Try Free

Cautious, Transparent and Responsible: Embracing AI in Higher Education at the University of Chester

At the University of Chester, we cautiously, transparently and ethically consider our use of artificial intelligence (AI) for teaching and learning and more. As the Head of Digital Education, I want to share insights into our approach, experiences and the tools we have adopted, particularly focusing on the TeacherMatic platform. Our goal is to embrace generative AI cautiously, responsibly and transparently, ensuring our students are well-prepared for the future.

Crest of St Peter’s College, Oxford featuring a red cross, a book, a sheaf of wheat, and a Latin motto on a ribbon, alongside the college's name in black text, highlighting AI in Higher Education.

Contents

Contextual Background
The Adoption of TeacherMatic
Keeping the Human in the Loop​

Practical Applications of TeacherMatic

Centralised Tool Usage

Engagement through Weekly Challenges

Tracking Engagement and Outcomes
Conclusion

Final Thoughts

Contextual Background

Located in the Northwest of England, the University of Chester has around 15,000 students and approximately 700 academic staff. Our Centre for Academic Innovation and Development has been at the forefront of adopting AI technologies, understanding that ignoring this advancement is not an option. Students are already using AI tools, whether we endorse them or not. Therefore, it’s our responsibility to engage with these technologies ethically and sustainably.

A group of people stand and walk near a modern, curved brick building with large windows at Chester University under a clear blue sky.
A digital graphic shows interconnected icons of artificial intelligence, a scale of justice, a judge's gavel, a shield, a microchip, and a person—highlighting responsible AI adoption in universities and legal concepts in education.

The Adoption of TeacherMatic

The University of Chester was part of Jisc’s Higher Education pilot group to trial TeacherMatic for teaching and learning and was fortunate to be one of eight institutions involved in the pilot. TeacherMatic was the first approved AI resource, and it helped us set a standard for evaluating other AI tools. With around 65 highly engaged users, we have found TeacherMatic to be a user-friendly platform that has helped build colleague confidence when engaging with generative AI for teaching preparation and in learning contexts.

Data Protection and Ethical Considerations

Before implementing TeacherMatic, we conducted a thorough data protection impact assessment. As this was the first GenAI tool we had approved, we spent time considering the information security and data protection approaches. Learning from this experience has helped inform our broader approach to AI tool approval, especially considering responsible data handling and ethical tool adoption.

Keeping the Human in the Loop

One of the critical aspects of our approach to AI more broadly, and our Generative AI principles is making sure that we keep the human in the loop. In practice, this means that we don’t want educators to rely solely on AI-generated content without proper review. TeacherMatic encourages users to interact with the tool thoughtfully, ensuring that expert academic judgment remains at the forefront of content creation.

Support for Hesitant Users

When Generative AI exploded onto the scene in late 2022, many educators initially felt apprehensive about using generative AI. Learning how to use tools can often slow down their integration into processes, and many GenAI tools require good prompting to produce good results. TeacherMatic’s generators have supported GenAI novices by guiding users through the process with structured prompts. This has made it easier to engage with generative AI, and has also reduced the environmental impact (in line with our sustainability goals) by minimising the need for excessive iterative prompt tweaking, or trialling lots of different AI platforms.
Close-up of a human eye with the word "INSPECT" reflected in the iris, symbolizing responsible AI adoption in universities.
A woman wearing glasses and a white shirt works on a laptop at a table in a library filled with bookshelves, exploring Generative AI tools for educators to enhance responsible AI adoption in universities.

Practical Applications of TeacherMatic

One significant advantage of TeacherMatic is its efficiency in creating educational materials. For instance, constructing rubrics can be time-consuming; however, using TeacherMatic to generate initial drafts has proven far less stressful. Educators can then fine-tune these rubrics, focusing on their academic judgement and allowing them to focus on enhancing the quality of education rather than getting bogged down in administrative tasks. The TeacherMatic team has been fantastic to work with when we suggested feature improvements, including ensuring that the outputs from the rubric tool can be uploaded to TurnItIn to make the process even quicker.

