Building AI Literacy with Teachers at SMK Pakan

My sincere appreciation to SMK Pakan for the kind invitation to deliver a workshop titled “Bengkel Kecekapan Menggunakan Aplikasi AI.” It was truly encouraging to see so many dedicated educators coming together to explore how artificial intelligence can support their teaching and professional responsibilities.

A special acknowledgement must also go to the teachers who attended the workshop on a Saturday. Your commitment to continuous learning and professional growth deserves the highest appreciation. The willingness to invest personal time to acquire new knowledge reflects the strong dedication educators have toward improving the learning experience for their students.

One positive trend I have begun to notice is the increasing number of invitations from schools requesting AI-related workshops. This signals a very healthy development within our education system, particularly here in Sarawak. Awareness of emerging technologies is clearly growing, and it is encouraging to see educators taking proactive steps to equip themselves with the tools needed for the future.

During the session, the focus was on helping teachers understand how AI can be used responsibly, efficiently, and practically in both teaching and administrative work.

Several key areas were covered throughout the workshop.

First, we discussed the right way to use AI for both teachers and students. AI should not replace thinking or creativity; rather, it should act as a tool that supports learning, enhances productivity, and encourages deeper exploration of knowledge.

Second, participants were introduced to methods on how to train AI systems to become more efficient and reliable. By understanding how prompts, context, and structured instructions work, teachers can guide AI tools to produce more accurate and useful results.

Third, we explored how AI can accelerate everyday work processes without compromising quality. When used effectively, AI can reduce the time spent on repetitive tasks, allowing teachers to dedicate more attention to lesson planning, student engagement, and mentoring.

One of the most practical parts of the workshop involved demonstrating how educators can create and use AI-powered chatbots to support their daily responsibilities. These systems can assist teachers in tasks such as:

• Marking tests and examination scripts

• Preparing questions aligned with DSKP, JSU, and textbooks

• Automating documentation and administrative records

• Generating teaching materials and learning resources

These tools are not designed to replace teachers. Instead, they function as digital assistants that help streamline tasks and improve efficiency.

Ultimately, the objective of initiatives like this is simple: to build an education ecosystem where teachers become technology-empowered professionals and students become future-ready learners.

When educators embrace technology thoughtfully and responsibly, they help create classrooms that are more adaptive, innovative, and aligned with the needs of a rapidly evolving digital world.

Thank you once again to SMK Pakan for the opportunity to share these ideas and for their commitment to embracing the future of education.