Artificial intelligence: a guide for educators
Welcome to this short guide for educators on how AI can help you be more effective and create more engaging and accessible resources.
Start
AIMS
By the end of this CPD, you will be able to:
- Find AI tools suitable for primary classrooms
- Think about ethical considerations of AI in education
- Create a plan to use generative AI tools
Next
MENU
1. WHAT is AI?
2. HOW can AI be used in school?
3. WHY is AI useful?
4. BUT...
5. QUIZ TIME
6. NEXT STEPS?
Next
1. WHAT is AI?
Everyone is talking about it but... what is it?
Generative AI is a form of artificial intelligence that can produce new content — such as text, images, music, or video — by identifying patterns in large sets of existing examples. It learns from these patterns to generate original outputs that resemble human-created work.
In a nutshell... what is Generative AI?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly entering UK classrooms. The Department for Education (DfE) actively promotes AI to modernize teaching, noting both potential benefits and challenges.
Next
1. WHAT is AI?
Generative AI vs. computers
vs.
If traditional computers follow fixed rules to give answers (like a calculator), generative AI is more like a student who’s read a lot and can now write essays, draw pictures, or hold conversations—based on what it’s learned.
Next
1. WHAT is AI?
Next
1. WHAT is AI?
Next
2. HOW can AI be used in school?
Next
2. HOW can AI be used in school?
The government wants YOU to use AI!
Reduced workload
Personalised learning
AI tools can automate lesson-planning and resource creation.
AI-driven resources can be adapted easlily to suit individuals. AI-powered apps can adapt to each pupil’s ability.
Reduced workload
Personalized learning
Across the public sector - it’s already having a significant impact from helping police identify criminals to improving cancer screening in the NHS. The Department for Education has identified lots of possible benefits for teachers - and some challenges to be aware of.
Immediate feedback and assessment
Increased engagement and accessibility
AI can also make content more accessible: text-to-speech readers and translation tools aid pupils with language or reading difficulties.
AI quizzes and games can give instant feedback. AI-driven dashboards can flag attendance or behavior patterns.
Increased engagement and accessibility
Immediate feedback and assessment
Next
2. HOW can AI be used in school?
Scenario 1: AI-assisted planning and creating resources
Imagine you are Year 3 teacher using Chat GPT to help you prepare differentiated writing scaffolds for a Year 3 class on persuasive texts. You’ve already created one high-level model, but you need a simpler version and some sentence starters.
Next
2. HOW can AI be used in school?
Scenario 2: Writing a letter
You’re writing a letter containing a lot of information to a variety of parents. You want to offer translations of this text in several languages that you don't speak.
Next
2. HOW can AI be used in school?
Scenario 3: Comprehension & Gap Fills
You’re doing a shared reading session on a non-fiction text about habitats. You want to create differentiated comprehension questions and a vocabulary-focused gap fill.
Next
2. HOW can AI be used in school?
Scenario 4: Image Prompts from Student Writing
You’re teaching a creative writing unit and want to help pupils visualise their settings. You’re considering using AI-generated images from their descriptions during a plenary.
Next
3. WHY is AI useful?
Reduced workload
Personalised learning
Immediate feedback and assessment
Writing letters, translating documents, etc...
Faster planning, resource creation marking, admin.
AI can also make content more accessible: text-to-speech readers and translation tools aid pupils with language or reading difficulties.
More consistent, quicker response time for pupils. AI can help you understand and target gaps in understanding.
Draft emails quickly and efficiently. Remove or check for sentences that could lack clarity. Translate documents quickly (and well) into other languages.
You can quickly create resources
You can mark work and quiz students
You can adapt resources for individual students
You can draft emails efficiently
Next
3. WHY is AI useful?
Find the pairs. Each classroom example has a benefit that matches.
Next
4. BUT...
AI is GREAT but... you need to use it widely. It's always important to consider the risks and limitations of AI to the task you are using it for. By using safe, ethical and legal guidelines based on DfE advice, you can keep yourself and your students safe!
Data protection
AI hallucinations
Sustainability
We are legally obliged to protect students' data.
AI can invent facts and show bias.
AI uses a LOT of energy
Next
5. QUIZ TIME
Question 1/4
Next
5. QUIZ TIME
Question 2/4
Next
5. QUIZ TIME
Question 3/4
Next
5. QUIZ TIME
Question 4/4
Next
6. NEXT STEPS?
Here are some ideas on what you can do next.
OFFICIAL GUIDANCE
WATCH
READ
TEST
Next
6. NEXT STEPS?
Next
6. NEXT STEPS?
Next
Thank you very muchfor your attention
Back to home
Continue to prompt. Give context.
Example prompts:
Can you rewrite this in simple sentences for lower-attaining Year 3 pupils?Can you simplify the layout?Can you add sentence starters to scaffold the main argument? Can you create a glossary of 5 key words from the text?
Paste your model text into ChatGPT. Explain that it's your model text and what you're aiming to do. Be specific!
