Introduction — Teaching with AI course
A practical, no-jargon introduction to artificial intelligence for secondary school teachers. Ten modules covering everything from what AI is, to using it confidently in your classroom every day.
What you will learn
This course covers ten modules. By the end, you will be able to:
- Explain what AI is and what it is not.
- Describe how large language models work in plain language.
- Understand what generative AI can and cannot do.
- Know how memory and context work in each of the four major tools.
- Write prompts that consistently produce useful, teacher-specific outputs.
- Choose the right AI tool for a given classroom task.
- Use AI for lesson planning, differentiation, feedback, and parent communications.
- Use AI responsibly, with data protection built in at every step.
How long does this take?
Each module takes five to ten minutes to read. The full course takes about 60 to 75 minutes, though you can pause and return at any time. Use the sidebar to jump to any module.
What AI actually changes in teaching
AI does not replace teachers. It changes where your time, judgement and expertise matter most. Used well, it reduces the time spent producing first drafts, routine explanations and repetitive admin — so more energy goes into planning, adaptation, feedback and relationships.
For most teachers, the first shift is practical. A blank page becomes a working draft. A rough lesson idea becomes a structure. A parent email becomes something editable in seconds rather than written from scratch. That does not remove you from the process — it moves you further into decision-making and further into refinement.
Before AI
A large share of preparation time goes into generating first versions — worksheets, explanations, quiz questions, model answers, parent emails, revision tasks and differentiated variants.
With AI
The first version appears quickly. You spend more time selecting, correcting, adapting and improving it for your actual class — which is where your expertise lives.
The second shift is pedagogical. Teaching becomes less about producing content and more about shaping thinking. When AI can generate examples and explanations on demand, your value as a teacher becomes even clearer — knowing what matters, what to omit, what to question, and how to present ideas for a specific group of students.
- From drafting everything yourself to directing strong first drafts. AI helps you begin faster, but you still decide what is worth using.
- From generic resources to contextualised materials. Instead of searching endlessly, you can adapt content around your topic, your class and your teaching style.
- From one-size-fits-all to easier differentiation. The same idea can be rewritten with more scaffolding, more challenge or simpler language in far less time.
- From teacher as content producer to teacher as expert editor. Your professional judgement matters more, not less — you check for accuracy, fit, tone, accessibility and curriculum alignment.
The mindset shift
Do not ask "Can AI do teaching for me?" Ask "Which parts of my preparation can AI help me draft, so I can spend more time on the parts that need my expertise most?"