About the writer

Alex Gray

Head of Digital Innovation and AI & BSME Network Lead for AI in Education. Alex explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping teaching, learning, and the future of work — with honesty, clarity, and a focus on what matters most for educators and students.

79essays published

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Essays by Alex Gray

79 essays

Can students explain the work? Two trolley diagrams keep a six-newton push and two-newton resistance constant while doubling the mass from two to four kilograms.

Can students explain the work?

Alex Gray4 min · 15 Oct

What should an AI school demonstrate? A proposed student-day map links study, practical work and the next session, with teacher help available at each stage.

School Leadership

What should an AI school demonstrate?

Alex Gray4 min · 13 Oct

Three timelines of very different lengths labelled product, evidence and policy, under the title Nobody is keeping up

School Leadership

Nobody is keeping up

Alex Gray7 min · 1 Oct

A chart showing homework scores up eighteen per cent and homework time down thirty per cent after students adopted generative AI, while monthly exam scores fell twenty per cent and entrance exam scores fell eighteen and twenty-four per cent

Where the homework time went

Alex Gray5 min · 29 Sept

Is AI literacy a reading problem? A diagram showing three steps: read the claim, debate evidence and bias, and explain your judgement.

AI in Education

Is AI literacy a reading problem?

Alex Gray5 min · 15 Sept

A Teen Mode switch is on, surrounded by four unresolved checks for homework bypasses, age prediction, alert speed and emotional dependence

AI in Education

ChatGPT for Teens Still Needs Testing

Alex Gray5 min · 27 Aug

A teaching workflow moving from the scheme of work through planning, teacher approval, delivery, reviewed evidence and the next teaching move

AI in Education

What an AI Teaching Workflow Looks Like

Alex Gray7 min · 24 Aug

A provenance map showing funders connected to an AI curriculum, with a school review lens examining the relationship

AI in Education

Who Paid for Your AI Curriculum?

Alex Gray6 min · 21 Aug

An AI agent's route stops at a human approval gate before reaching school systems

AI in Education

What can your school's AI agent reach?

Alex Gray7 min · 13 Aug

Two piles of student work labelled Routine pile and Stuck essay, routed to Medium and High reasoning while the teacher keeps the judgement

Which Half of Marking Should AI Do?

Alex Gray9 min · 10 Aug

Educational Technology

Claude Design: A Teacher's Walkthrough

Alex Gray13 min · 6 Aug

Two halves of one story: an open-weight AI model anyone can download, and a school curriculum built as three rising steps with a fourth left empty because there is no exam

AI in Education

What is China Teaching Its Kids?

Alex Gray6 min · 30 Jul

A plain-words description turning into a working web page with a shareable link, with more pages stacked behind it. The ChatGPT Sites interaction: describe a page and it builds it

Educational Technology

Six ChatGPT Sites Worth Building This Week

Alex Gray9 min · 27 Jul

AI in Education

The AI Did Not Rebel. It Followed the Goal.

Alex Gray9 min · 23 Jul

A scorecard motif contrasting a builder's confident self-report with an independent audit that flags one hidden defect

Educational Technology

I Gave ChatGPT a Week to Build My App

Alex Gray13 min · 20 Jul

Why a normal PRD is not enough when AI builds the thing for you, and what that means for the AI policy sitting in your school's shared drive

Educational Technology

Why a Normal Spec Isn't Enough When AI Builds the Thing

Alex Gray12 min · 14 Jul

The five capacities that underpin productive work — sustained attention, designed environments, genuine engagement, deliberate practice and lasting motivation — and where young people are supposed to learn them

Teaching Strategies

The Productivity Skills Your Students Will Need (And Where They'll Learn Them)

Alex Gray9 min · 18 Jun

Mechanical teaching tasks like planning and marking fade as AI absorbs them, while the human core of teaching — judgement, relationship and synthesis — is illuminated and concentrated

AI in Education

The Teacher's Job Did Not Shrink. It Moved.

