Project CAISE: Children and AI in School and Elsewhere
A British Academy-funded research project (2025–2028)
My name is Sarah Turner, Senior Research Fellow at University College London (UCL). I will be your research contact if you decide to participate. Kathryn Nutbeem will be your main school contact.
This sheet explains the research project and your potential involvement. I’m happy to answer questions before you decide.
There is a separate document called “How We Handle Your Data – For School Staff” that explains in detail how we collect, store, and protect your information. Please read it alongside this sheet.
Why is this research being done?
Generative AI is everywhere in children’s lives – in chatbots, image generators, recommendation algorithms, and content filters. Even adults often can’t tell when they’re using AI. Children deserve the opportunity to explore these questions.
Most research captures isolated snapshots. We’re taking a different approach: working with children over an extended period to understand how they actually use digital technologies (including AI) across all areas of their lives. The goal is to create resources, support, and learning opportunities based on what children actually need.
Who is the research team?
Dr Sarah Turner at UCL’s Knowledge Lab (Institute of Education) is leading this research, supported by Professor Mina Vasalou. Three other researchers are involved: Dr Jessica Shurson (Sussex University), Temesgen Kitaw Damenu (Kent University), and Youyue Sun (UCL IoE). The research is funded by the British Academy’s Postdoctoral Fellowship programme.
Why am I being invited?
We are working with teachers and school staff to understand the environment in which children use technologies in school. Your personal views and professional experiences are a vital component of this, regardless of your confidence level with AI. You may also be invited to take part in co-creation activities with the student cohort.
What will I be asked to do?
You do not have to participate in all the activities below – you can choose one or more as you like. The research runs across four school terms.
| When | Activities |
| Term 1 (Summer 2026) | Staff interviews, school walkthrough, researcher observation |
| Term 2 (Autumn 2026) | Staff interviews, classroom review, researcher observation continues |
| Term 3 (Spring 2027) | Staff interviews, classroom review, researcher observation continues |
| Term 4 (Summer 2027) | School walkthrough, classroom review, researcher observation continues |
Researcher observation: The researcher will observe classes and break times 2–3 days per term, taking notes about technology use without naming individuals. Please carry on as normal.
Staff interviews: You’ll discuss your experiences with digital technology in and outside of school. The first interview lasts 45 minutes; later interviews may be shorter or by email if nothing has changed.
School walkthrough: You’ll show the researcher around school to explore how the environment affects technology use.
Ongoing classroom review: You’ll note when technology features in lessons/your work. At the end of each week, you write up or send a voice note about what you’ve noticed.
What information will be collected?
We collect your name, email, job title. During the research, we record interviews via Microsoft Teams and collect your responses about technology use in school and your personal life.
We do not collect special category data (such as ethnicity or disability information) from staff. Full details are in the companion document “How We Handle Your Data – For School Staff.”
Confidentiality
Information shared will be kept confidential unless it poses a safeguarding risk. This research follows both school and UCL safeguarding policies.
What are the benefits and potential downsides?
We hope you’ll learn more about AI and feel more empowered in your choices around technology. The resources created should be valuable for your school community.
Discussions about digital technologies may raise things that concern you. We will offer training and resources, available on the project website. You can take breaks or stop any activity at any time.
Do I have to take part?
No – participation is entirely voluntary. There are no consequences for not participating, and it won’t affect your employment or professional standing. You can withdraw at any time. Details about what happens to your data after withdrawal are in the companion document.
How can I find out about results?
Updates will be published at http://www.projectcaise.co.uk.
Thank you for reading this information sheet. If you would like to take part, please complete the consent form.
Sarah Turner – s.turner@ucl.ac.uk
Senior Research Fellow, UCL Knowledge Lab, 23–29 Emerald Street, London, WC1N 3QS
This project has been reviewed and approved by the UCL IOE Research Ethics Committee: REC2354
Data protection registration number – Z6364106/2026/02/73
How We Handle Your Data
For School Staff
This document explains how we collect, protect, store, and use data from staff and teachers participating in Project CAISE. It accompanies the Staff Information Sheet.
What data do we collect?
At the start, we collect:
- Name, staff email address, job title, and signature (if forms are completed on paper)
We do not collect special category data (such as ethnicity or disability information) from staff participants.
