NOLAI is all about the connection between education, corporate life and science. This triangle was therefore a key aspect both on the stage and in the many meetings afterwards at our stand. You can see what that looked like in the after movie:
Education, companies and science met at the NOT 2025
The NOT (National Education Exhibition) takes place in Utrecht once every two years. About 5,000 visitors from the broad field of education meet from Tuesday to Friday and wander around halls filled with stands and stages. On Tuesday 21 January, NOLAI filled the EdTech College programme. Visitors could come to our nearby stand to experience AI in education for themselves and have a good conversation. We are still buzzing with excitement!
NOT aftermovie
Generative versus educational AI
Teachers in residence Kilian Geryszewski and Annelies de Mol had the honour to start the day. They explained to a room full of teachers the importance of distinguishing between generative AI and AI that is or is being developed for education in particular. Kilian: “Technology can’t be central. It has to be about the challenges in education: what do teachers struggle with, and which problems can AI help with?”
How do I survive AI in education?
hile it got more and more crowded at the Jaarbeurs exhibition centre, co-creation managers Annelies Wiggers and Ramon Moorlag posed challenging questions to a panel of teachers and teacher trainers on stage. What impact does AI currently have on education?
“Within our section we’re thinking hard about the consequences of AI. Our entire approach to teaching, assigning homework and conducting classes has been turned upside down.”
Teacher in residence Puk van der Zwalum: “Within our section we’re thinking hard about the consequence of AI. Our entire approach to teaching, assigning homework and conducting classes has been turned upside down.” Rianne van den Berghe, teacher trainer at iPabo: “We all recognise it. At first, there was a small bit of panic – help, what should we do with these tests? After the tests had been adjusted and policies were developed for this, we entered a calmer period. Now we are getting to the bigger, underlying question: what do we want to do with AI in education?” The answer couldn’t be found in 45 minutes, but it did turn into a lively conversation with Jochem Hiddink (HAN Teacher Trainings) and Bram van Mil (teacher in residence)!
Checking AI
Inge Molenaar, professor of education and AI and NOLAI’s scientific director, was also on the EdTech College stage. She told a big room full of people from corporate life (a striking detail) about the scientific basis on which NOLAI operates, as described in NOLAI’s magazine 'AI in education'. Filled with the latest insights and small previews of the co-implementation trajectory that NOLAI is starting up with partners from the business community. More about this in the next newsletter.
Smarter together!
After Inge Molenaar’s insightful story, Kim Brandes, co-creation director at NOLAI, followed. What does multidisciplinary collaboration mean in practice? What are the practical benefits of the connection between schools, companies and scientists? Heleen Kamphuis talked excitedly about her co-creation project Waiting for the teacher more efficiently at Het Stedelijk in Enschede: “You use each other’s expertise. Education can bring in indispensable feedback, sometimes from the students. Scientists carefully research what you need, evaluate its success and work with proven methods instead of gut feelings. Finally, companies are taking swift steps to put AI support into practice.”
Researcher Erica Schlatter and innovation manager Inge Volman reflected on it from a scientific and corporate perspective: the interests might be different, but the goal is the same.
Checking open questions with AI
As the NOT is coming to and end, a final session is taking place on the EdTech stage in a well-filled room. Wouter Jansen (teacher in residence) showed together with Joost Kruis and Eva de Schipper (CitoLab) and Nikki Peeters (biology teacher, Roncalli) how AI can provide support in cheching open questions. Checking answers is a time-consuming task, and not many teachers’ favourite thing about their job. How nice that AI can support them! However, there is the risk that the teacher might miss essential information. Wouter: “If a student answers ‘my cat is dead’, AI will ignore it or mark it as incorrect. For teachers, it would actually provide insight and a starting point.”
As became clear throughout the day and the various sessions: AI in education requires a well-considered approach.
And in the meantime, at the stand…
At an otherwise calm NOT, it was a constant stream of visitors at NOLAI’s stand. It turned out to be a great place to chat and explore after the workshops and lectures. Various co-creation managers engaged in conversation about NOLAI’s question articulation sessions. The Babel bear could be viewed (and sometimes petted), and magazines and flyers were eagerly taken. It was a wonderful day filled with special and valuable encounters!
Will we see you again soon?
Soon, there will be new question articulation sessions. Or visit the NOLAI Wrap-up on Thursday 26 June 2025. Put it in your calendar and receive the invitation via our monthly newsletter.
Contact information
- Organizational unit
- National Education Lab AI (NOLAI)
