The 5 Best AI Tools for Teachers That Help Optimize the Learning Process

Artificial intelligence is fast becoming an integral part of just about everything we do, and education is no exception. It can really be a teacher’s pet by enhancing interactivity in learning and reducing teacher workloads.

There is now a huge number of AI-powered tools available to teachers, but knowing how to use them, or even which tools to choose from, can be a challenge. That’s why we compiled this list of our best picks of AI tools for teachers.

What Are AI Tools for Teachers?

The modern-day teacher has at their disposal an unprecedented number of teaching tools, and one of the most recent ones is AI. While the field of artificial intelligence has existed for many years, its application in education is a more recent development.

Artificial intelligence is a machine or program’s ability to perform tasks that usually require a human or to simulate a human being’s cognitive function.

It can therefore be used to handle some of the tasks that a teacher would normally have to do themselves. There is no shortage of tools that use advanced AI technology available to teachers, each with its possible uses and advantages.

Teachers can make great use of AI in the classroom, during lesson planning, or for administrative tasks. The fact that AI can both improve and simplify your teaching process makes it one of the most indispensable tools in a teacher’s repertoire.

In particular, AI is a great medium for interactive classroom activities, for designing and creating intricate educational content, and for completing mundane tasks so teachers can save precious time.

Why Do AI Tools Matter for Teachers?

The first reason AI is important for teachers is because it can enhance the classroom environment in which students learn. This can be achieved through interactive classroom activities or the creation of amazing teaching resources.

For example, AI chatbots like Bing or Google’s Bard can be used in class to answer students’ questions. Some AI tools can create engaging videos or interactive presentations that can be used to personalize learning.

The second major advantage of using AI in the classroom is that it saves time that can then be spent on teaching or other more important things. For example, there are generative AI tools that can generate lesson plans, make discussion prompts, or write assessments.

AI can also speed up other tasks, such as creating slides and grading assessments, or be used almost like a personal teaching assistant when you need someone to provide feedback.

Criteria for Selecting AI Tools for Teachers

Let’s look at several important things to do if you’re searching for a great AI tool for your teaching needs.

1. Set a goal

When selecting the right artificial intelligence-powered tool, you first need to decide what it will be used for. Do you want to save time on the grading process or writing reports? Could you use some help designing the perfect course or making engaging presentations? The tool you choose will depend on your requirements. 

2. Research

Search the Internet for the best AI-powered tools for your desired use case and make sure to read any reviews and recommendations as well. Ask other teachers or read teacher blogs for real-life experience and honest feedback.

3. Experiment and practice

Play around with your new teaching toy. The best way to master an AI tool is through use, so try your best to test its limits, noting how well it does or does not perform certain tasks. It’s also important to find an AI tool that works best for you and your classroom environment, because not every tool is suited to every teacher or situation.

4. Use and review

Once you feel comfortable, you can start to unleash its potential in the classroom. This can be done by teaching your students a lesson designed entirely or partially using AI. As with any innovation, it’s always important to keep tabs on what works and what doesn’t. That way, you’ll understand the dos and don’ts of using AI-powered tools in the future.

The Top 5 AI Tools for Teachers

Next, we’re going to explore the 5 most widely recognized AI-powered tools to simplify teaching. 

1. iSpring Page

iSpring Page is an intuitive AI-powered course creation tool for developing entire courses, tutorials, and quizzes, all in your browser. With this cloud-based tool, teachers can create visually appealing eLearning content with ease. The intuitive user interface makes iSpring Page accessible and fun to use.

This education tool is equipped with iSpring AI, which is a virtual assistant capable of taking over a number of tasks to save you time and enhance your teaching process. You can use the AI assistant to generate and edit text, brainstorm ideas for courses, and create quiz questions.

iSpring Page is an all-in-one platform for creating or enhancing existing materials to increase student engagement in your classroom. iSpring AI helps you take your creativity to the next level.

Key features

• Create exercises and quizzes
• Generate text
• Summarize information
• Translate into multiple languages
• Fix spelling and grammar errors
• Polish your writing

Pricing

iSpring Page is priced at $470 per user/year and offers a 14-day free trial.

2. Canva Magic Write

Part of Canva’s Magic Studio is an AI writing tool designed to help you overcome writer’s block, brainstorm ideas, or create engaging written content. If writing isn’t your strong point as a teacher, then this tool might be just what you need.

Canva Magic Write can inspire your creativity by providing ideas, structure, and content to make your lessons more engaging and impactful for your students. The potential and limitations of this tool come down to how often you can find a use for it and how satisfied you are with the content it creates.

Key features

• Brainstorm ideas
• Create outlines and lists
• Edit and create content

Pricing

Canva’s Magic Studio is available on a free plan, but you can upgrade to a premium plan to access some of Canva’s additional features. You can get a free account for premium Canva features once your teaching credential is verified.

