How to Use AI in Teaching

Why AI Matters for Modern Teaching

The fourth industrial revolution is happening right now, and at its core is Artificial Intelligence. The rise of AI can, at times, feel intimidating. But, instead of viewing AI as a threat, consider this: AI can become your executive PA; an assistant that can dramatically reduce the administrative burden associated with teaching. 

According to research conducted by the Department for Education (DfE) (opens in a new tab) and the Education Policy Institute (opens in a new tab), outside of teaching lessons, the most time-consuming activities in a teacher’s day are: general administration, differentiating resources, marking students’ work, lesson planning (opens in a new tab) and preparation, and data recording and analysis. AI can streamline all of these tasks. 

Key Takeaways

• AI as a Time-Saving Assistant: AI tools can act as a personal assistant for teachers, significantly reducing time spent on tasks like lesson planning, marking and administrative work.

• Start with Specific, Practical Goals: Begin using AI by targeting a single, time-consuming task, such as creating a quiz or differentiating a resource.

• Enhance Learning and Engagement: AI can improve the quality of your teaching by generating actionable student feedback and personalizing learning. Students can also use AI to support their independent study.

Getting Started with AI

Integrating AI into your teaching practice is simpler than you think. Companies that produce intuitive software invariably win the race, so easy-to-use has become the norm. Moreover, you can actually use AI to help you use AI! More on this later.

The most effective approach is to start small: identify a specific task you want to make easier. For example:

• Do you struggle to differentiate materials for all your learners?

• Is marking eating into too much of your time?

• Would you like to improve student engagement?

Once you have identified this task, you can then track down the AI tool that’s right for the job.

Below we have listed some popular entry-level AI tools for teachers. But tap into your colleagues’ knowledge too. Many schools already have AI Champions or AI Working Groups. Never be afraid to ask for help.

• ChatGPT: A conversational AI that can generate text, brainstorm ideas and summarize content.

• Diffit: A tool designed to instantly create differentiated learning materials for any text or topic.

• Canva AI: Integrated AI features within Canva for creating engaging presentations and visuals.

• MagicSchool.ai (opens in a new tab): A comprehensive AI platform with tools specifically for teachers, including lesson plan generators.

• TeachEdge.ai (opens in a new tab): This tool is designed for GCSEs and A-Levels. It uses AI to provide detailed feedback and grades for essays and other written work, including handwritten answers.

Just a simple text prompt is all you need to get started. Choose one tool and one specific task, experiment with it and see how it can simplify your workflow. You can even use AI to help you write better AI prompts.

Practical Ways to Use AI in the Classroom

Lesson Planning and Resource Creation

One of the biggest time-saving benefits of AI is its ability to rapidly generate lesson materials. You can use AI to go from a blank page to a complete lesson plan in minutes.

For example, generating a History Lesson on the Roman Empire. Instead of spending an hour creating a worksheet, simply use an AI tool like MagicSchool.ai (opens in a new tab). You can provide a prompt like, "Create a 10-question multiple-choice quiz on the fall of the Roman Empire for a year-9 history class. Include an answer key." The tool will instantly generate a quiz, which you can then review and refine.

Top tip: If you need 10 questions, ask for 20. You can then select the best 10 questions that match your requirements.

Lesson ideas

Ask for a list of engaging activities for a specific topic. For example, an Economics teacher could ask for, “Five lesson ideas and activities to help teach the concept of comparable advantage”.

Worksheets and handouts

Turn a lengthy article into a comprehension worksheet with questions. For example, you can scan a primary source of evidence and get AI to create associated questions. 

Top tip: A photo of text is fine, as AI will be able to read this.

Slides and visuals

Tools like Canva AI can create presentation slides based on your text input.

Marking and Feedback

Not only can AI massively reduce the administrative burden of marking, it can also improve the quality of marking. Research (opens in a new tab) clearly shows that teacher feedback should provide specific guidance on how to improve. In other words, awarding gold stars or saying “good work” is pretty meaningless. And, when faced with never-ending piles of marking, providing meaningful, individualised feedback is sometimes an unrealistic goal.