Alex Gray7 min · 12 Jun

Why the debate in schools has moved on from whether students should use AI to whether they are rethinking with it or escaping the work of thinking through it

AI in Education

The Question Has Changed: From Policing AI to Rethinking With It

Alex Gray8 min · 8 Jun

Why model-independent processes — framing, verification, placement, evaluation — outlast the release cycle in a school's AI strategy

Train for Processes, Not Models: Why AI Strategies Break

Alex Gray8 min · 3 Jun

Why pastoral leadership, not policy or tech stack, is the strategic centre of a school's AI response

School Leadership

The Pastoral Side of AI: Human Connection as EdTech Strategy

Alex Gray11 min · 29 May

Why AI literacy belongs across the whole school — not just the computing department — and what schools lose by treating it as a tech ticket

AI Is Not an IT Problem: Why Schools Can't Hand It to the Computing Team

Alex Gray9 min · 26 May

Why teachers stay tired despite sleeping eight hours: a diagnostic guide to the seven types of rest from Dr Saundra Dalton-Smith, applied to the classroom

Teaching Strategies

Seven Types of Rest, and Why Sleep Only Fixes One

Alex Gray8 min · 22 May

Why every educator needs a rest ethic, not just a work ethic, and how the kind of human you are is part of what you teach

Teaching Strategies

Better Humans: Why Every Educator Needs a Rest Ethic

Alex Gray10 min · 15 May

Why schools teach maths, science and English but never how to think, work or focus, and what the productivity gap costs adults later in life

Teaching Strategies

Maths, Science, English. But Not How to Think, Work or Focus.

Alex Gray9 min · 3 May

Why teachers and students struggle to focus: what Gloria Mark, Kahneman, Johann Hari and William James reveal about attention as a learnable skill

Teaching Strategies

Your Students Can't Focus. Neither Can You. Here's What the Science Says.

Alex Gray5 min · 23 Apr

When AI fixed the three-legged table: on creative fidelity, AI tool selection, and what is being lost in creative education

AI in Education

When AI Fixed the Three-Legged Table: Why That's a Problem for Education

Alex Gray10 min · 19 Apr

Students are turning to AI for emotional support — on safeguarding, student wellbeing, and the conversations schools are not having

AI in Education

AI Is Not Just a Classroom Tool. For Many Students, It Has Become the Place They Go When They Have Nowhere Else to Turn.

Alex Gray8 min · 15 Apr

Why the first page of your AI policy might be the only one that matters — on cognitive load, teacher ownership, and policy that actually changes practice

AI in Education

Why the First Page of Your AI Policy Might Be the Only One That Matters

Alex Gray9 min · 13 Apr

Students already know when you've used AI to plan their lesson — on transparency, trust, and the student-teacher relationship

AI in Education

Students Already Know When You've Used AI to Plan Their Lesson. And They Resent It.

Alex Gray7 min · 11 Apr

Three AI Education Conversations You Need to Hear This Week

AI in Education

Three AI Education Conversations You Need to Hear This Week

Alex Gray4 min · 3 Apr

Teaching Through a Screen — Tools, resilience, and the people who keep you going during distance learning

Teaching Strategies

Teaching Through a Screen: Tools, Resilience, and the People Who Keep You Going

Alex Gray9 min · 26 Mar

Illustration comparing a stack of EdTech subscription logos against a single API key, representing the shift from wrapper products to direct AI access in schools

Educational Technology

Why Smart Schools Are Ditching EdTech Subscriptions and Buying an API Key Instead

Alex Gray7 min · 17 Mar

Illustration of a difficulty dial with Ladder and Socratic modes, a hint trade exchange cycle, and a chat bubble, representing Athena's negotiation system for frustrated students

Educational Technology

The Negotiation Engine: Teaching an AI to Bargain With a Frustrated Kid

Alex Gray13 min · 12 Mar

MIT RAISE: The Programme Teaching 25 Million Students That AI Is Something You Build

Educational Technology

MIT RAISE: The Programme Teaching 25 Million Students That AI Is Something You Build, Not Just Something That Happens to You

Alex Gray10 min · 8 Mar

Teacher AI Competency vs. Student AI Literacy — What Comes First?

Professional Development

Teacher AI Competency vs. Student AI Literacy: What Comes First?

