accurate, and inclusive before using or sharing it.

If you use assistive technology, you can combine it with AI tools to improve accessibility. For instance, using AI to simplify instructions or generate summaries of long readings. If you’re unsure which tools are best for your needs, speak to your tutor or learning support team for advice.

Final thoughts

AI is here to stay and will become part of everyday college life. It can make learning more engaging, help you develop ideas, and support your understanding, but only if used thoughtfully and responsibly.

Use AI as a helper, not a shortcut. Check your facts, protect your data, and ask for advice if you’re unsure. By learning to use AI well, you’ll develop skills that will help you in your education and future career.

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Find out more by visiting our Artificial Intelligence page to explore publications and resources, learn more about our communities and sign up for our AI Literacy training.

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Get in touch with the team directly at AI@jisc.ac.uk