AI Lab for Research on Teaching and Learning – FUR

AI Lab for Research on Teaching and Learning

AI Lab for Research on Teaching and Learning is a cross-university platform at Tallinn University for research, experimentation, collaboration, and capacity building at the intersection of artificial intelligence, learning, teaching, and educational innovation.

The lab brings together research groups, teacher educators and external partners to explore how AI can support learning and teaching in ways that are pedagogically grounded, human-centred, and ethically responsible. AI Lab for Research on Teaching and Learning creates a shared framework for collaboration across institutes, enabling joint initiatives, knowledge exchange, and experimentation.

The AI Teaching and Learning Lab is supported by the Tallinn University Research Fund (2026-2028). The funding enables cross-institute collaboration, supports joint research and development initiatives, provides seed funding for research and innovation projects, and facilitates new forms of collaboration with schools, industry, and other external partners. The Lab aims to strengthen Tallinn University’s research and innovation capacity in AI-enhanced learning and education while establishing a sustainable platform that connects research, educational practice, and innovation.

The initiative is coordinated by prof Tobias Ley (HTI), Assoc. Prof Terje Väljataga (HTI) and Prof Kairit Tammets (DTI).

Line of activities

Research

The Lab supports interdisciplinary research and small-scale experimentation that help generate new knowledge, test emerging ideas, and prepare larger national and international research initiatives. Through internal seed funding, the Lab enables researchers to initiate collaborative pilot studies across institutes.

Community and collaboration

The Lab provides a platform for researchers across Tallinn University to exchange ideas, develop collaborations, and build interdisciplinary research networks. Activities include thematic working groups, internal seminars, visiting researchers, and networking events connecting different institutes and external partners.

Capacity building

The Lab supports researchers, teacher educators, and practitioners in developing competencies for AI-enhanced learning, teaching, and research. Activities include workshops, hands-on AI sessions, seminars, and opportunities for collaborative learning.

School and edTech partnerships

The Lab develops partnerships with teachers and EdTech partners to co-design, pilot and evaluate AI-supported educational innovations in authentic learning environments. These collaborations form the foundation for design-based research, classroom experimentation and teacher professional development, to make sure that research and educational practice continuously inform one another.

Shared infrastructure

The Lab is building a shared research infrastructure that supports AI-related educational research across Tallinn University. This includes a virtual repository of research instruments, pilot protocols, datasets, teaching resources, validated materials, and documentation of ongoing projects, together with experimentation environments such as EduSpace.

International collaboration

The Lab contributes to international research projects, scientific publications, conferences, and partnerships, strengthening Tallinn University’s role in shaping responsible and human-centred AI for learning and teaching.

Current activities

AI Lab for Research on Teaching and Learning is building a community of researchers, educators and partners around human-centred AI in education. Some of our first initiatives include:

Open Research Seminar Series

Our first Open Research Seminar (16 June 2026) explored the theme “Agency in the Age of AI.” Professor Tobias Ley delivered the keynote on human agency and AI, followed by presentations from Merike Saar and Alice Aaviksoo, who shared ongoing research on how AI influences and supports teacher agency in educational practice. The ideas discussed during the seminar provide an important foundation for the Lab’s shared conceptual framework for human-centred AI-enhanced learning research. 

International learning and collaboration

The Lab actively learns from and contributes to international AI in education initiatives.
NOLAI (Netherlands): In June 2026, Alice Aaviksoo, Reet Kasepalu, Tobias Ley, and Kairit Tammets visited the NOLAI programme in the Netherlands to learn how researchers, teachers, and EdTech companies collaborate to co-design and evaluate AI applications for education. The visit provided insights for developing the Lab’s own partnership model with schools and external partners.

Pilot Grant Programme 2026

The Pilot Grant call supports small-scale interdisciplinary projects that explore AI-enhanced learning and teaching while laying the foundation for future research and innovation.

Current projects include:

  • Experienced teachers’ experiences in designing and implementing AI-supported learning units in primary education. Inge Timoštšuk, Kaidi Nurmik, Anne-Mai Näkk and school partners.
  • An LLM-supported dialogic self-assessment tool for teacher and learner digital competence. Elyna Heinmäe, Kaire Kollom, Priit Tammets.
  • Designing learning activities and materials to support deep learning, learner engagement, and manageable cognitive load. Merike Saar, Aleksandra Ljalikova, Aigi Heero, Jörgen Ivar Sikk.

Coming next

Seminar series organised in collaboration with the University of Tartu, the TI-Hüpe initiative, and invited international experts.

  • 2nd call for seed grants - to be announced in September

  • October 2026 – Teacher Professional Development in the Age of AI: What teachers need to know and be able to do in the age of AI, and how can we support their professional learning? The seminar brings together research and experiences from teacher professional development initiatives to identify emerging lessons and principles for supporting teachers in meaningful AI integration.
  • November 2026 – How can we study the impact of AI in Education: What can we conclude about the impact and effectiveness of AI-enhanced learning technologies in education? This methodological seminar examines the limitations of simple comparisons, what exactly we should be evaluating, and how research designs can support more meaningful and reliable claims about AI and learning.
  • February 2026 – Rethinking human and AI roles in education: How should we think about the roles of learners, teachers and AI as AI becomes embedded in learning and teaching? Drawing on emerging research and practical experiences, the seminar discusses different ways of distributing roles and responsibilities between humans and AI, and what these choices mean for the design of AI-enabled learning environments.

Who we are

  • Tobias Ley – Lab Lead
  • Terje Väljataga ja Kairit Tammets – Lab co-leads
  • Anastassia Skiperskaja – Lab Coordinator
  • Team: Alice Aaviksoo, Grete Arro, Aigi Heero, Elyna Heinmäe, Kirke Kasari, Reet Kasepalu, Kaire Kollom, Jüri Kurvits Aleksandra Ljalikova, Katrin Poom-Valickis, Merike Saar, Jörgen Ivar Sikk, Pirgit Sillaots, Linda Helene Sillat, Priit Tammets, Inge Timoštšuk, Maire Tuul.