The last 18 months have been something of a whirlwind in education, largely driven by the rapid rise of AI. As schools around the world begin shaping their policies and protocols around this evolving technology, I think it’s worth taking a step back to look at the bigger picture. What does the educational landscape now look like, and where, exactly, can AI offer meaningful support for teaching and learning? Below, I’ve outlined some of the key ways I’ve seen AI make a real difference for both teachers and students.
- Enhancing Teachers’ Effectiveness
One of the biggest benefits of AI, I think, is its ability to take over time-consuming administrative tasks like marking assignments and tests, drafting email replies, and yes, dare I say it, even writing report comments. What once took hours can now be completed in minutes. The same goes for lesson planning.
With the speed of today’s AI tools, the long evenings spent writing detailed lesson plans, for example, are becoming a thing of the past. The creation of high-quality educational resources such as images, presentations, and now even videos, is also faster and oftentimes better than what was previously possible. This kind of automation frees up educators to focus on what matters most: inspiring learners and delivering impactful teaching.
- Personalising the Learning Journey
When I think back to the various standardised tests our students have taken, one of the most useful applications of AI has been the ability to extract that data and upload it into ChatGPT. With the right prompts, it becomes remarkably easy to identify trends and patterns, including common misconceptions, areas of strength across a year group, and specific learning gaps. This kind of insight both improves the process of providing personalised learning and writing report comments. Rather than starting from scratch, I’ve seen increasingly more educators base their feedback on clear, data-driven observations, tailored to each student’s needs.
- Role Plays
In my opinion, one of the more underused (but highly promising) aspects of AI is its potential for role play. It’s surprisingly easy to prompt the AI to take on the persona of a historical or fictional figure like Leonardo da Vinci, for example, and then have it respond in character. This can add a whole new dimension to lessons, helping to bring abstract or distant topics to life in ways that spark curiosity and engagement.
I’ve been experimenting with this myself, and have had some fascinating conversations with imagined versions of a future AI named Vigil, and even Jesus Christ. The potential here, for exploring ethical dilemmas, historical perspectives, or philosophical debates, is enormous.
Case Study 1: AI-Powered Personalized Learning at Montour School District
Context:
Montour School District, a public school system in Pennsylvania, USA, introduced AI-driven adaptive learning platforms to address varying student needs in mathematics across grades 6–8.
Challenge:
Educators observed significant gaps in math performance, exacerbated by traditional one-size-fits-all teaching methods that were insufficient for meeting diverse learning speeds and styles.
AI Solution:
The district implemented the DreamBox Learning platform, an AI-powered adaptive math software that dynamically adjusts lessons in real-time based on student responses. The platform continuously collects data on each student’s strengths and weaknesses, providing personalized tasks, immediate feedback, and targeted practice sessions.
Outcomes:
- After one academic year, standardized test scores in mathematics increased by an average of 15% across all participating grades.
- Students requiring intervention decreased by 23%, indicating fewer students falling behind.
- Teachers reported that classroom time became more productive, allowing them to focus on complex problem-solving and critical thinking activities rather than repetitive drill exercises.
Key Takeaway:
The Montour School District example demonstrates how targeted AI interventions can significantly improve academic outcomes, reduce achievement gaps, and empower teachers to deliver higher-quality instruction tailored to individual student needs.
Case Study 2: AI-Enhanced Writing Feedback at the Greenfield International School
Context:
Greenfield International School, a mid-sized IB school in the UAE, implemented an AI tool called Write & Improve (developed by Cambridge English) across its Year 9 and Year 10 cohorts to support written English development, particularly for ESL students.
Problem:
Teachers faced time constraints giving personalised feedback on writing assignments. Students, particularly non-native English speakers, were struggling with structure, grammar, and vocabulary, but traditional marking cycles meant delays in feedback, reducing learning momentum.
AI Solution:
The school introduced Write & Improve, a browser-based tool powered by machine learning that gives instant, actionable feedback on grammar, sentence structure, and vocabulary use. Students could submit drafts multiple times, improving their writing iteratively before final teacher evaluation.
Outcomes:
- Within one term, student engagement in writing tasks increased by 32% (based on assignment completion data).
- Internal assessment scores showed a 12% average improvement in written English across the targeted cohorts.
- Teachers reported a 50% reduction in time spent marking drafts, allowing more focus on higher-order thinking skills and content development.
- One ESL student remarked: “It feels like having a personal tutor – I learn more because I can fix mistakes immediately and try again.”
Key takeaway:
AI amplifies feedback loops, freeing educators to focus on deeper learning. The success at Greenfield shows how strategic AI integration can support differentiation, motivation, and formative assessment at scale.
Potential Challenges and Ethical Considerations
While AI brings many benefits, it also raises important questions, especially around data privacy, equal access, and the role of the teacher. These are the very issues most schools are now focusing on with their AI Policies and Protocols. It’s essential that student data is kept safe, and that all learners can benefit from AI. Most importantly, we need to keep in mind that AI is here to support teachers, not replace them. The human connection at the heart of education will always matter most.
Concluding thoughts…
From my own experience, I can confidently say that AI is reshaping education for the better. It reduces teachers’ workloads, personalises learning, and can engage students through interactive role-playing. Real-world examples like Montour School District and Greenfield International School also highlight the practical benefits of utilising AI, showing improved student results and increased teacher effectiveness. However, as schools adopt AI, it’s important we remain mindful of ethical concerns, fair access, and, most importantly, preserving the human relationships that underpin quality education.
