(ANS – Rome) – Artificial Intelligence is increasingly becoming part of the educational conversation, raising questions, expectations, and, at times, concerns. Against this backdrop, the experience developed by Italian Salesian schools now represents one of the most significant laboratories for educational research and innovation at the national level.
This is confirmed by the results of research coordinated by Prof. Fr. Michal Vojtáš, a professor in the Faculty of Educational Sciences, who oversaw the first Italian systemic project involving the use of generative Artificial Intelligence within a nationwide school network.
The initiative, initially launched in Salesian schools in the Triveneto region and later expanded to the entire national network, involved more than 1,600 teachers from elementary, secondary, and vocational schools in a single year. The research analyzed 1,375 classroom activities and gathered feedback from 29,171 students, making it one of the most comprehensive Italian studies on the relationship between AI and educational processes.
Data Confirming the Educational Value of Innovation
The results demonstrate how the informed use of Artificial Intelligence tools can significantly improve various aspects of the teaching experience.
According to the evaluations collected, AI-supported lessons show a perceived increase in the clarity of learning objectives, classroom management, student engagement, content creativity, and the development of critical thinking.
The increases in student engagement and creativity are particularly noteworthy. In addition, 86% of participating teachers stated that they intend to continue using generative AI tools regularly to support the planning and delivery of instructional activities. Furthermore, nearly seven out of ten teachers reported improvements in the quality of educational planning.
However, the research highlights a crucial point: the greatest benefits emerge when Artificial Intelligence does not replace the teacher but is integrated into innovative and personalized teaching methodologies, enhancing the effectiveness of the educational process.
The Salesian Model: Technology at the Service of the Person
While the quantitative results are highly significant, what makes the Salesian experience particularly distinctive is the pedagogical framework that supports it.
The reflection developed by the Pontifical Salesian University (UPS) and the participating schools has led to the formulation of a principle that could be described as “technology in its proper place.” Artificial Intelligence can be used to facilitate learning, instructional planning, and the personalization of educational pathways, but it cannot replace the educational relationship.
When the time comes for personal interaction, guidance, recreation, dialogue, and relationship-building, technology steps aside in favor of educational presence.
This approach is fully consistent with the Salesian educational tradition and reaffirms the primacy of the human person over technological tools. From this perspective, AI is viewed neither as a threat to be feared nor as a solution to be adopted uncritically, but as a resource to be managed according to clear and shared educational principles.
International Recognition
The interest generated by the Italian initiative has attracted the attention of senior leaders at Google for Education.
In February 2026, a delegation of fifteen international researchers and engineers from Google for Education traveled to Venice Mestre to meet with teachers from Salesian schools and learn how Artificial Intelligence tools were being used in daily classroom activities. The visit was not intended to present technology but rather to listen to educators who were already applying it in real-world educational settings.
The initiative continued on May 28, 2026, at the Istituto Salesiano San Zeno in Verona with the event “GO Beyond Traditional Education,” attended by international representatives from Google for Education and various educational leaders and policymakers. The gathering provided an opportunity to share the results achieved and reflect on the future of educational innovation.
Research Looking Toward the Future
For the Pontifical Salesian University, this experience represents a concrete example of how academic research, technological innovation, and educational mission can engage in a fruitful dialogue.
The goal is not merely to keep pace with technological change but to understand it critically and direct it toward the good of individuals and educational communities. The research coordinated by UPS demonstrates that Artificial Intelligence can help improve the quality of teaching and learning, provided it remains grounded in a clear vision of the human person that safeguards the irreplaceable value of the educational relationship.
At a time when technology tends to permeate every aspect of daily life, the Salesian model offers an innovative yet deeply human perspective: using the most advanced tools without sacrificing the centrality of encounter, dialogue, and educational accompaniment.
For true innovation, even before it is technological, remains profoundly human.
Source: Pontifical Salesian University
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