In July, the Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, launched the “Ensinar com IA@Técnico” training programme, developed by the Pedagogical Council (CP) and the Academic Development Office (NDA) and designed to support faculty in adapting their teaching methodologies to artificial intelligence (AI).
The initiative aims to explore different ways of integrating AI into the educational context, specifically by supporting students’ learning process (through the development of virtual tutors), improving the quality of educational materials, and increasing efficiency in the assessment process (grading, analysis of results, and more detailed and useful feedback for students).
During one of the training sessions, the electronic whiteboard displayed an image with instructions for making a peanut butter and jam sandwich, designed specifically for an alien unfamiliar with the human environment. This unusual yet effective example showcased NotebookLM’s pedagogical and instructional capabilities, illustrating its ability to summarise and present information clearly and concisely. Additionally, NotebookLM can create quizzes, compile information, generate slide presentations, and simulate podcast-style conversations on the topic at hand, offering various perspectives from different angles.
Other sessions focused on creating “virtual tutors” capable of answering specific students’ questions in real time during a study session, especially when students can’t do so with the professor. The training also covered the grading process using Gradescope, a software available to Técnico professors, which digitises the grading of assignments, quizzes, and exams, making it easier for faculty to manage these administrative tasks.
“The main focus is on improving productivity—not in the sense of doing more things, but, on the contrary, slowing down a bit and focusing on what really matters in teaching, even improving teachers’ mental health”, explains Sérgio Pequito. The Técnico professor, who was awarded the 2024–2025 José Tribolet Award for Digital Innovation in Education, powered by Deloitte, now shares the knowledge he has acquired throughout his teaching career—particularly while abroad in Uppsala, Sweden.
The trainer notes that “knowledge is growing at a rapid pace, and we didn’t use to have such easy access to it. These tools enable that access; they’re like having a large library, but you need to know how to start searching”. Sérgio Pequito emphasises that these processes are “a tool like any other” and are only truly useful if we know how to use them correctly.
The programme will conclude with a public presentation of the content developed by the professors throughout the training sessions, scheduled for early September. The materials are set to be implemented as early as the 2026–27 academic year. According to Sérgio Pequito, this will be “a public showcase” so that the results achieved by professors using these tools “can be shared with more colleagues, demonstrating their usefulness in various fields”.
The training programme also includes an online course on Técnico’s Partners/openedX platform, where all faculty and researchers will be able to access the content asynchronously, thereby expanding the initiative’s impact and accessibility.
