Mohamed Elrefai
Senior Director, WW Education Sales & Customer Success, Adobe
Creativity and AI tools have been found to boost engagement in the classroom while equipping students with the skills and confidence they need to thrive in an AI-driven future.
“Some people have the idea that digital technology and AI tools can be inhibitors to learning,” admits Mohamed Elrefai, Senior Director, WW Education Sales & Customer Success at multinational software company Adobe. “That may be due to legacy thinking, or maybe it’s a question of educators not being confident with digital tools. However, we think digital tech and AI are learning accelerants — and, frankly, they’re going to be part of the future.”
To test this theory, Adobe conducted a study (to be published in January) to understand how creativity and AI tools are transforming teaching and learning, with a particular focus on writing skills and metacognitive development in primary classrooms. Results from the research suggest that creativity and AI can drive meaningful change in education by supporting metacognitive growth, equitable participation and personalised learning.
“We definitely had a sense that creativity, digital tools and AI improved learning,” reveals Elrefai, noting that the study was carried out in primary, secondary and special schools from LEO Academy Trust and Discovery Trust. “For example, tools that give students instant feedback were seen as strongly beneficial, because they could immediately reflect on their work and improve their results.”
Strengthening student collaboration and inclusion
Students also welcomed the chance to use generative AI, animated characters and platforms such as Adobe Express and Canva. “These tools helped the students tell stories in different ways,” says Elrefai. “Engaging with others on a digital platform was also found to strengthen student collaboration and foster inclusion, dignity and equity.”
we think digital tech and AI are learning accelerants — and, frankly, they’re going to be part of the future.
Additionally, the study showed that flexible use of digital tools and formats was a way to support diverse learning needs and backgrounds. Finally, the use of digital tech for creative expression led to calm, focused classroom environments and empowered students to take ownership of their learning. “When you give students a choice about how they want to communicate and express ideas, you’ll often get a better result,” says Elrefai.
Kingsland CE Academy, a primary school in Stoke-on-Trent, is a good example of how the right tech, used in the right way, can boost learning. It first adopted Adobe Express in 2021 so students could design digital book covers for a World Book Day competition. However, the technology was so well-received that it’s now being used to teach subjects across the curriculum. “Students are more engaged,” says Elrefai. “They’re producing work that gives them digital confidence and confidence with AI tools. So, there’s a double benefit. Their learning is deeper — but they’re also being prepared for the future.”