Alex Gray10 min · 6 Mar

What 33 International Frameworks Say About AI in Schools — And what most schools are missing

What 33 International Frameworks Say About AI in Schools

Alex Gray14 min · 4 Mar

Is Your School AI-Ready? The 9 Questions Every Headteacher Must Be Able to Answer

Is Your School AI-Ready? The 9 Questions Every Headteacher Must Be Able to Answer

Alex Gray10 min · 2 Mar

Grounding AI Responses in Actual Curriculum — Why RAG is the difference between a homework helper and a homework hazard

Educational Technology

Grounding AI Responses in Actual Curriculum

Alex Gray11 min · 26 Feb

How I Built My Kid's AI Homework Tutor — A non-technical guide to the tools and thinking behind Athena

Educational Technology

How I Built My Kid's AI Homework Tutor

Alex Gray10 min · 24 Feb

From Vibe Coding to Vibe Working — What Educators Need to Understand Now

From Vibe Coding to Vibe Working — What Educators Need to Understand Now

Alex Gray9 min · 18 Feb

Something Big Is Happening — And Schools Aren't Ready

Something Big Is Happening — And Schools Aren't Ready

Alex Gray7 min · 10 Feb

A student at the controls of a customisable learning dashboard, choosing their own path

AI in Education

Beyond Personalisation: Why AI in Education Should Empower Student Customisation

Alex Gray8 min · 7 May

A worksheet transforming into a dynamic, multi-layered learning experience

AI in Education

Why Your AI Tool Still Feels Like a Digital Worksheet

Alex Gray7 min · 28 Apr

Students from different countries collaborating on a project using AI tools on screens

AI in Education

Engaging Minds Across Borders: Philip Alcock on AI and Project-Based Learning in Education

Alex Gray7 min · 5 Dec

An educator using a design thinking framework with AI tools on a whiteboard

AI in Education

Design Thinking and AI in Education: Revisiting Dr. Sabba Quidwai's TIC Podcast Episode

Alex Gray8 min · 29 Nov

A parent and child looking at a tablet showing an AI-powered learning tool together

AI in Education

The Future of Education: A Parent's Guide to Understanding AI

Alex Gray6 min · 4 Nov

A seven-stage teaching progression diagram showing cognitive processes from engagement to mastery

Teaching Practice

The Mental Model of Great Teaching: A Takeaway from Nick Hart's BSME TeacherCon Talk

Alex Gray7 min · 7 Oct

Interconnected puzzle pieces representing different school subjects merging together with AI circuits

AI in Education

Breaking Silos: The Future of Teaching in an AI-Driven World

Alex Gray7 min · 27 Jun

A progression chart showing educators moving from basic AI awareness to advanced AI integration in classrooms

AI in Education

From AI-wareness to AI-mazing Education

Alex Gray7 min · 12 Jun

Educational Technology

How Educators Can Leverage the Latest Google AI Updates in the Classroom

Alex Gray8 min · 15 May

A glowing AI interface displaying text, images, and video capabilities with an open padlock representing free access

AI in Education

The World's Best Free AI

Alex Gray7 min · 14 May

A teacher figure standing between a traditional classroom and a digital screen, bridging both worlds

Teaching Practice

Why I'm a Hybrid Teacher

Alex Gray7 min · 8 May

A laptop displaying professional development resources connected to icons of teachers collaborating online

Professional Development

Leveraging Technology to Enhance Educational Performance

Alex Gray7 min · 2 May

A dashboard displaying various education metrics including graphs, completion rates, and student engagement indicators

Education Policy

Measuring What Matters: Identifying Essential Metrics in Education

Alex Gray8 min · 25 Apr

A split illustration showing AI tools and human artists collaborating on creative work

AI in Education

The Pros and Cons of AI in Creative Work: Will AI Diminish Creativity?

