The digital landscape of education in Ukraine is buzzing with innovation, and at the forefront of this exciting evolution is the #1 webinar series dedicated to empowering educators with cutting-edge tools and knowledge. The first webinar organised by NGOBRIT, held on April 15th, 2025, focused on the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for educators in Ukraine.
The interactive nature of the workshop ensured a dynamic experience for the up to 40 participants who joined the session. Led by the insightful Sergii Maksymiuk, head of the social enterprise “New Energy” in Ivano-Frankivsk, the workshop provided a comprehensive overview of AI tools and their practical applications across education, research, and content creation.
Overview of the Key Takeaways
Unlocking AI’s Potential: Personalisation and Language Models
Sergii kicked off the session by elaborating on the significance of personalisation when interacting with AI. He emphasised the importance of personalisation with AI, suggesting English and DeepL for translation. He also mentioned audio input for tasks like business canvases and AI profiles. The discussion covered AI language model applications, highlighting the impact of context, examples, and instructions on output quality, including uses in writing, brainstorming, summarisation, and learning. ChatGPT’s canvas feature for targeted editing was of particular interest – a significant time-saver for educators.
AI: A Powerful Ally in Education and Research
The workshop further illuminated the diverse applications of AI in both education and scientific writing, including video summarisation, educational comic creation, large document analysis, and personalised learning materials. Educators were particularly interested in AI’s potential for lesson plans, test questions, article annotations, and literature reviews. Sergii also addressed the crucial aspects of fact-checking, refining academic writing style, and efficiently answering student queries with the help of AI. However, he astutely cautioned participants to approach AI-generated content with a critical eye, emphasising the necessity of human oversight for verification and refinement.
Tailored AI Assistance and In-Depth Research
The session then explored the exciting realm of GPT-based assistants designed for specific tasks, using the example of handling tour requests. Sergii elucidated the process of creating custom GPTs by providing them with relevant information and precise instructions. He also issued an important reminder about the need to avoid sharing sensitive or confidential data with these AI tools. This segment paved the way for a discussion on leveraging AI for data analysis and in-depth research.
Sergii introduced valuable research and analysis tools, including a search engine capable of providing concise summaries and links to pertinent sources. He demonstrated the power of Scopus for targeted literature searches and showcased a visual bibliographic analysis tool that can unveil research trends and connections between scholarly articles. Sharing his personal experience of using this tool for his dissertation resonated deeply with participants, illustrating its practical value in navigating complex research landscapes.
Visualising Ideas and Generating Audio with AI
The final part of the workshop focused on the exciting possibilities of AI for creating visual and audio content. Sergii highlighted Midjourney for generating captivating images, including the intriguing ability to integrate faces. He also recommended Servetka, a Ukrainian service that transforms text into insightful visual diagrams and charts, demonstrating its application within the energy sector. A presentation tool capable of rapidly generating slides from user input further underscored the potential for efficiency and creativity.
The session concluded with a fascinating demonstration of AI-powered audio generation tools, encompassing both voice synthesis and music creation. Sergii showcased the potential of AI for presentations and events, emphasising its cost-effectiveness compared to traditional human speakers. He also introduced participants to Eleven Labs for voice generation and Suno for music creation.
The webinar ended with an exciting announcement about the upcoming Science Communication Student Competition and an invitation to educators to join the National Inspiration Hub for STEM Educators, a platform designed to foster ongoing collaboration and knowledge exchange.
This inaugural webinar of Ukraine’s #1 series has undoubtedly ignited a spark of innovation among educators, showcasing the immense potential of AI to transform teaching, learning, and research. Stay tuned for more insightful sessions as this series continues to empower the Ukrainian educational community with the knowledge and tools to navigate the future of education.