A specially designed AI tool, Corella, has been created for schools in Queensland, Australia.
Reducing admin
Decreasing the amount of teacher admin work is important, especially as teachers have already undertaken 24-hour strikes on the issue this summer. From the pilots with Corella, it seems that the tool could make a real difference. Writing emails and creating lesson plans and resources are things that AI can do very quickly in draft form, enabling educators to have something to work from, rather than having to start from scratch.
Design is everything
Corella has been specifically designed to assist with tasks rather than replace teachers or ‘do the work’ for students; it is intended to provide useful support, if needed. As AI will be part of students’ futures, they will need to know how to engage responsibly with it, and its use will enable teachers to shape habits that their students will be able to use beyond the classroom and into their future careers.
Concerns
As always with AI, there are concerns. Alongside its surrounding issues, such as ethics, bias, hallucinations and copyright laws, students must learn to use it as a supporting resource, not as a shortcut. Critical thinking is still – and will always be – the most important activity.
There is also the question of digital equity. Corella is set to be available in all Queensland schools by 2026, but not all students will have equal access to devices at home, so schools will need to be mindful of this when asking them to complete homework tasks.
An opportunity
With a dedicated tool to hand, this is an opportunity for the region’s schools to define how they wish to use it according to their context. Handled in the right way, Corella could feasibly free up staff to spend less time on admin and more time connecting with students, which is a positive move, especially in the face of local teacher shortages.
Reference
- Mulcahy, S. and Keszler, S. (2025) ‘Queensland government to introduced artificial intelligence teaching tool Corella to all state high schools’. Available at: https://7news.com.au/news/queensland-government-to-introduced-artificial-intelligence-teaching-tool-corella-to-all-state-high-schools–c-19798225 (Accessed: 17 September 2025)