Example prompt:
This is the model text. [Insert model text]. I'm aiming to create versions of this suitable for Year 3 students who are lower attaining in reading, have English as a Second language, have trouble staying focused.
Review the image. Will it help pupils visualise, revise, or expand their writing? Will using this tool enhance creativity or distract from writing goals? Could an image help EAL learners or pupils with SEND visualise vocabulary?
Tell it what you're trying to achieve.
Example prompts:
The lesson objective is to understand definitions of 4 different habitats. Next lesson we are going to be looking at how climate change is affecting different habitats. Can you create 3 sets of 10 questions (easy, medium and hard)? Can you make the questions increase in difficulty from 1-10?
READ
Read Dan Fitzpatrick - Infinite Education
AI for Educators - Matt Miller
Tell it what you're trying to achieve.
Example prompts:
This is a letter for a wide demographic of parents living in London with primary school age children. This is aimed at children in Year 4 asking them to sign up for an activity.
Continue to prompt the AI.
Example prompts:
Create 3 differentiated comprehension questions (1 easy, 1 medium, 1 challenging).Turn this paragraph into a gap-fill with a word bank.
Write notes outlining all of the information that you want to include in order of importance. Tell it that you have included the information in order of importance.
Always review your results. You’re still the subject expert—AI drafts quickly, but you assess quality and appropriateness.
OFFICIAL GUIDANCE
Read the DfE guidance: Department for Education - Generative artificial intelligence (AI).
Access training from the Chartered Institute of Teaching: Safe and Effective Use of AI in Classrooms
WATCH
What is generative AI and how does it work? – The Turing Lectures with Mirella Lapata
UN OECD Webinar: How teachers can use AI effectively
Take a pupil’s setting description: “A misty forest with glowing mushrooms and a silver wolf." Then input into Microsoft Designer or DALL·E:
Example prompts:
Create a digital illustration of a misty magical forest with glowing mushrooms and a silver wolf.
Always review your results. If you are using it to translate, where possible, double-check the work with a native speaker. You’re still the expert—AI is oowerful, but you assess quality and appropriateness.
Review and refine. Use a “teacher lens”: Ask yourself: Would your students understand this? Is the tone right?
TEST
Open AIs Chat GPT - text generation
Microsoft Copilot - text generation
Google Gemini - text and image generation
Paste a chunk of your curriculum text into ChatGPT. Tell it what it is.
Check the information. Make sure that there are no "hallucinations".
At times, generative AI can try to fill in the gaps or "hallucinate", adding information it believes might make sense.
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Transcript
Artificial intelligence: a guide for educators
Welcome to this short guide for educators on how AI can help you be more effective and create more engaging and accessible resources.
Start
AIMS
By the end of this CPD, you will be able to:
Next
MENU
1. WHAT is AI?
2. HOW can AI be used in school?
3. WHY is AI useful?
4. BUT...
5. QUIZ TIME
6. NEXT STEPS?
Next
1. WHAT is AI?
Everyone is talking about it but... what is it?
Generative AI is a form of artificial intelligence that can produce new content — such as text, images, music, or video — by identifying patterns in large sets of existing examples. It learns from these patterns to generate original outputs that resemble human-created work.
In a nutshell... what is Generative AI?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly entering UK classrooms. The Department for Education (DfE) actively promotes AI to modernize teaching, noting both potential benefits and challenges.
Next
1. WHAT is AI?
Generative AI vs. computers
vs.
If traditional computers follow fixed rules to give answers (like a calculator), generative AI is more like a student who’s read a lot and can now write essays, draw pictures, or hold conversations—based on what it’s learned.
Next
1. WHAT is AI?
Next
1. WHAT is AI?
Next
2. HOW can AI be used in school?
Next
2. HOW can AI be used in school?
The government wants YOU to use AI!
Reduced workload
Personalised learning
AI tools can automate lesson-planning and resource creation.
AI-driven resources can be adapted easlily to suit individuals. AI-powered apps can adapt to each pupil’s ability.
Reduced workload
Personalized learning
Across the public sector - it’s already having a significant impact from helping police identify criminals to improving cancer screening in the NHS. The Department for Education has identified lots of possible benefits for teachers - and some challenges to be aware of.
Immediate feedback and assessment
Increased engagement and accessibility
AI can also make content more accessible: text-to-speech readers and translation tools aid pupils with language or reading difficulties.
AI quizzes and games can give instant feedback. AI-driven dashboards can flag attendance or behavior patterns.
Increased engagement and accessibility
Immediate feedback and assessment
Next
2. HOW can AI be used in school?
Scenario 1: AI-assisted planning and creating resources
Imagine you are Year 3 teacher using Chat GPT to help you prepare differentiated writing scaffolds for a Year 3 class on persuasive texts. You’ve already created one high-level model, but you need a simpler version and some sentence starters.
Next
2. HOW can AI be used in school?
Scenario 2: Writing a letter
You’re writing a letter containing a lot of information to a variety of parents. You want to offer translations of this text in several languages that you don't speak.
