A LIMERICK-based education technology start-up has been selected to introduce its artificial intelligence (AI) teaching assistant to schools across Northern Ireland.
Nurture, founded by Limerick natives David Neville, Padraic Hogan, and Dublin man Daniel Paul, was selected by the Education Authority of Northern Ireland to roll out its AI teaching assistant to over 1,100 schools across Northern Ireland.
The move will see Nurture’s technology used by over 20,000 teachers and 345,000 students.
The Limerick-based company helps teachers to provide feedback to their students using AI through its custom-built tool that works with Microsoft Teams.
The technology identifies common knowledge gaps in students’ work and provides personalised comments that align with teacher’s observations
Nurture Chief Executive David Neville said that the technology aims to support students learning without adding pressure to teachers.
“Our aim is to support every school to provide a personalised teaching experience to their students without demanding more from their teachers,” Mr Neville said.
“No teacher wants their feedback to be limited to ‘well done, keep up the good work’. Our solution ensures that they can go well beyond that.
“We are incredibly excited to support the Education Authority in Northern Ireland with Nurture. This agreement is a significant step toward transforming the experience for teachers and students in Northern Ireland – putting research and pedagogy at the core of how technology and AI can enhance teaching and learning.
“With the rapid developments in generative AI, we are focusing on improving the lives of teachers – not to replace them, but to give them the time to do the work that only teachers can do through the human connection they build with their students,” he said.
Nurture has its roots in a social enterprise founded by Neville and Hogan called jumpAgrade.
To date, Nurture has raised €1.3million in funding from angel investors, such as Ray Downes, and others at Kemp Technologies, according to the Business Post.