AI, on the other hand, does not get tired and, with the correct prompts, can make all marking impactful. This does not diminish the role of the teacher. It’s up to teachers to ensure that students engage with the feedback provided.

How to use AI-generated feedback effectively and responsibly:

Automated Feedback

For straightforward tasks, AI can provide instant feedback on student work. For instance, an AI tool could identify common grammatical errors or highlight areas in an essay that lack evidence.

Rubric-Based Marking

Some tools, like SmartMark from Save My Exams, can analyse student work against a specific rubric and provide targeted feedback based on success criteria. This gives students clear, actionable insights into how they can improve.

Note: When using AI for marking or feedback, remember that it is a tool, not a replacement for your professional judgment. Always review and edit AI-generated feedback to ensure it is accurate, constructive and free from bias.

Supporting Diverse Learners

The UK in 2025 is a melting pot of diversity and this is rarely better illustrated than in a school setting. This does pose many challenges and key among them is differentiating resources. This is another area when AI can help by:

Simplifying Text

If you have a complex document, an AI tool can rephrase it into simpler language for students who may struggle with reading comprehension.

Translation

AI tools can provide instant translations of key terms or concepts for EAL learners, helping them access content more quickly.

Personalised Pathways

Based on a student’s performance, AI tools can generate targeted practice questions or recommend resources that address specific knowledge gaps.

Note: Ethical considerations need to be taken into account. It’s essential that you check your AI-generated resources as far as possible. It’s often said that social media is an echo chamber – and that concern could be levelled at AI too. Large language models learn from data sets that could, themselves, contain bias.

Student Engagement and Independent Learning

AI isn't just for teachers; it can also be a powerful tool for students themselves. With training, supervision and clear guidelines, students can use AI to deepen their understanding and practise independent learning skills. For example:

AI as a Study Partner

Students can use a conversational AI to ask questions and get explanations on difficult topics. For example, a student could ask, "Explain the concept of photosynthesis. I am an 11 year old student and I am studying in the UK". The AI can provide a simplified, accessible answer.

AI for Research

Students can use AI to quickly summarize long articles or find key facts for a project.

Debate Preparation

Students can ask an AI tool to generate arguments for and against a certain position to help them prepare for a debate.

Interview Preparation

For interview preparation, AI can predict likely questions and suggest model answers for a specific job or university course. For instance, a student could ask for "10 questions and suggested answers for a university interview for Mathematics." 

AI can also create realistic scenarios for a student to practice discussing, such as those related to patient confidentiality in a nursing interview. Additionally, it can suggest questions a student could ask at the end of the interview.

Note: It is crucial to set clear rules for how students use these tools. Ensure your charges understand that AI is a tool for learning and support – cheating will not be tolerated. Focus on the process, not just the final product.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I Need Technical Skills to Use AI in My Teaching?

No. Most AI tools for education are designed with a simple, user-friendly interface. If you can type a question into a search engine, you can use these tools.

Is AI Safe to Use in the Classroom?

When used responsibly, yes. Always ensure you are using AI tools that respect data privacy and avoid sharing sensitive student information. Teach students about the importance of verifying information.

What Are the Best Free AI Tools for Teachers?

ChatGPT is a great starting point for its versatility. Other tools like Diffit and MagicSchool.ai (opens in a new tab) offer robust free tiers that allow you to explore their specific features.

Can AI Replace Teachers?

Absolutely not. AI is a powerful tool, but it’s the human connection between teachers and their students that will inspire and motivate them to succeed.

A Final Word

The most effective teachers are those who adapt and embrace new tools that serve their mission. AI is not here to replace your skills; it’s here to amplify them. It can help you reclaim time, personalise learning, and create more engaging classroom experiences.

References

• Ofsted - Teacher well-being at work in schools and further education providers:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5fb41122e90e07208d0d5df1/Teacher_well-being_report_110719F.pdf (opens in a new tab) 

• Teacher workload and professional development in England’s secondary schools:

https://epi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/TeacherWorkload_EPI.pdf (opens in a new tab) 

• Education Endowment Foundation: https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/education-evidence/teaching-learning-toolkit/feedback (opens in a new tab)