3. Magic School

This comprehensive AI-powered platform has an impressive number of tools that can perform a wide array of tasks. It can be used to create original content, generate ideas, make material accessible, and speed up other administrative tasks.

While the huge number of tools can be somewhat overwhelming at first, the friendly design of the platform allows teachers to browse through the different functions and select the tool that fits their needs. This is probably one of the best collections of AI tools for saving teachers’ time.

Key features

• User-friendly
• Multifunctional
• Free version available
• Works for any grade level

Pricing

Magic School offers free access to most of its features. However, it also offers a premium version with unlimited access. The Plus plan costs $6.65 a month, and a 30-day free trial is available.

4. Education Copilot

Education Copilot is one of the best AI tools for designing class materials and lesson plans. The software uses AI to create content for the classroom. You can use it to generate lesson plans, project outlines, writing prompts, student reports, and more.

This tool is great if you want to save time on lesson planning for every single class. It’s also perfect for creating personalized learning experiences for your students.

Key features

• Design lesson plans and materials
• Track student progress
• Custom learning plans

Pricing

Education Copilot is priced at $9/month but offers a 30-day free trial.

5. PowerPoint Speaker Coach

PowerPoint Speaker Coach is an AI-powered tool that can help you rehearse your presentations and practice public speaking skills. This tool can analyze your speech through its tone, pace, and emphasis in order to deliver constructive feedback in real time.

This feedback bot is perfect if you’re new to teaching and need to build your confidence in speaking, or if you find yourself giving a talk in front of a larger audience. For teachers who are keen to keep their class engaged with succinct and polished presentations, this is the tool to have.

Key features

• Rehearsal report
• Essentials feedback

Pricing

PowerPoint Speaker Coach is available as a free version but also offers a paid version with additional feedback and analytics.

Future Trends in AI for Teachers

Now, it’s time to take a sneak peek into what the future has in store for teachers when it comes to using artificial intelligence in the classroom.

Democratization

More often than not, technology becomes increasingly accessible to more people. AI is unlikely to be any different, so we expect AI to become available for more people and in a wider range of settings.

Inclusivity

As AI tools increase in popularity, application, and proficiency, we expect them to foster inclusivity. There is real potential for AI to make learning materials more accessible for students with diverse needs, ensuring that every learner can thrive.

Application

It isn’t easy to predict which challenges artificial intelligence will address, but we can be sure that the number of educational tasks that AI can help with will only increase. Wider application results in greater time savings. However, this shall not lead to over-reliance on AI tools.

AR and VR

Augmented reality and virtual reality are fields of technology in which many teachers can see a whole new world of potential. It seems reasonable, then, that the use of AI may enhance and transform the way in which AR and VR revolutionize our learning environments.

Wrap Up

AI is here to stay and will only continue to develop in the coming years. So, for teachers and students, it’s not a matter of “Should you use AI?” but “How can I use AI?” and “Which AI tool is best for my needs?”

AI has huge potential to improve student learning, whether it’s through the use of generative AI as a tool for your students or by finding the right software to enhance your teaching materials.

Time is everything for teachers. AI tools can be one of the most effective ways to save time that can then be used elsewhere.

Whether you use AI to create multiple-choice questions for your quizzes or track and assess student performance, the time you regain can be put to better use.

FAQ

Here are a few of the most commonly asked questions about AI tools for teachers.

Which AI is best for teachers?

There is no straightforward answer to this question. It really depends on the task you wish to assign to the tool. Many AI tools excel at performing a single task, while others have a range of uses, and some platforms offer many tools in a single package.

If you’re looking for an integrated AI-powered assistant for creating courses and learning materials in your browser, then iSpring Page may be the best for you. If you need help making a lesson plan, you can check out Copilot.

How can AI help teachers?

In reality, AI can be used by both teachers and students in an infinite number of ways. However, we can define two principal ways in which it can help.

The first is by enhancing the learning experience of students, either as an interactive tool for them to engage with or in aiding in the design of learning materials.

Second, AI can be used as an effective time-saving tool by teachers, with its wide range of practical applications in the workload of teachers. 

Is ChatGPT free for teachers?

ChatGPT is a generative AI chatbot that can hold a conversation with you based on information collected from the Internet. ChatGPT is a ‘freemium’ service, meaning it has a free version and a paid version.

While it can be a useful tool for both teachers and students if used to support research or writing by answering suggested prompts, it is unlikely to be effective as a replacement debate partner.

What is the best AI tool for teachers for lesson plans?

As with any AI tool, the best one is the one that balances ease of use with quality results. That said, two of the best AI tools for teachers to make lesson plans are Education Copilot and Magic School. Both tools are easy to use, have a friendly design, and boast great AI functionalities for teachers.