AI-Workshop for Staff in Facilities for Children with Disabilities (Diakonissenhaus Teltow)

The integration of children with disabilities into educational settings remains a significant challenge, particularly due to the limited availability and accessibility of digital tools. Many schools and care facilities lack the necessary infrastructure, such as reliable internet connections, up-to-date devices, and a foundational understanding of AI tools, guidelines, and applications. This digital divide severely limits opportunities to create inclusive learning experiences tailored to the needs of these children.

A major obstacle is the varying levels of digital literacy among staff members. There is no “one-size-fits-all” solution, making individualised approaches necessary. However, limited training and expertise in AI-driven tools further hinder effective adoption. Additionally, growing concerns around data privacy and compliance with governance guidelines create uncertainty about the responsible use of AI technologies.

Financial constraints pose another challenge. Many institutions struggle to secure funding for digital transformation, leaving them unable to invest in AI-powered software or necessary hardware. Local computing resources are often insufficient for running demanding AI applications, and dedicated servers are rarely available. While online platforms and AI-powered applications exist, they remain largely underutilized due to a lack of time, training and structured implementation.

As a result, much of the work in this sector continues to be done manually, often relying on paper-based processes, further delaying digitalisation efforts. The combination of infrastructure deficits, digital illiteracy, financial barriers, and administrative hurdles makes it difficult to harness the full potential of AI to support the education and care of children with disabilities.

To address the digitalisation challenges faced by the facility, the EDIH organised a tailored AI workshop designed specifically for the needs of staff working with children with disabilities. The over 30 participants represented a broad mix of professionals, including special education teachers, educators, rehabilitation pedagogues, diploma pedagogues and interns of the school. The first step involved direct communication with the headmistress and the on-site IT specialist to understand their expectations, challenges and specific requirements. Recognising the diverse skill levels among staff, a pre-workshop survey was conducted to gather insights on individual use cases and challenges. Over a two-week period, the collected responses were organised and matched with our EDIH catalogue to structure the workshop effectively.

The workshop combined theoretical knowledge with practical exercises to ensure a hands-on learning experience. Key topics included ethical AI usage, GDPR compliance and AI-based tools for content creation. Participants engaged in interactive exercises where they explored AI applications, tracked their progress and experimented with various digital tools in a real-world setting. By using their local workstations, the training reflected the actual constraints and possibilities of their daily work environment.

Given the complexity of the subject matter and varying levels of digital literacy, the workshop was conducted over two days, allowing time for gradual knowledge acquisition and hands-on practice. To ensure continuous improvement, an anonymous post-workshop survey was conducted to collect feedback on content, structure, and areas for further refinement.

Following the AI workshop, a post-training survey was conducted to assess participants’ understanding and practical experience with general AI tools. The results demonstrate a significant improvement in awareness, engagement, and practical application of AI in educational and administrative settings.

Key Findings from the Survey (30 participants) :

Improved AI Awareness and Legal Knowledge:

• 92.31% of participants now have a clear understanding of how general AI systems function.

• 88.46% are familiar with legal frameworks and ethical considerations surrounding AI.

• 84.62% have knowledge of data privacy regulations related to AI applications.

Practical AI Applications in Education and Daily Tasks:

• 80.77% can identify opportunities and risks of AI in their daily work.

• 80.77% have experience developing AI-based projects with students, such as AI-assisted song or text generation.

• 76.92% have hands-on experience using AI tools for image creation and are actively exploring AI solutions for their professional tasks.

• 73.08% are incorporating AI into interactive learning content, such as digital quizzes and educational games.

• 65.38% utilize AI for text-based tasks, including email drafting, spellchecking, and translations.

 AI Integration in Educational Processes:

• 61.54% recognize AI’s potential for meaningful integration in the educational sector.

• 57.69% use AI for adapting texts to different writing styles and for developing creative teaching materials.

• Technical AI Knowledge and Areas for Further Development:

• 53.85% understand the risks of deepfakes and AI-generated content.

• 6.15% have knowledge of AI data processing and storage, indicating an opportunity for further development in this area.

Impact on the PSO’s Digital Capacities

As a result of the workshop, staff members are now better equipped to integrate AI tools into their daily work, both in administration and education. The acquired skills enable them to enhance student engagement, create interactive learning materials, and automate repetitive tasks, such as text adaptation and content generation. Furthermore, increased awareness of AI ethics and data privacy ensures that AI tools are used responsibly within the institution.

By leveraging AI-driven tools, the institution can streamline processes, reduce manual workloads, and create new digital learning opportunities for children with disabilities. This marks a significant step towards digital transformation, allowing staff to experiment with AI tools in ways that were previously not possible due to a lack of knowledge and confidence.

The AI workshop provided key insights into effective training approaches and areas for improvement. A group size of 30 participants, combined with a dedicated workshop structure, allowed for focused learning. Conducting pre- and post-workshop surveys proved essential, as the pre-survey helped tailor the content to participants’ needs, while the post-survey provided valuable feedback for further refinement.

The combination of theoretical instruction and hands-on exercises was particularly effective. Engaging participants in practical AI applications enhanced learning outcomes and maintained high levels of interest. The two-day format allowed for a balanced approach, ensuring that complex AI concepts were covered without overwhelming participants. Working directly on their local devices also helped them apply new knowledge in real-world scenarios.

Despite these successes, several challenges emerged. The instructor-to-participant ratio was insufficient, as one facilitator could not provide personalised guidance to all attendees. Future workshops should aim for one instructor per ten participants. Additionally, the variation in digital literacy levels created challenges in pacing. A tiered learning approach, categorising participants by experience level, could improve engagement.

Technical limitations were also encountered, as some AI tools and cloud platforms struggled under multiple simultaneous users. A pre-workshop infrastructure assessment would help mitigate these issues. The session duration of six hours per day proved demanding, and future iterations should consider shorter sessions over multiple days to improve retention.

Other recommendations include preparing structured handouts for post-workshop reference, conducting a stress test of network and software tools, and coordinating access with AI service providers in advance to prevent security-related disruptions. These improvements will ensure a seamless and effective learning experience in future workshops.