How Can AI Help Teachers? 16 Time-Saving Tips to Transform Your Teaching Workflow

As a teacher, you probably have a to-do list that seems never-ending. From lesson planning and grading assignments to managing classroom activities and everything in between, your day is packed. But what if you could trim down your workload without sacrificing quality?

With the rise of AI in popularity, you may have wondered, “How can AI help teachers like me?” In this blog, I’m sharing 16 time-saving tips that leverage the power of AI to optimize workflows and help teachers reclaim their time. Whether it’s during prep, in class, or post-class tasks, these strategies can make a real difference!

How Can AI Help Teachers with Planning and Content Creation

1. Use AI-Generated Lesson Plans

Creating lesson plans from scratch can be overwhelming, especially when you want to align them with learning objectives and standards. It’s a time-consuming process that requires careful thought and preparation. However, with AI-powered tools, you can streamline this process and save valuable time.

With Edcafe, teachers can create comprehensive lesson plans based on any topic, text, webpage, or document. Simply add in your content and specify additional instructions such as targeting specific skills, your students’ level, or adhering to specific standards. Then, let the AI generate a lesson plan aligned with your standards.

You can further customize and edit the lesson plan that is generated based on your needs and your students. A perfect piece to use as a starting point instead of starting from a blank page.

Not interested in AI-generated plans? Consider using pre-made templates from sites like Teachers Pay Teachers to save time.

2. Create Differentiated Materials Effortlessly

Every classroom is diverse, with students at different stages of understanding, abilities, and learning styles. Meeting each student’s needs through tailored instruction helps ensure that no one falls behind, but managing this on your own can feel overwhelming.

AI platforms like Diffit offer an efficient solution by automatically generating different versions of the same content, adjusted for reading abilities, grade levels, or even specific learning styles.

Edcafe also offers features for differentiated learners. For example add specific instruction to include activities, questions, or content for different levels of learners when generating a lesson plan, or with the text-leveler tool, create different versions of reading passages for your diverse learners.

3. Generate Eye-Catching Slide Decks and Visuals

In today’s classrooms, visually engaging content is essential for capturing students’ attention and promoting a better understanding of complex topics. Well-designed slide decks and worksheets not only make lessons more dynamic but also enhance the overall learning experience by catering to visual learners and improving information retention.

Platforms like Canva and SlidesGo enable you to generate professional-quality graphics, templates, and slide layouts in just a few clicks. These tools offer a vast library of customizable templates, so you can quickly design beautiful, effective presentations without starting from scratch

For help with content within your slides, turn to Edcafe to create a slide deck outline based on your lesson objectives, a topic, a document, or a webpage. Afterward, simply export it to Canva to enhance the design and add finishing touches.

4. Get Help from AI Writing Assistants

Writing tasks—whether it’s providing feedback, drafting emails, or communicating with parents—can easily consume hours of your day. How can AI help teachers make this easier? AI writing tools like Grammarly can significantly reduce this workload by offering real-time suggestions, corrections, and stylistic improvements.

5. Quickly Find Curated Teaching Resources

Finding high-quality educational resources can be a huge time drain, especially when you’re trying to locate materials that align with your lesson objectives. Scouring the web for relevant articles, videos, or worksheets takes time that could be better spent on instruction and student support.

Instead, streamline this process by using Edcafe’s resource finder tool. It allows you to quickly find curated, high-quality resources, including articles, slide decks, videos, and worksheets tailored to your specific topics.

6. Batch Tasking for Maximum Efficiency

Save time by grouping similar tasks together, whether it’s grading, lesson prep, or creating quizzes. This method, known as batch tasking, allows you to streamline your workflow by focusing on one type of task at a time, rather than switching between different responsibilities. By setting aside dedicated blocks for each task, you can maintain momentum and complete them faster, as you won’t be constantly shifting your attention.

How Can AI Help Teachers in Automating Routine Classroom Tasks

7. Use AI Grading Tools

Grading can be one of the most monotonous and time-consuming tasks for teachers, especially when faced with a large volume of assignments. How can AI help teachers help with this, you ask? AI tools like Gradescope or Turnitin can automate much of this process, grading multiple-choice, short-answer, and even essay responses with impressive accuracy.

For more complex assignments that require a deeper level of evaluation, you can use tools like MagicSchool AI to generate detailed rubrics.

For in-class grading, use ClassPoint’s Multiple Choice questions or Quick Poll questions to get students’ feedback instantly. This way, you can adjust your lesson as needed on the spot to better suit your student’s learning.

8. Automate Feedback Generation

Providing personalized feedback is essential for student growth, and with AI tools like Magic School’s feedback tool or Edcafe’s quiz review feature, you can streamline this process without sacrificing quality. These tools automatically generate individualized feedback based on each student’s performance, ensuring that students receive tailored guidance that highlights both their strengths and areas for improvement.