Alex Gray7 min · 18 Apr

Students collaborating on a design brief project in a classroom setting

Teaching Practice

Embracing Design Briefs in Education

Alex Gray8 min · 10 Apr

A global network of teachers connected through a digital learning platform

Professional Development

Revolutionising Teacher Development: UNESCO's Global Teachers Campus

Alex Gray7 min · 15 Dec

A novice teacher receiving real-time AI guidance while teaching a classroom of students

AI in Education

How AI Could Disrupt Teaching Dynamics: Narrowing Pay Gaps While Challenging Educator Value

Alex Gray7 min · 13 Dec

AI in Education

The Dawn of Google's Gemini: What This New AI Means for Education

Alex Gray7 min · 7 Dec

Students taking an exam contrasted with students doing project-based assessments

Education Policy

The Future of Education: Are GCSEs a Relic of the Past?

Alex Gray7 min · 13 Sept

A laptop screen showing a virtual classroom connected to students around the world

Education Policy

The Future of Education: A New Era of Online Schooling

Alex Gray7 min · 5 Sept

A teacher collecting diverse experiences and skills represented as objects in a basket

Professional Development

We Are What We Collect: Success, Failings, and the Future of Educator Development

Alex Gray6 min · 30 Aug

A lesson plan being reimagined with AI tools and digital elements woven into the structure

AI in Education

Rethinking Your Lesson Plan for the AI Revolution

Alex Gray7 min · 15 Aug

A Venn diagram showing the intersection of technology, pedagogy, and content knowledge with AI at the centre

AI in Education

Making the Most of AI in Education: The When, How, and Why of Incorporating ChatGPT Using the TPACK Framework

Alex Gray7 min · 7 Aug

A teacher relaxing with a book during summer, surrounded by stacks of educational and fiction titles

Professional Development

Why Are Teachers Spending Their Summer Reading?

Alex Gray7 min · 3 Jul

An educator observing a classroom closely, taking notes and reflecting on teaching practice

Professional Development

Enhancing Educational Excellence: The Art of Professional Noticing in Teacher Observation and Development

Alex Gray7 min · 22 Jun

A teacher at a digital whiteboard with SAMR and TPACK framework diagrams displayed alongside classroom technology tools

Educational Technology

The Role of Teacher Training in Successful EdTech Integration

Alex Gray7 min · 13 Jun

A teacher practising and refining their craft with feedback loops, goal-setting notes, and a progression path illustrated around them

Professional Development

Mastering Deliberate Practice: An Essential Guide for Teachers

Alex Gray7 min · 1 Jun

A teacher interacting with an AI chatbot interface while reviewing personalised professional development recommendations on a screen

AI in Education

Using Artificial Intelligence in Teacher Professional Development

Alex Gray8 min · 24 May

A progression diagram showing three stages of learning from teacher-led pedagogy through andragogy to self-determined heutagogy

From Pedagogy to Heutagogy: The Journey of Lifelong Learners

Alex Gray8 min · 18 May

A split-screen illustration showing a teacher learning flexibly on a laptop at home contrasted with an isolated learner lacking peer interaction

Professional Development

The Pros and Cons of Online Professional Learning

Alex Gray7 min · 11 May

An open padlock surrounded by icons representing feedback, growth mindset, data analysis, and differentiated instruction strategies

Teaching Practice

Unlocking the Potential: Evidence-Based Methods for Improving Student Learning Outcomes

Alex Gray8 min · 3 May

A teacher on a flat plateau with arrows showing stagnation from repetitive habits contrasted with an upward growth path through innovation

Professional Development

Why Repetition and Habit Lead Teachers to Plateau

Alex Gray8 min · 20 Apr

Educators connected by lines forming a collaborative network diagram

Professional Development

Building Professional Learning Networks and Communities of Practice

Alex Gray7 min · 12 Apr

A DNA double helix intertwined with digital circuit patterns symbolising technology evolution

Educational Technology

Mutations: Good or Bad for EdTech?

Alex Gray7 min · 4 Apr

AI in Education

The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Education: Insights from an International Consultant

Alex Gray7 min · 31 Mar

A game controller merged with educational icons like books and lightbulbs

Educational Technology

Unleashing the Power of Gamification and Game-Based Learning in Education

Alex Gray7 min · 28 Mar

A futuristic classroom with AI elements like floating screens and a robot assistant alongside students

AI in Education

Revolutionising Education with AI: How Technology is Transforming the Classroom

Alex Gray7 min · 27 Mar