Integration in Curriculum Design

At the University of Chester, we have undertaken a large curriculum design project, and TeacherMatic has proved a useful tool to support colleagues in this endeavour. We have used it to “unstick” creative conversations around modules, competency statements and assessment methods. It has been a valuable design tool, refining thinking and add extra creativity through a novel tool.

Centralised Tool Usage

Having TeacherMatic as an approved tool creates a safer space for experimentation, reducing the likelihood of staff seeking unauthorised tools that may not comply with data protection regulations. Having this safer option enables colleagues to experiment ethically.

Community Building and Peer Support

To encourage collaboration, we established a Microsoft Teams channel for all TeacherMatic users. This platform has facilitated peer-to-peer learning, where educators can share experiences, troubleshoot challenges, and celebrate successes. We also hosted informal “TeacherMatic teatime” sessions, providing a relaxed atmosphere for discussion and sharing new ideas.

Eight hands of diverse individuals form a circle with their fists touching, viewed from above against a neutral background—symbolizing collaboration in curriculum design with TeacherMatic.
Person typing on a laptop with a virtual interface displaying the word "TRAFFIC" and digital analytics charts, highlighting Responsible AI adoption in universities.

Tracking Engagement and Outcomes

Since the implementation of TeacherMatic, we have observed spikes in engagement during crucial phases of our curriculum design process. These trends indicate that educators are making good use of this tool to support their preparation and design of new learning approaches, as a valuable part of the process. Colleagues have been excited to try the tool out, recognising the growing importance of AI in teaching and learning contexts.

Engagement through Weekly Challenges

To keep engagement high, we introduced weekly challenges aimed at exploring different features of TeacherMatic. Each week, users were encouraged to try out a specific generator they may not have previously used, and share their feedback with comment. This initiative spurred creativity and collaboration, with educators discovering tools they might not have otherwise explored.

Modelling Responsible Use: transparency

As leaders, we have made it a priority to model responsible use of AI tools in our presentations and communications. By openly acknowledging and citing the role TeacherMatic (or any other AI tool) plays in our content creation, we aim to shift the perception that using AI is somehow dishonest or unethical. This transparency fosters a culture where educators feel empowered to incorporate AI into their teaching practices, with clear acknowledgement.

Future Directions

As a university community, we are interested to continue developing our TeacherMatic user group, expanding to professional services staff alongside lecturers. I think there is also something to be gained through collaborating with other institutions, and there are exciting new features to explore. We are particularly interested in how TeacherMatic can facilitate interprofessional learning and enhance collaboration across disciplines.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our AI journey at the University of Chester, balancing the novelty of tools with our cautious, ethical embrace has been enriched through our use of TeacherMatic. By prioritising responsible use, community engagement, and ethical considerations for Generative AI tools, we are paving the way for a new era of education. We are excited about the future and look forward to continuing this journey with our students and staff.Ready to explore TeacherMatic at your institution? Get in touch to discover how it can support responsible innovation in teaching and learning.

Ready to explore TeacherMatic at your institution? Get in touch to discover how it can support responsible innovation in teaching and learning.

Follow Us

Learning Technologies Awards 2024 badge for "Most innovative new learning technologies product (UK)" with a Gold Award.
BETT Awards 2025 finalist badge for AI in Education - Workload Reduction, in association with the British Educational Suppliers Association (BESA).

Innovative Learning Technologies LTD Trading as TeacherMatic ®

ADDRESS:
16 Great Queen Street,
Covent Garden,
London
WC2B 5AH
UNITED KINGDOM

MORE INFORMATION:
Company N:14440128
VAT N: 436864855 

Our mission

Our mission is to help education professionals reduce their workload, enhance productivity, and achieve a healthier balance in their professional and personal lives. By providing teachers, senior leaders, administrators, support staff, and education teams with intuitive, impactful tools, we empower them to excel in their roles and positively influence both student success and institutional effectiveness.

© 2025 TeacherMatic | Privacy Notice