With Edcafe, after students are done taking the quiz, they will get feedback about their results and an explanation after every question.

9. Set It and Forget It: Automate Your Reminders

By using AI scheduling assistants like Remind or Reclaim, you can automate messages, set reminders, and organize task blocks to stay on track effortlessly, without taking up more mental space to remember every task. These tools help you streamline your scheduling process, ensuring that important deadlines and tasks are highlighted without the constant need for manual updates.

With these AI tools managing your reminders and scheduling, you can focus more on engaging with your students and less on keeping track of logistics.

10. Leverage Voice-to-Text Tools

Typing takes time and can slow down your workflow, so why not use your voice instead? With Google Docs’ Voice Typing feature, you can effortlessly transcribe your speech into text. This tool is perfect for quickly leaving comments on student work or creating new documents on the fly.

To access this feature, in Google Docs, under the Tools menu, click Voice Typing. Then click the microphone and begin speaking while watching the words appear on the page.

How Can AI Help Teachers in Managing Classrooms Efficiently

11. Track Student Progress Effortlessly

Effective student progress tracking tools can instantly analyze data to highlight individual strengths and areas for improvement, providing valuable insights into student performance. For instance, with ClassPoint, you can analyze short-answer responses directly within your presentation, allowing you to assess understanding in real-time and adjust your teaching on the spot.

Alternatively, you can use Edcafe’s quiz analytics to track overall class performance, identifying trends and common challenges. This data enables you to tailor future lessons to better meet the needs of your students, ensuring a more personalized learning experience and fostering continuous growth.

12. Create Virtual Teaching Assistants for Extra Support

With ChatGPT and many other AI tools, like MagicSchool AI or Edcafe, designed specifically for educators, you can create AI chatbots just for students. These chatbots can serve as personalized learning assistants for students, offering support tailored to their unique needs. They can engage students in various subjects; for instance, you can create a math bot that guides learners through problem-solving steps or a history bot that simulates conversations with historical figures.

Not only do these AI assistants actively engage students in their learning journey, but they also provide teachers with valuable insights into their understanding and progress. Teachers can read a transcript of the students’ responses with the chatbot to further analyze their progress identify common challenges and adapt teaching strategies accordingly.

13. Enhance SEL with AI-driven Activities

Implementing social-emotional learning (SEL) activities can be challenging, but AI chatbots can significantly simplify this process. These chatbots can facilitate virtual role-playing scenarios and provide reflection prompts that encourage students to explore empathy and develop essential social skills. By creating a safe, judgment-free environment, students can engage in real-world scenarios and meaningful conversations that foster their emotional intelligence.

This innovative approach empowers students to build confidence in their interpersonal skills, ultimately preparing them for success both inside and outside the classroom.

14. Create Reusable Assessments and Materials

Storing and reusing assessments, quizzes, and lesson plans year after year can save you valuable time and effort in the long run. Tools like Edcafe allow you to easily save, edit, and modify content, making it simple to update your materials as needed. This not only ensures that your resources remain relevant but also allows you to continually improve your instructional materials based on student feedback and performance.

Additionally, this makes it really easy for teachers to share their content with each other. Sharing resources with colleagues promotes collaboration and further reduces planning time for everyone involved. When educators work together, they can enhance the quality of their materials and create a more supportive teaching environment. 

How Can AI Help Teachers Beyond the Classroom

15. AI-Assisted Professional Development

Stay current with the latest teaching trends without sacrificing your personal time. AI tools like Otter.ai can transcribe webinars and workshops, allowing you to revisit valuable content at your convenience. This means you can absorb information at your own pace, focusing on the aspects that resonate most with your teaching style or areas for improvement.

Additionally, platforms like Coursera can recommend tailored learning modules based on your interests and goals, enabling you to create personalized professional development paths.

16. Prioritize Self-Care and Set Boundaries

While this last tip isn’t about AI, it’s just as crucial for your well-being. Scheduling time for yourself and setting clear work boundaries are essential practices that help maintain a healthy work-life balance. Don’t feel guilty about disconnecting; taking time for self-care is vital for your mental and emotional health.

The AI tips discussed earlier can significantly reduce your workload, allowing you to focus more on your well-being without the stress of overwhelming tasks. When you prioritize your health and happiness, you enhance your capacity to teach effectively and connect with your students. Remember, when you’re at your best, you can inspire and support your students more fully, creating a positive learning environment for everyone.

Conclusion: Work Smarter, Not Harder

As AI technology continues to evolve, its role in the classroom will expand far beyond time-saving tools. From personalized learning paths to real-time insights, these advancements will reshape how teachers and students engage with learning. By integrating these 16 AI-powered time-saving tips for teachers now, you’re not just saving time—you’re future-proofing your classroom and embracing a new era of education.