During the research, we may collect:
- Audio and video recordings of interviews, primarily via Microsoft Teams
- Interview content and responses
- Written message content (email correspondence related to the research)
- Details about how technology and AI are used in school and in your personal life – including which applications and tools are used in the classroom
Information about personal technology use could reveal personal interests and habits. This is treated with care.
How do we collect and process data?
Recordings and transcription: Interviews are recorded via Microsoft Teams. Teams’ built-in transcription creates a written record. During review, names and locations are replaced with codes.
Researcher observations: When the researcher observes lessons, written notes are taken without using names or identifying details.
Communication: Staff email addresses are used for project communication.
How do we protect participants’ identities?
We use a process called pseudonymisation. Each participant’s name is replaced with a code so that data cannot easily be linked back to them.
- All research notes, transcripts, and reports use codes, not names.
- Real names are kept on a “Master Key” stored in a separate, restricted folder that only the researcher can access.
- Once the project is finished, the Master Key is destroyed. After that, the data becomes fully anonymous.
How do we store data and when do we delete it?
Audio files: Deleted once a checked written transcript exists.
Video files: Deleted unless visual information is important for the analysis.
Paper notes and physical artefacts: Shredded once typed up and saved to secure servers. Physical items created in sessions are stored securely at UCL’s Knowledge Lab, scanned, and then destroyed.
Email addresses: Deleted as soon as they are no longer needed for project communication.
Research data (transcripts, cleaned visuals): Kept for 10 years in a secure University repository after the project finishes. Other researchers may use this anonymised data for future research. No personal information will be included.
Master Key: Destroyed when the final research outputs are complete.
Will data be shared with other researchers?
The researcher works with colleagues at the University of Sussex and the University of Kent. These colleagues may have access to pseudonymised data for analysis purposes, subject to data sharing agreements that meet UCL’s requirements.
After the project, anonymised research data (with no personal information) will be stored in a secure repository where other researchers may access it for future studies.
What happens to data if a participant withdraws?
Participants can withdraw from the project at any time without giving a reason. If a participant withdraws:
- No new data will be collected about them.
- Data collected before withdrawal may still be used, unless removal is specifically requested.
- If data has already been pseudonymised, best efforts will be made to find and delete it, but this may not always be possible.
Withdrawal can be requested until the end of August 2027.
What if something goes wrong with the data?
Strong precautions are taken to keep all data safe. If a serious data breach were to occur, affected participants (and their parent/guardian where applicable) would be notified, and UCL’s data breach procedures would be followed.
Data protection rights
Under data protection law, participants have the right to access the personal data held about them, to have inaccurate data corrected, and to request deletion of their data (subject to the limitations described above). Anyone with concerns about how personal data is being handled can contact UCL’s Data Protection Officer at data-protection@ucl.ac.uk.
Data Protection Privacy Notice
The controller for this project is University College London (UCL). The UCL Data Protection Officer provides oversight of UCL activities involving the processing of personal data and can be contacted at data-protection@ucl.ac.uk.
This ‘local’ privacy notice sets out the information that applies to this study. Further information on how UCL uses participant information from research studies can be found in the ‘general’ privacy notice at: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/legal-services/privacy/ucl-general-research-participant-privacy-notice
The information required to be provided to participants under data protection legislation (GDPR and DPA 2018) is provided across both the ‘local’ and ‘general’ privacy notices. The lawful basis for processing personal data is ‘Public task.’ No special category data is collected from this participant group.
The personal data collected for this participant group includes: name, staff email address, job title, mobile phone number, signature, audio and video recordings of interviews, interview content and responses, written message content, and details about technology and AI use in school and personal life.
Personal data will be processed for as long as required for the research project. Where possible, personal data will be pseudonymised or anonymised, and data processing will be minimised wherever possible.
Anyone with concerns about how personal data is being processed, or who would like to enquire about their rights, should contact UCL in the first instance at data-protection@ucl.ac.uk.
Contact
Sarah Turner – s.turner@ucl.ac.uk
Senior Research Fellow, UCL Knowledge Lab, 23–29 Emerald Street, London, WC1N 3QS
This project has been reviewed and approved by the UCL IOE Research Ethics Committee: REC2354
Data protection registration number – Z6364106/2026/02/73