Next
2. HOW can AI be used in school?
Scenario 3: Comprehension & Gap Fills
You’re doing a shared reading session on a non-fiction text about habitats. You want to create differentiated comprehension questions and a vocabulary-focused gap fill.
Next
2. HOW can AI be used in school?
Scenario 4: Image Prompts from Student Writing
You’re teaching a creative writing unit and want to help pupils visualise their settings. You’re considering using AI-generated images from their descriptions during a plenary.
Next
3. WHY is AI useful?
Reduced workload
Personalised learning
Immediate feedback and assessment
Writing letters, translating documents, etc...
Faster planning, resource creation marking, admin.
AI can also make content more accessible: text-to-speech readers and translation tools aid pupils with language or reading difficulties.
More consistent, quicker response time for pupils. AI can help you understand and target gaps in understanding.
Draft emails quickly and efficiently. Remove or check for sentences that could lack clarity. Translate documents quickly (and well) into other languages.
You can quickly create resources
You can mark work and quiz students
You can adapt resources for individual students
You can draft emails efficiently
Next
3. WHY is AI useful?
Find the pairs. Each classroom example has a benefit that matches.
Next
4. BUT...
AI is GREAT but... you need to use it widely. It's always important to consider the risks and limitations of AI to the task you are using it for. By using safe, ethical and legal guidelines based on DfE advice, you can keep yourself and your students safe!
Data protection
AI hallucinations
Sustainability
We are legally obliged to protect students' data.
AI can invent facts and show bias.
AI uses a LOT of energy
Next
5. QUIZ TIME
Question 1/4
Next
5. QUIZ TIME
Question 2/4
Next
5. QUIZ TIME
Question 3/4
Next
5. QUIZ TIME
Question 4/4
Next
6. NEXT STEPS?
Here are some ideas on what you can do next.
OFFICIAL GUIDANCE
WATCH
READ
TEST
Next
6. NEXT STEPS?
Next
6. NEXT STEPS?
Next
Thank you very muchfor your attention
Back to home
Continue to prompt. Give context.
Example prompts:
Can you rewrite this in simple sentences for lower-attaining Year 3 pupils?Can you simplify the layout?Can you add sentence starters to scaffold the main argument? Can you create a glossary of 5 key words from the text?
Paste your model text into ChatGPT. Explain that it's your model text and what you're aiming to do. Be specific!
Example prompt:
This is the model text. [Insert model text]. I'm aiming to create versions of this suitable for Year 3 students who are lower attaining in reading, have English as a Second language, have trouble staying focused.
Review the image. Will it help pupils visualise, revise, or expand their writing? Will using this tool enhance creativity or distract from writing goals? Could an image help EAL learners or pupils with SEND visualise vocabulary?
Tell it what you're trying to achieve.
Example prompts:
The lesson objective is to understand definitions of 4 different habitats. Next lesson we are going to be looking at how climate change is affecting different habitats. Can you create 3 sets of 10 questions (easy, medium and hard)? Can you make the questions increase in difficulty from 1-10?
READ
Read Dan Fitzpatrick - Infinite Education
AI for Educators - Matt Miller
Tell it what you're trying to achieve.
Example prompts:
This is a letter for a wide demographic of parents living in London with primary school age children. This is aimed at children in Year 4 asking them to sign up for an activity.
Continue to prompt the AI.
Example prompts:
Create 3 differentiated comprehension questions (1 easy, 1 medium, 1 challenging).Turn this paragraph into a gap-fill with a word bank.
Write notes outlining all of the information that you want to include in order of importance. Tell it that you have included the information in order of importance.
Always review your results. You’re still the subject expert—AI drafts quickly, but you assess quality and appropriateness.
OFFICIAL GUIDANCE
Read the DfE guidance: Department for Education - Generative artificial intelligence (AI).
Access training from the Chartered Institute of Teaching: Safe and Effective Use of AI in Classrooms
WATCH
What is generative AI and how does it work? – The Turing Lectures with Mirella Lapata
UN OECD Webinar: How teachers can use AI effectively
Take a pupil’s setting description: “A misty forest with glowing mushrooms and a silver wolf." Then input into Microsoft Designer or DALL·E:
Example prompts:
Create a digital illustration of a misty magical forest with glowing mushrooms and a silver wolf.
Always review your results. If you are using it to translate, where possible, double-check the work with a native speaker. You’re still the expert—AI is oowerful, but you assess quality and appropriateness.
Review and refine. Use a “teacher lens”: Ask yourself: Would your students understand this? Is the tone right?
TEST
Open AIs Chat GPT - text generation
Microsoft Copilot - text generation
Google Gemini - text and image generation
Paste a chunk of your curriculum text into ChatGPT. Tell it what it is.
Check the information. Make sure that there are no "hallucinations".
At times, generative AI can try to fill in the gaps or "hallucinate", adding information it believes might make sense.